The Ride Into Mexico Is Back for BorderLands Gravel 2026
There are plenty of places where you can line up for a gravel race.
There are far fewer places where your race weekend begins by riding your bike across an international border.
That is what makes the International Parade Lap one of the most unique (and rad) parts of BorderLands Gravel.
On Saturday, November 14, 2026, riders will gather at the Douglas Port of Entry at 6:15 a.m. before crossing together into Agua Prieta, Sonora. From there, cyclists from both sides of the border will come together for a guided ride through the city before returning to Douglas and turning their attention toward the gravel roads that define race day.
Why Agua Prieta Belongs in the BorderLands Gravel Story
BorderLands Gravel has always been about more than miles on a remote gravel road. It was designed as an invitation. An invitation to travel with intention. To slow down. To see a place that rarely shows up on a cycling bucket list.
That experience does not stop at the U.S. border.
Just steps from Douglas, Arizona, the city of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, offers a cultural counterpoint that helps define the BorderLands Gravel experience.
Crossing into Mexico at Dawn: The Story Behind the BorderLands Gravel Parade Lap
At 6 am, we gathered at the port of entry between Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Mexico. The sun had not yet cleared the horizon. Months earlier, when we planned the international parade lap, no one realized how dark it would be at that hour. The air had that familiar desert chill, and riders rolled in one by one, some with lights, others trusting the street lamps to guide their way.
