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.

When riders line up at the start of BorderLands Gravel this November, they’ll be racing through more than just desert terrain. They’ll be pedaling through the economic heartbeat of Douglas, Arizona.

Outdoor recreation is big business, especially in Arizona. In 2023, outdoor adventurers pumped over $21 billion into the state’s economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs and generating $1.4 billion in state and local tax revenue. It’s no exaggeration to say that every ride matters.