HOODOO 500

After Race Across America cancelled 24 Hour Worlds, most folks understandably changed their plans...

But rest assured, no matter what happens THIS year, in 2027 Borrego Springs will once again host the 6-12-24 hour WORLD Time Trial Championships.

SAVE THE DATES: October 30-31, 2027
No need to use a pencil. Registration will open Christmas Day.

In a time when our sport is in decline, and fewer events exists, it's important to keep this iconic event alive.

Hoodoo 500 had been a RAAM qualifying event for nearly 2 DECADES; always supporting RAAM and all RAAM events. We hope to honor their legacy at Borrego.

Fun and funny video race report from Voyager Female Champion, Mahog Holly Diop. This is also a lesson in fortitude and incredible positivity and great attitude. We LOVE it! And we love Holly!

HooDoo 500 2026; North American Ultra Distance Championship ultra-cycling event The HooDoo 500 ultra cycling event is presented by Planet Ultra. Th...

Yes, it's looking good that Planet Ultra will be able to get the last-minute permits to host a nice substitute for the cancelled 24 hr WTTC: Borrego Time Trial Classic - a fun competitive, grassroots event in Borrego Springs, California, on October 31... and then have time to plan something bigger and better for 2027...

But we need racers on the roster to move forward. Hosting events in California is expensive. We need 50 by September 10th to move forward. When you register you'll not be charged unless we reach the minimum number to make it happen.

After RAAM cancelled WTTC, folks changed plans and the enthusiasm was lost... and we still want to step up and save the event. But we can't afford a big loss.

If we don't get the minimum, we're open to going down to Borrego and hosting a club-style event: Just a group of cyclists hang out and riding laps (counting of course), and celebrating the winners with high fives. We know some folks just want to hang out in the desert. We're happy to partake, support the community and then sit around making plans for next year.

So if you want it. Sign up NOW. Otherwise we'll put a little slow in our roll.. and work towards 2027.

It would be nice if the RAAM organization would support this event as a substitute for their CANCELLED event. If they cared as they said they do about the 6-12-24 hr and ultra communities, they'd be grateful that their audience has a venue for the next two years while they figure things out (find a buyer).

Not only are they NOT being supportive, they are censoring / taking down our posts to the RAAM Ultra-Cycling Forum and RAAM Support Crew Central facebook groups.

Ultra Cycling in the USA suffers when there is division, not unity. Organizers must support the athletes, not be divisive and petty when their events aren't even happening.

It's shameful that both 24 Hour Worlds and The 508 were cancelled so close in time to the events; without providing information about obvious alternatives.

The RAAM organization knew way before announcements were made that they were cancelling their autumn events. Instead of letting their riders know, and plan to race either HOODOO 500 or No Country for Old Men; they waited until it was too late for those riders to plan to travel elsewhere. Same with WTTC.

It's very sad for and completely disrespectful to those racers who planned for the better part of a year to participate in those events. It's bad and sad for our entire sport, which has been in decline for many years.

PLEASE support the alternatives. They will likely be around when RAAM events are not.
Event info and link to "commit to race" - https://planetultra.com/borrego/

Re Borrego Time Trial Classic: We believed there to be more interest in a 2026 event than is proving to be the case based on current commitments to register. We're not willing to risk a huge loss if we don't get the numbers we need to host the race. We need 50 people on the commitment roster by September 10th to proceed. PLEASE sign up NOW if you intend to join us October 31. When you "sign up," you'll not be charged the entry fee until we reach 50. We will notify everyone no later than September 10th if we don't make that number.

Overwhelming majority prefer SEPTEMBER for next year. So mark your calendars for September 10-13, 2027. This may or may not be a permanent change. But we do hope that some of you PBP riders will race both.

Re Borrego Time Trial Classic: We believed there to be more interest in a 2026 event than is proving to be the case based on current commitments to register. We're unable to risk a huge loss if we don't get the numbers we need to host the race. We need 50 people on the commitment roster by September 10th to proceed. PLEASE sign up NOW if you intend to join us October 31. When you "sign up," you'll not be charged the entry fee until we reach 50. We will notify everyone no later than September 10th if we don't make that number.

This is for anyone thinking about racing in 2027: We want your feedback before we announce the 2027 dates.

2027 is a Paris-Brest-Paris year. PBP is August 22-26; and Hoodoo is traditionally the last weekend of August that's not Labor Day weekend. For 2027 that's August 27-30.

We're not confident that anyone would choose to do BOTH events; but it still may make more sense to move Hoodoo into September in PBP years (and maybe permanently if folks like that).

That would put us on September 10-13 (same weekend as LOTOJA). In many ways September is better because monsoon season is mostly over. The chances of crazy weather like we had this past weekend are much, much smaller. BUT, the chances of temps in the 30s and 40s (or colder) over the high mountain passes and in Panguitch, are much greater.

So... Please give your feedback by commenting below which date you prefer and whether one or the other is a deal breaker for you. Please do NOT suggest other dates. These are the ONLY two options for too many reasons to list here.

While we celebrate and give praise to the racers who crossed the finish line in triumph, for those with DNF in the final column we want you to know that we also applaud your efforts. It takes great courage to roll from our start line. YOU are one of the incredibly few to take that leap. There will be another day...

Our 500 Solo Champions, and World Ultra-Cycling Association North American Ultra Distance Champions!
Left to right: David Haase, self-supported; Mahog Holly Diop, self-supported, Leah Goldstein, supported, Matthew J. Lefthand, supported.