Rebecca’s Private Idaho is a gravel race unlike anything else on the calendar. Set in Sun Valley, Idaho — one of the most beautiful mountain valleys in the American West — it was founded by pro road cyclist Rebecca Rusch and carries her signature philosophy: challenge yourself, embrace the wild, leave the ego at the start line. Here’s your complete guide to Rebecca’s Private Idaho 2026.
What Is Rebecca’s Private Idaho?
Rebecca’s Private Idaho (RPI) was founded by Rebecca Rusch, a seven-time world champion in adventure racing and ultra-endurance cycling, who wanted to create an event that reflected the values of the broader adventure cycling community: inclusion, challenge, and genuine wild terrain. The race has grown from a small community event into a significant stop on the gravel calendar, while retaining the warm, authentic atmosphere that Rusch built into it from the beginning.
The primary distance is 100 miles with approximately 10,000 feet of climbing. There’s also a 50-mile option. The course uses forest roads in the Sawtooth National Forest above Sun Valley, reaching elevations above 8,000 feet on roads that are genuinely remote — not the managed remote of Unbound, but actual backcountry riding where you might not see another person for an hour.
Rebecca’s Private Idaho 2026: Dates and Entry
RPI 2026 takes place in late August or early September in Sun Valley, Idaho. Registration opens in late winter through the official RPI website. The event is not a Life Time Grand Prix event, which keeps it more community-focused than the increasingly professionalized Grand Prix calendar. Entry fees run approximately $150–$200. Sun Valley lodging books early — plan accommodation as soon as registration opens. Check our race calendar for 2026 dates and the registration link.
The Course: Sun Valley’s Mountain Roads
The RPI course uses forest roads above the Wood River Valley that most visitors to Sun Valley never see. The main climb out of the valley is long and sustained — riders gain 3,000–4,000 feet in the first 30 miles before the course levels into more rolling high-alpine terrain. The descent back to Sun Valley is fast and technical on loose dirt. The scenery throughout is exceptional: Sawtooth peaks, aspen forests, and the kind of high-altitude exposure that makes suffering feel worthwhile.
The terrain is more technically demanding than many Great Plains gravel events. Loose rocky sections require bike-handling skills, and the altitude affects everyone who isn’t local. Sun Valley sits at 5,900 feet; much of the course is above 7,500 feet. If you’re coming from sea level, plan to arrive at least 3 days early.
Rebecca Rusch: Why the Race Reflects Its Founder
Rebecca Rusch’s influence on RPI is evident in everything from the course design to the event culture. As a seven-time world champion in adventure racing — a discipline that demands navigation, self-reliance, and sustained effort over multiple days — Rusch built RPI to reflect those values. The course is hard enough to be a genuine challenge, the atmosphere is warm enough that first-timers feel welcome, and the event consistently attracts a rider demographic that spans from elite professionals to recreational cyclists on their first 100-mile day.
Training for RPI: Altitude and Climbing
The 100-mile RPI course has more climbing per mile than most American gravel events, and all of it happens at altitude. Training priorities: build sustained climbing capacity through summer intervals on long climbs, practice descending on loose dirt (technique matters more at RPI than at flat events), and if possible do at least one high-altitude training block in July or August. A solid aerobic base from the spring is the prerequisite; race-specific work should begin 8–10 weeks out.
For a structured approach to building toward RPI, start with our 12-week training plan and add altitude-specific work in the final 6 weeks. For gravel nutrition planning for the 100-mile distance, see our complete nutrition guide.
See all major gravel events on the 2026 calendar — including RPI and every Grand Prix race. → View the Race Calendar
