The Off-Road Assault on Mt Mitchell is a 60 mile MTB race with 10,500 feet of climbing. From Old Fort you climb up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and just below Mt Mitchell on beautiful Forest Service roads and unbelievable North Carolina single track. There are fully stocked rest stops approximately every 10 miles and you can send anything you want to the rest areas with our staff. Mt Mitchell peaks at 6684 ft and is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi river. The MTB race starts and finishes in the town of Old Fort, North Carolina and sits at around 1400 feet. Most of the climbing is on Forest Service roads while most of the singletrack points downhill! One of the best marathon distance MTB courses in the US!

Do not underestimate the extreme difficulty and danger of this MTB race. The course is extremely demanding and travels over rugged terrain with extreme elevation changes. The forest remains in its natural habitat. It is not uncommon to see wildlife such as a wildcat or a black bear. Be ready to cope with any circumstances!! Please note that firearms are not permitted in certain areas. Aid stations will help with safety matters, but it is the competitor’s ultimate responsibility to insure his or her own safety. A few course-related facts: the 60 mile course record was set in 2019 by pro rider Jerimiah Bishop, who finished in 4 hours 17 minutes. One MTB rider completed the course with only one month of riding under his belt, however this rider quit riding altogether after the race! Others too have retired their MTB efforts after competing in this race. This is not your typical MTB race. Regardless of how you finish, you will have competed in the most exciting mountain bike race in the entire Southeast!!!

THIS RACE IS LIMITED TO 500 PARTICIPANTS.

Date: Sunday July 23, 2023 (Rain or Shine)

Time: Mandatory MTB race meeting at start line at 7:50 am. Race starts at 8:00 am.

Packet Pickup: Registration packet pickup begins race morning at 6:00 am. Early packet pickup will be available on Friday from 4:00-9:00 pm and on Saturday from 4:00-9:00 pm at Mountain Gateway Museum. I.D. Required.

Fee: $150 until 6/18/23; $160 until 7/16/23; $170 day of race

Amenities: Chip timed instant results, categories, Awesome Rest Stops, Upcountry Brewing Beer with Pasta (Meat or Vegetarian) Feast, Well Marked MTB Route, Restrooms, Wicked NC Singletrack and so much more.

T Shirts:  T-shirts are optional to all who register before June 25th

Injuries: Have no illusions you can escape some type of injury on 60 miles of rough terrain. Whether it be an abrasion or a mental breakdown, everyone suffers in one way or another. This is not your normal MTB race.

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