Ride for the Socks 2026

Bay St. Louis Sprint Triathlon

Seawall area south of Our Lady of the Gulf Church

228 S. Beach Blvd.

Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520

The Bay Saint Louis Sprint Triathlon is the 11th annual USAT-Sanctioned Sprint Triathlon from Bay Saint Louis Races on July 11, 2026 in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. This race course is one of the few in the world held entirely along a scenic waterfront. The course consists of an 800-yard near-shore swim; a 15-mile bike ride along Beach Boulevard with only 1 turn, and a 3.1-mile run along the Beach Boardwalk. Whether you are a beginner looking for a straight-forward course for your first tri or a seasoned Ironman who wants to see what your bike can do on a fast course, this race is for you!

Event details and schedule

Registration Fees:

April 1 to April 30 - $70 Relay Teams $120

May 1 to June 30 - $80 Relay Teams $135

July 1 to July 10 - $90 Relay Teams $150

NO day of race registration – Swag guaranteed only to first 200 to register

RACE ITINERARY - Subject to Change

Friday, July 10, 2026:

11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Packet Pickup and Onsite Registration at Dan B Restaurant at 109 S. Beach Blvd.

Saturday, July 11, 2026

5:00AM - 6:30AM

Triathlon Check-in and Race Day Packet Pickup is at Dan B Restaurant. There is shelter and lights there & it is very close to the transition area.

5:30AM - 6:45AM

Transition Opens

Transition area will be at the Seawall area south of Our Lady of the Gulf Church at 228 S. Beach Blvd.

6:20AM - 6:45AM

Swim Course Opens for Triathlete Warm-up

6:50AM - 7:00AM

Triathletes line up at the starting line for the swim

7:00AM

RACE START!

On the beach

8:30AM

After Party! Dan B Restaurant at 109 S. Beach Blvd., Bay St Louis, MS 39520

9:30AM

Awards! Dan B Restaurant at 109 S Beach Blvd, Bay St Louis, MS 39520

Race Contact for more information: Leonard Vergunst – 228-380-7037 – [email protected]

Photos and Results can also be found at www.gulfcoastrunningclub.org and many more photos on the GCRC Facebook page.

REGISTRATION IS FULL, BUT THE WAITLIST IS OPEN!!!

This will be an extremely fast and local law enforcement protected 10-mile course starting from the top of the US 90 overpass, finishing by the Long Beach Harbor Pavilion (Beach Blvd E & S Cleveland Ave Long Beach, MS, Long Beach, MS 39560). Check in and parking will be at Henderson Point in Pass Christian (4th Ave, Pass Christian, MS 39571). We will have transportation back to your vehicle by Coast Transit Authority (for free!), unless you'd like to cool down with an easy ride back to your vehicle.

We've also ordered up a nice tailwind... Ha ha just kidding!

If you want to see how folks did last year, check out the 2025 results link:

https://www.webscorer.com/racealldetails?raceid=399030

Please read the guide below so we can start on time and have a safe event.

Athlete’s Guide: Bikes and Beaches Time Trial

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Event Director: Melissa Lorance

Welcome to the Bikes and Beaches Time Trial! Prepare for a fast, scenic course along the beautiful Mississippi Sound. Below is everything you need to know for a smooth, competitive, and safe event day.

Schedule of Events

• 6:00 AM – Check-in Opens

• 6:30 AM – Check-in Closes / Move to Meeting Point for Line Up

• 7:00 AM – Time Trial Begins

• Post-Race – Breakfast & Award Ceremony

Locations & Meeting Point

• Parking / Check-in: Henderson Point, 4th Ave, Pass Christian, MS 39571

• Meeting Point for Line Up: The red light at Bayview & W. Beach Blvd.

• Start: The TOP of the Henderson Point Bridge.

• Finish: The Long Beach Pavilion at Beach Blvd E & S Cleveland Ave, Long Beach, MS 39560

Registration & Check-In Rules

• Strictly No Day-Of Registration. You must be pre-registered to compete.

• Mandatory Check-In: All riders must check in between 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM to receive their start order.

• Hard Cutoff: Check-in closes exactly at 6:30 AM, no exceptions. Please arrive early!

Course Overview

• Distance: Approximately 10 miles.

• Route: Highway 90 along the beach, running from the Henderson Point Bridge to the Long Beach Pavilion.

• Profile: Flat, fast, and completely exposed to coastal winds. Strategy and pacing will be key!

Rider Classifications & Awards

• Open: Time trial bikes or standard road bikes are permitted (recumbents, y'all get your very own category!). Aero bars, disc wheels, and aero helmets are fully welcome. Awards will be by age groups/male and female, as well as overall awards for top male and female.

• Eddie Merckx: Road bikes only. In the true spirit of the cycling legend, no exceptions will be made—no aero bars, no fully jacketed / disc wheels, and no TT-specific helmets. Awards for the top 3 male and female, no age group awards.

• Athena / Clydesdale: Weight-based divisions. Athena: 155 lbs and up. Clydesdale: 220 lbs and up.

• Recumbent: All recumbent bicycle / tricycle designs.

We will also have a Strava segment along the route, open to any category above!

Safety & Equipment Requirements

Your safety is our top priority. The following rules are strictly enforced, and failure to comply will result in disqualification:

1. Helmets: Approved cycling helmets must be worn and buckled at all times while on the bike.

2. Lights: All bikes must be equipped with working front and rear lights to ensure high visibility along Highway 90.

Post-Race Celebration

After you cross the finish line at the Long Beach Pavilion, stick around to celebrate! We will host a complimentary breakfast for all participant followed by the Awards Ceremony to crown our category winners.

Good luck, ride safe, and let the sea breeze push you to a new PR!

There will be the option to do 25 miles, 50 miles, 75 miles, or the full 100 miles. It just depends on how many "spokes" aka out and backs you want to ride!

Friendly reminder: you have to be a RWGPS club member- which is free to do- to be able to see and save the confirmed routes! Please click this link and you will automatically be added:

https://ridewithgps.com/organizations/14742-gulf-coast-bicycle-club/join

Full 100 miler (you choose how much of it you do that day!): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49761779

Online registration will remain open until 7am on ride day/approximately 30 minutes prior to the start time. It's important to note that same day registration will only be available in a paperless fashion. You'll be directed here to the RWGPS event and then to the corresponding Race Roster link to sign up, sign the liability waiver, and for payment. Once you show us your phone so we can see you've completed it, we'll hand you your route profile sticker, meal voucher, and you'll be ready to roll! We appreciate your understanding.

Police traffic control and road markings/signage will both be present but limited, so all participants should download routes to their computers, plan to play the route from their RWGPS app on their phone, or carry printed turn-by-turn directions with them. For instructions on how to download routes to your Garmin, Wahoo, or other computer, see the Ride With GPS Help page at https://support.ridewithgps.com/hc/en-us/articles/4419007646235-Export-File-Formats and your computer’s documentation.

The route profile stickers/providing navigational cues we are including for all participants regardless of when they register will also be very helpful to have. They are designed to be placed physically on your bike's frame, so you can look down and know when the next turn is coming without having to change your positioning on the bike. **The route profile stickers have been confirmed for accurac

We will have the one rest stop at Success Civic Center where we start and finish which we'll all be coming back to up to 3 times if you're doing the full 100 miler! Much easier to manage on this one! No worries as the rest stop will be fully stocked with food, drinks and of course cold towels.

Be sure to stick around for one delicious meal. The Gulf Coast Brotherhood will be feeding everyone. Can't wait to see what's on the menu.

We look forward to creating a memorable event with you all and seeing you there!

All rides are weather permitting, and at your own risk and liability.