1 gran fondo event in Marquette, Michigan

Why MK Ultra?

100 miles — 3,595 ft elevation gain

The CIA ran Project MKULTRA from 1953 to 1973. It was a covert program of illegal experiments on unwitting human subjects — testing LSD, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, and psychological torture. Subjects included mental patients, prisoners, drug addicts, and ordinary citizens who never consented.

The program funded research at 44 colleges and universities, 15 research foundations, 12 hospitals, and 3 prisons. CIA Director Richard Helms ordered the destruction of all MK-Ultra files in 1973. A cache of 20,000 documents survived because they had been misfiled in a financial records building, and were discovered during a 1977 Freedom of Information Act request.

This ride borrows the name as a nod to the Upper Peninsula’s own history of isolation and endurance — and to route creator Mark Kransz, whose initials gave the ride its name. 100 miles of gravel through remote forest roads will test your mental fortitude. No mind control required — just legs and grit.

Grinduro Format

This isn't a time trial. It's a mass-start sufferfest with structure.

Seven gravel sectors are timed — rated 1–5 stars by surface brutality, Paris-Roubaix style. Three KOM/QOM climbs are timed separately — fastest up takes the segment.

Everything between? Challenging, remote, and utterly untimed. Ride your own ride. Race the sectors. Suffer together.

Scoring System

Gravel Champion — lowest cumulative elapsed time across all 6 timed sectors wins. Gender categories: men, women, non-binary.

KOM/QOM Champion — top-10 points per climb (10–1). Three climbs. 30 points max. Most total points wins. Gender categories: men, women, non-binary.

Results submitted via Strava activity link after the event. Full leaderboards published here once submissions close.

Gravel sectors

BAA

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Mile 12.9

2.5 mi

Sandstrom

???

Mile 23.4

5.9 mi

Akkala Rd

???

Mile 39.5

1.4 mi

Haavisto

????

Mile 43

1.4 mi

Forest Service Rd

??

Mile 50.7

6.5 mi

C4

?????

Mile 58.7

5.7 mi

Down Jeep

?????

Mile 83.55

0.6 mi

KOMs

Billie Helmer

Mile 21.9

0.69 mi

6.4% grade

236 ft gain

Leaving Chatham

Mile 37.6

0.38 mi

4.1% grade

72 ft gain

Silver Creek

Mile 78.55

1.60 mi

4.4% grade

373 ft gain