2026 Nebraska Sandhills Brevet Tour
May 31st - June 4th
237km - 147km - 210km - 202km - 164km
Page Updated: Jan. 11, 2026:
Nebraska Sandhills Randonneurs is excited to
announce the details of our 2026 Nebraska Brevet Tour. This special series of brevets will take place from May 31st to June 4th, 2026, starting and finishing in Ord, Nebraska, which is approximately 64 miles northwest of Grand Island. This is a great way to ride roughly the distance of a 1,000km event with extra time between each leg and a more relaxed approach.
These rides are unsupported - riders have traditionally traveled light, carrying enough for light overnights and "fast touring", but not so much as to require panniers, drop bags, or special touring gear.
Ride Fee information will be posted once finalized - these costs cover RUSA insurance.
Lodging information will be posted once available.
Additional details for each leg of the tour will be posted once finalized by the RBA.
Check back often for additional details and contact the RBA if you are interested in riding!
Overall Route and Elevation:
Direction of travel is counter-clockwise; Day 1 = red, Day 2 = blue, Day 3 = purple, Day 4 = yellow, Day 5 = green. Nebraska is sparsely populated: note the relative distances between each point of interest and control on the overall map - riders should be prepared to stock up and carry enough water and supplies for distances exceeding 100km between services in some cases.
Direction of travel is counter-clockwise; Day 1 = red, Day 2 = blue, Day 3 = purple, Day 4 = yellow, Day 5 = green. Nebraska is sparsely populated: note the relative distances between each point of interest and control on the overall map - riders should be prepared to stock up and carry enough water and supplies for distances exceeding 100km between services in some cases.
Schedule:
May 30: Arrive in Ord, NE.
Day 2:
June 1: Valentine -> Gordon (147km): 7:00 AM
Cross
into Mountain Time Zone west of Valentine
Day 3:
June 2: Gordon -> Carhenge -> Alliance (210 K): 7:00 AM
The
route will visit Chadron, Crawford & Carhenge
June 3: Alliance -> Thedford (202km): 7:00 AM
Leave Alliance and head east on the Sandhills Scenic By-Way
The route crosses from Mountain to Central Time Zone
Day 5:
Suggested Reading:
“Like No Other Place”
"Roadside Geology of Nebraska"
History:
Our route is a tour around the Nebraska Sandhills. Most people outside Nebraska have never heard
of the sandhills. There are a number of
great sources like Wikipedia.
The
Brevet Tour is an idea that was sprouted by Larry Larson (former RBA) as an
alternative to a brevet week. Initially
it was a 200, 300, rest-day, then a 400 km brevet. He later did a 600 km to complete the
series. Lately, the 400 km has been
dropped and he does the routes as 200 to 300 km rides as a big loop of the
Sandhills of Nebraska.
