We are just about into the month of June, which means it is almost time once again for the Dirty Kanza Gravel Bicycle Challenge.
Festivities for the annual event, which is bringing 3,000 riders to Emporia this year, began Thursday afternoon with the annual All Gravel Expo in downtown Emporia. Also, Thursday evening registration gets underway for the Dirty Kanza XL which is the first of several distances to launch this weekend.
Riders of the XL, which launched for the very first time last year, will travel 350 miles across the Flint Hills. Dirty Kanza Operations Manager Lelan Dains tells KVOE News riders in the XL do not have the traditional checkpoints like riders in the 200 and 100 distances, but they do get quite the sightseeing opportunity.
Registration for the XL runs Thursday from 4 to 6 pm at the Lyon County History Center. Registration for all other distances will take place from 10 am to 9 pm Friday also at the History Center.
Riders for the 50 and 25 distances will check in on the second floor while 100 and 200-mile riders will check in on the third floor. The DKXL will launch Friday afternoon at 3 pm from 700 Block of Mechanic Street.
All other distances will launch Saturday with the 200 launching at 6 am. This year riders will launch from the 800 block of Commercial Street and will head north rather than south, as in years past, on Merchant Street.
All spectators wishing to be there for the send off are encouraged to park at Emporia State University and make their way down to Commercial from there. For more information and a full schedule of events visit Dirtykanza.com.
