Following Record-Breaking Fundraising Year, Pelotonia 2026 Registration Opens on March 4 with New Experiences 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (February 17, 2026) – Pelotonia will launch registration for 2026 participants on Wednesday, March 4, at 12 p.m. ET. This year’s Pelotonia events will include Opening Ceremony on July 31, Ride Weekend on August 1 and 2 and Gravel Day on October 3. Participants can register as Riders, Runners/Hikers, Volunteers or Challengers at pelotonia.org/register.  

New in 2026, Pelotonia has added a 17-mile loop route to Ride Weekend, its shortest road cycling distance to date, designed to welcome new Riders and expand accessibility across all experience levels. The new route will start and finish at North Bank Park in downtown Columbus on Saturday morning, taking Riders through Bexley and The Ohio State University campus. Plus, mountain biking routes are new for Gravel Day 2026, the fourth year of the event with outdoor adventures on the gravel roads and scenic trails of southeast Ohio.  

“Pelotonia is powered by tens of thousands of people who believe there are no limits to our impact,” said Joe Apgar, CEO of Pelotonia and cancer survivor. “As we kick off 2026, we’re energized by the momentum of a record-breaking year and grateful to every participant, donor and partner who fuels our mission. Because this community continues to show up year after year, researchers at the OSUCCC – James are advancing breakthroughs in cancer research that are saving lives. Whether it’s your first year or your 18th Ride Weekend, we invite you to join us and help keep the momentum going.”  

Since 2009, Pelotonia participants have raised more than $339 million, directing 100 percent of every dollar to accelerate innovative cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) thanks to the support from generous funding partners. In 2025, the Pelotonia community raised $29.2 million. The milestone marked the largest single-year fundraising total in Pelotonia history, and the organization is looking to make an even bigger impact in 2026. 

“Pelotonia fuels science that transforms what we can offer patients,” said W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, CEO of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute and Director of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Because this community invests so boldly in discovery, our teams explore new ideas, develop new treatments, and bring world-class talent to Ohio State. As we begin this new year, I am deeply grateful to every participant whose commitment pushes research forward and expands what’s possible for patients, families and communities.” 

2026 Theme: No Limits 

Each Pelotonia annual campaign kicks off with a new creative theme, arrow design and messaging to support recruitment and fundraising efforts. The Pelotonia 2026 theme is No Limits, celebrating the unstoppable determination of the Pelotonia community and the boundless potential of innovative cancer research. The theme reflects the bold spirit of a community that refuses to accept limits on the journey to Ending Cancer. The 2026 creative campaign and arrow design embody vibrancy, high energy, forward momentum and collective power to do good. Watch the 2026 Launch Video here. 

Opening Ceremony on July 31 and Ride Weekend on August 1-2 

Opening Ceremony is a community-rallying party of 15,000-20,000 guests in downtown Columbus to kick off Ride Weekend. On July 31, attendees will enjoy the celebration featuring an inspirational stage program and live music entertainment. The 2026 Opening Ceremony headliner act will be announced this spring. Last year’s headliner was platinum-selling rock band O.A.R.  

Now in its 18th year, Ride Weekend gathers more than 7,500 Riders, 3,000 Volunteers and countless spectators on August 1-2. Road cycling route distances range from 17 to 165 miles with fundraising commitments starting at $1,250. Ride routes and start/finish lines will offer incredible new experiences alongside community favorites, with several routes to choose from, welcoming participants from varied skill levels and experiences to be part of the Pelotonia community’s signature weekend. One-day ride options range from 17 to 100-mile routes. Those interested in the two-day rides of 131 or 165 miles will have the option of an overnight stay at Kenyon College. Route overviews are listed below. 

Saturday, August 1:  

• NEW 17-Mile Route: Downtown Columbus Loop through Bexley and Ohio State campus 

• 23-Mile Route: Downtown Columbus to New Albany Schools  

• 46-Mile Route: Downtown Columbus to Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Headquarters in New Albany 

• 66-Mile Route: New Albany Schools to Kenyon College in Gambier 

• 100-Mile Route: Downtown Columbus to Kenyon College in Gambier 

Sunday, August 2: 

• 27-Mile Route: New Albany Loop  

Two-Day Routes: 

• 131-Mile Route (Saturday 66-Mile Route and Sunday 65-Mile Route): New Albany Schools to Kenyon College in Gambier on Saturday; Gambier to New Albany Schools on Sunday 

• 165-Mile Route (Saturday 100-Mile Route and Sunday 65-Mile Route): Downtown Columbus to Kenyon College in Gambier on Saturday; Gambier to New Albany Schools on Sunday 

• Any Saturday Route and 27-Mile Loop on Sunday 

Gravel Day on October 3  

Gravel Day offers unique adventures on the scenic, gravel roads and outdoor trails of southeast Ohio. Hosted at Snow Fork Event Center in Nelsonville, Ohio, participants can ride, run or hike, with a minimum fundraising commitment of $1,500.  

Gravel Riders can select from 11, 25 and 48-mile looped gravel cycling route options through the hills of Athens County. Two new mountain biking routes join Gravel Day, including 10 and 24-mile options, where Riders will experience the Baileys Trail System of world-class machine-built mountain biking trails including a mix of IMBA-rated green (“easy”) and blue (“more difficult”) trails. 

The Trail Run/Hike, introduced in 2025 and exceeded expectations with more than 350 Runners and Hikers in its first year, is a 3.5-mile looped course through the picturesque property of Snow Fork Event Center, with flexible start times and optional additional laps. Participants may opt to challenge themselves to both ride and run/hike at Gravel Day. For this option, Riders will first complete their selected cycling route — gravel ride or mountain biking — then enter the Trail Run/Hike course. 

Saturday, October 3: 

• 11-Mile Gravel Route: Loop with more than 900 feet total elevation gain 

• 25-Mile Gravel Route: Loop with more than 1,600 feet total elevation gain 

• 48-Mile Gravel Route: Loop with more than 4,200 feet total elevation gain 

• NEW 10-Mile Mountain Biking: Course with more than 1,000 feet total elevation gain 

• NEW 24-Mile Mountain Biking: Course with more than 2,500 feet total elevation gain 

• 3.5-Mile Trail Run/Hike: Loop course with option to complete as many times as desired during the course open hours of 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

To extend the Gravel Day weekend experience, a Friday night community gathering at Snow Fork Event Center includes live music, food, drinks and s’mores. Overnight camping is also available for participants and supporters in tents, RVs and cars, which has grown in popularity the past two years.  

Volunteers 

More than 3,000 Volunteers support Ride Weekend and Gravel Day. Roles include bike management, first aid, food and beverage, merchandise sales and more. To learn more about Volunteer opportunities, a full list of role descriptions and opportunities is available on the Pelotonia website. 

Launch Week Open Houses on March 4-5 

The public is invited to Launch Week 2026 Open Houses at Pelotonia headquarters, located within The Ohio State University’s innovation district on west campus at the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center (2281 Kenny Road, Suite 450) and next door to the Pelotonia Research Center, which was named in recognition of Pelotonia’s partnership and philanthropic support for accelerating cancer research at Ohio State.  

Launch Week 2026 Open Houses: 

• Wednesday, March 4: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

• Thursday, March 5: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

Open to all participants and new supporters interested in ways to get involved, the events will kick off the year with connection and excitement. Attendees will enjoy food and drinks, meet Pelotonia-funded Scholars to learn about their cancer research, and participate in games to win prizes. Pelotonia merchandise, including a new Homage collection with custom designs and various branded apparel for adults and youth, will be available to purchase onsite. Attendees may also pick up 2026 Pelotonia arrow car magnets and yard signs, which are free to the community to display their support. 

2025 Impact Report Now Available 

In collaboration with the OSUCCC – James, Pelotonia released its 2025 Impact Report highlighting the events and initiatives that fuel innovative cancer research. The annual report provides the community with updates from the OSUCCC – James on Pelotonia-funded research and investments made with the support of Pelotonia dollars.   

Research highlights within the 2025 Impact Report include: 

• The first-of-its-kind, nationwide decentralized clinical trial conducted entirely by telehealth launched with support from a Pelotonia Idea Grant, led by Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD, who was named the 2025 Pelotonia-Funded Researcher of the Year. 

• 7 new Pelotonia Idea Grants worth $1.8 million were awarded to support cutting-edge, early-stage research. Additional Idea Grant spotlights in this report include research on contributions to non-small cell lung cancer and possible new treatments for this deadly disease and a paradigm-shifting study on why the body’s immune system T cells can fail, launching a new approach to immunotherapy treatment. 

• An update on progress of the first drug fully developed at Ohio State for treating patients with solid tumors or non-Hodgkin lymphoma shares that it is expanding and will soon also be offered in a clinical trial for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 

• A new first-in-human clinical trial for glioblastoma offers hope for patients with this aggressive form of brain cancer in a study led by investigators at the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-oncology (PIIO). 

• Ohio State has recruited more than 300 top cancer scientists with Pelotonia support. Four individual spotlights feature a few of these talented new recruits — plus Glen Barber, PhD, FRS, who was recruited in 2024 and named to Citation Laureate for Nobel-class research. 

• More than $2.5 million for 22 scholarships were awarded for Pelotonia Scholars including research impacting chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), cancer genetics, urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer and more. 734 Pelotonia Scholars from 53 countries and 36 U.S. states have been funded since 2010. 

• Charts within the report show the breakdown by category of research investments at the OSUCCC – James from the funding of Pelotonia in 2024 and since inception.

To learn more about the impact of Pelotonia dollars, visit pelotonia.org/impact. 

Anyone interested in participating in Pelotonia 2026 can register on March 4 at noon ET at pelotonia.org/register.