2025 WORS Season Preview: More Races, More Places, & More Ways to Shred

To learn more and to get registered to ride, visit WORS.

The 2025 Wisconsin Off-Road Series (WORS) is back for its 35th season. Billed as “America’s Largest State Mountain Bike Racing Series”, the collection of mountain bike races will see an additional event on the calendar, bringing the series back to ten races. New events expand the geographic reach with a northern stop in Cable, WI and, for the first time in the series’ history, a trip south of the state line to Illinois.

Beyond new venues, several other changes highlight what WORS hopes to be one of the biggest years in its history. In addition to the Cross-Country series, WORS will also feature a Short Track series (7 races), a Time Trial series (5 races) and an Enduro series (3 races). Two weekends will share a schedule with UCI racing in Fall River and La Crosse, which will bring additional riders from around the country to experience some of the best trails Wisconsin has to offer.

WORS Series Director Marcus Warrington is most excited about continuing to build on what WORS has been doing so well for all of its 35 years: providing a great racing experience for riders of all backgrounds and abilities. “Two of the most exciting categories are on opposite sides of the spectrum. We’ve got our Newbie category, which is free racing for beginners that continues to not only see solid numbers, but is truly doing what we were hoping for and that’s bringing in brand new riders with absolutely no racing experience. Then we’ve got our Junior Elite racing categories, which have seen tremendous growth and are on pace to be among the biggest field sizes in the entire series. Growth is so fast, and so high, that we’re getting close to being one of the best regions to race in all of America for young aspiring junior elite riders”.

And then, of course, there is everything in between. Brand new to the sport? Great. Seasoned veteran? We’ve got a spot for you. Just looking to have fun while building some fitness? You’ll fit right in.

Here’s a preview of what to expect for the ten events that are on the menu this summer in Wisconsin.

May 4 – Englewood Open | Fall River, WI

Englewood Open is back to batting lead-off in 2025. UCI racing on Friday and Saturday pull in some of the top riders from around the country, with over thirty states represented on the starting line last year. That means the series will kick off with some stiff competition, but there’s no better place to spring into action. Held on private trails at the Agnew Family farm, this World-Cup caliber course is fast, punchy, and features not one, but two flyovers. Oh, and did we mention cows? You’ll see some cows.

May 17–18 – Treadfest | Lake Geneva, WI

Traditionally a late-season race, Treadfest moves up on the calendar this year. That’s good news for climbers, with no shortage of elevation on one of the more technically challenging courses of the year. And this year, climbers get an extra day to show off. That’s because our new Time Trial series will kick-off on Saturday with a 1-stage race to the top of the ski hill.

Racers will certainly be hoping that the earlier-season timeslot results in cooler temperatures, as heat has often defined this event in the past. No matter what the weather, racers can expect a boost at the on-course water station, and perhaps another cold beverage at the rock garden for a post-race refreshment.

May 31–June 1 – Battle of CamRock | Cambridge, WI

The series wraps its early season block in southern Wisconsin with a trip to Cambridge for the Battle of CamRock. Big fields and tight racing are the norm for this race in the beautiful and sprawling County Park. New for this year is a Saturday Short Track race, the first in the series and held in conjunction with CORPFest on Saturday evening.

Cross-Country racing on Sunday will take racers on another hilly course, featuring fast and flowy single track and, of course, the infamous start and finish hill.

June 13–15 – Wausau Nine Mile | Wausau, WI

The series then pivots to the north for the first major weekend-long festival of the year in Wausau. Four races will make up this WORS weekend, starting with a Time Trial on Friday night at Nine Mile and continuing with an Enduro race across town at Sylvan Park on Saturday morning. Racing returns to Nine Mile on Saturday evening for Short Track racing, and concludes with the main event of cross-country racing all day on Sunday.

After a wet weekend in 2025, racers will be hoping for dry conditions on a trail system that holds up great in all types of weather, but can get much faster with less rainfall. The weekend supports the local bike club - CWOCC - and is right at home in one of the best local regions in all of Wisconsin for mountain biking.

June 21–22 – Colectivo Coffee Classic | Waukesha, WI

The second half of a back-to-back weekend, Waukesha hosts the annual Colectivo Coffee Classic on June 21 and 22. Short Track racing makes its debut at Minooka Park, which is good news for those who want to get in more reps on the wooded starting climb.

Twisty single track defines much of this course, which also features plenty of double track passing, and a surprising amount of climbing. Hosted by the Colectivo Coffee Mountain Bike Team, one of the most prominent teams racing on the WORS circuit, this remains one of the best attended races on the calendar. And with this event serving as the Wisconsin State Championships this year, expect even more fireworks than usual.

July 11–13 – Northwoods Frolic | Cable, WI (New Event!)

WORS is debuting a new annual race - The Northwoods Frolic. This event will travel on a year-to-year basis around various venues in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. And kicking it off in 2025 is one of the best racing venues in the entire Upper Midwest - the Trek Trails at Mt. Telemark in Cable.

It’s a full weekend of festivities - another 4-race weekend with Time Trial, Enduro, Short Track AND Cross-Country all on the menu. Course Maps and additional information on this race will be out in early May - it’s a long drive for many in the southern part of the state, but promises to be among the most action-packed WORS weekends of the year.

July 19–20 – Border Battle | Rockford, IL (New Event!)

Just a week later, we have another new event on the calendar - and for the first time in the history of the series, it won’t be in Wisconsin.

WORS is crossing the border into Illinois for a trip to Atwood Park in Rockford for the Border Battle - this event, once held a decade ago, but against Minnesota, returns to answer the question: which state is faster? This event will also serve as the Illinois MTB State Championship race as well, meaning that Illinois will be bringing some of its fastest riders – pressure is on for Wisconsin to meet the challenge!

August 2–3 – Reforestation Ramble | Green Bay, WI

WORS will kick off the month of August back up north for the Reforestation Ramble - perhaps the fastest race on the WORS calendar. The series features plenty of climbing and technical single track throughout the year, and while Green Bay isn’t absent of it completely, this race tends to be more like a drag race through the woods. Fast and flowy single track means its a race for the riders with the most power.

On Saturday night, for the third straight year we’re bringing you the Short Track Under the Lights race. With the ski lights on, riders will ride around a short circuit for twenty minutes, doing somewhere between 5-8 laps in the penultimate Short Track series event of the year.

With only two events remaining on the calendar, series points are more valuable than ever, and we’ll start to get a good picture on where things look to be ending up heading into the final stretch.

August 15–17 – ORA Trails Fest | La Crosse, WI

One of the most picturesque stops on the calendar, ORA Trails Fest blends the charm of La Crosse’s trail community with seriously fun racing. You’ll find punchy climbs, wooded switchbacks, and panoramic ridge views. And yes, you’ll probably suffer a little.

The ORA Trails Alliance and Smith’s Bike Shop put on one great party, and this year they’re making it an even bigger and better weekend with UCI racing bringing some of the nation’s top riders to town on Friday and Saturday. This means that WORS series Short Track is off the table, but the Friday Night Uphill Time Trial and Saturday morning Enduro races remain on and better than ever.

Live music, local food, and racing almost nonstop from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon will make this one of the best events of the season.

August 22–24 – Red Barn Classic | Near Madison, WI

Where better to finish a season than at home?

A mile down the road from WORS/TREK Headquarters, the Red Barn Classic will wrap up the season on the private Trek Trails. Time Trial Stage racing on Friday evening kicks it all off, with Dual Slalom racing on Saturday morning followed by Short Track racing on Sunday night. A big day of Cross-Country racing will conclude the season on Sunday, with series awards being handed out on-site at the conclusion of each race.

With a pump track, a Happy Hour at the Lodge, and a few surprises to be announced (stay tuned!) this will be one of the biggest mountain bike parties of the year, and a picture-perfect way to end the WORS 2025 season.

To learn more and to get registered to ride, visit WORS.