The trio of lead women on the final climb (R to L): Samara Sheppard, Flavia Oliveira Parks and Jen Tavé (Image credit: Brian Tucker @b.tuckerpics )

Samara Sheppard and Cole Davis (SpeedStudio-Basso) won the final event of the 2026 Grasshopper Adventure Series , Ukiah Mendo Gravel Epic on May 24. Both won on debut rides in the off-road northern California series, and fine-tuned techniques the weekend prior to Unbound Gravel 200 in Kansas.

With third place finishes at Ukiah Mendo, Jen Tavé (SpeedBlock-Terún Pro Cycling) and Cassius Anderson (Marin Service Course) secured the overall titles for elite divisions in the five-race Grasshopper Series.

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Elite Women Pos.

Rider

Time

1

Samara Sheppard

4:25:54

2

Flavia Oliveira Parks

+3:49

3

Jen Tave

+10:01

4

Rachel Cohen

+28:22

5

Caroline Dezendorf

+1:31:34

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Elite Men…