Behind The Scenes
Pelotonia 2025 Registration Opens on March 5
By The Pelotonia Team|March 04, 2025
Ride Weekend Offers Cycling and Volunteer Experiences; New Trail Run/Hike Added to Gravel Day
COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 4, 2025) – Pelotonia will launch registration for 2025 participants on Wednesday, March 5 at 12 p.m. EST. This year’s Pelotonia events will include Opening Ceremony on August 1, Ride Weekend on August 2 and 3 and Gravel Day on October 4. Participants can register as Riders, Volunteers or Challengers, plus new this year, Gravel Day Runners and Hikers, at pelotonia.org/register.
Since 2009, Pelotonia has raised more than $309 million, directing 100 percent of every dollar raised by participants, because of the support from generous funding partners, 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). In 2024, the Pelotonia community raised more than $26.2 million.
“Philanthropy has never been more critical. Breakthroughs in cancer treatments and prevention continue to happen because of researchers with brilliant ideas and communities willing to support these audacious goals,” said Joe Apgar, Pelotonia CEO. “The Pelotonia community continues to show up year-after-year with a shared purpose: to fund innovative research that will change lives. The passion and commitment of our participants and donors continues to pave the path for impact. As we open registration for Pelotonia 2025, we invite everyone to join us. Whether it’s your first time or 17th year, there’s an opportunity for you to make a real impact on ending cancer through your participation.”
2025 Theme: Together as One
Each Pelotonia campaign kicks off with a new creative theme, arrow design and messaging to support recruitment and fundraising efforts. The Pelotonia 2025 theme is Together as One, celebrating the power of community and the collective impact of tens of thousands of people focused on a single mission. Watch the Pelotonia 2025 Launch Video here.
Opening Ceremony and Ride Weekend on August 1-3
To kick off Pelotonia’s signature events in August, Opening Ceremony is a community-rallying party of 15,000 guests in downtown Columbus on August 1. Attendees enjoy an inspirational stage program and live music entertainment. The 2025 Opening Ceremony headliner act will be announced soon.
Now in its 17th year, Ride Weekend gathers more than 7,000 Riders, 3,000 Volunteers and countless spectators. Road cycling route distances range from 24 to 190 miles with fundraising commitments starting at $1,250. Ride routes and start/finish lines will continue to offer incredible new experiences alongside community favorites. One-day ride options range from 24 to 100-mile routes. Those interested in the two-day rides of 153 or 190 miles will have the option of an overnight stay at Kenyon College. Route overviews and estimates are listed below; final route distances and maps will be communicated in the coming months.
Saturday, August 2:
- 24-Mile Route: Downtown Columbus to New Albany Schools
- 50-Mile Route: Downtown Columbus to Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Headquarters in New Albany
- 63-Mile Route: New Albany Schools to Kenyon College in Gambier
- 100-Mile Route: Downtown Columbus to Kenyon College in Gambier
Sunday, August 3:
- 30-Mile Route: New Albany Loop
Two-Day Routes:
- 153-Mile Route (Saturday 63-Mile Route and Sunday 90-Mile Route): New Albany Schools to Kenyon College in Gambier on Saturday; Gambier to New Albany Schools on Sunday
- 190-Mile Route (Saturday 100-Mile Route and Sunday 90-Mile Route): Downtown Columbus to Kenyon College in Gambier on Saturday; Gambier to New Albany Schools on Sunday
- Any Saturday Route and 30-Mile Loop on Sunday
Gravel Day on October 4 with New Trail Run/Hike
Gravel Day offers Pelotonia participants unique adventures on the scenic, gravel roads of Southeast Ohio. Introduced as a new event in 2023, Riders for the third annual Gravel Day can select from 11, 25, and 48-mile looped cycling route options through the hills of Athens County, each with a minimum fundraising commitment of $1,500.
New for 2025, Pelotonia is introducing a Trail Run/Hike to the Gravel Day experience. Participants will enjoy a 5K looped route through the picturesque property of Snow Fork Event Center, with Runners and Hikers able to complete the route twice if a 10K total distance is desired. 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 then enter the 5K Trail Run/Hike course.
Saturday, October 4:
- 11-Mile Route: Nelsonville Loop; More than 900 feet total elevation gain
- 25-Mile Route: Nelsonville Loop; More than 1,600 feet total elevation gain
- 48-Mile Route: Nelsonville Loop; More than 4,200 feet total elevation gain
- 5K Trail Run/Hike: Nelsonville Loop; Option to complete looped route twice for 10K total distance
To extend the Gravel Day weekend experience, Pelotonia added a Friday night community gathering with acoustic music, food, drinks, and s’mores ahead of the Saturday Ride and Trail Run/Hike. Participants and supporters are also invited to camp overnight onsite in tents or RVs.
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 3-7
Pelotonia staff headquarters recently moved to The Ohio State University’s innovation district on west campus. Located at the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center (2281 Kenny Road, Suite 450), the organization is now 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.
Pelotonia is inviting the general public to visit its new office space for open houses throughout the week of March 3-7. In addition to information about getting involved in Pelotonia 2025, attendees will enjoy food and drinks, meet Pelotonia-funded Scholars to learn about their research, participate in games to win prizes and connect with community members passionate about ending cancer. New Pelotonia merchandise including apparel for adults and youth will be available to purchase onsite. Attendees may also pick up 2025 Pelotonia arrow car magnets and yard signs.
Pelotonia HQ Open Houses:
- Monday, March 3: 4:30-6pm
- Tuesday, March 4: 9-10am and 4:30-6pm
- Wednesday, March 5: 9-10am and 4:30-6pm
- Thursday, March 6: 9-10am and 4:30-6pm
- Friday, March 7: 9-10am
2024 Impact Report Now Available
In collaboration with OSUCCC – James, Pelotonia released its 2024 Impact Report to share the community events and innovative initiatives which inspire the philanthropy accelerating critical funds for innovative cancer research. The annual report provides updates from the OSUCCC – James on Pelotonia-funded research and investments made with the support of Pelotonia dollars.
Research highlights within the report include:
- Support from Pelotonia funding paved the way for OSUCCC – James researchers to receive a five-year, $3.04 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study a new CAR T-cell therapy being tested in a first-in-human trial for aggressive blood cancers.
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the OSUCCC – James opened a $100 million, 55,000-square-foot Proton Therapy Center. The state-of-the-art facility offers highly targeted radiation therapy for treating complex tumors for both adult and pediatric patients at a single location.
- A new cancer drug discovered and developed at Ohio State will soon be used for cancer treatment as part of a phase I, first-in-human clinical trial available only at the OSUCCC – James. The trial will first enroll patients with solid tumors and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
- Researchers at the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology are testing a new cell-based immunotherapy for patients with Stage IV lung cancer. The first global phase II clinical trial showed the approach was safe and effective in treating metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer.
Anyone interested in participating in Pelotonia 2025 can sign up at pelotonia.org/register.
To learn more about the impact of Pelotonia dollars, including the work of The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, visit pelotonia.org/impact and pelotonia.org/institute.
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