The Pan-Mass Challenge is moving to Worcester! The inaugural Worcester start will replace the Sturbridge start in 2026. The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester will be our new start location, where we will have expanded space and modern resources.
Thank You, Sturbridge!
With the wind at our backs and nostalgia in our hearts, PMC 2025 will mark an end to a beloved tradition: the PMC will make its last ride from the Sturbridge Host Hotel start line this year.
The town of Sturbridge has been an amazing partner to the PMC since 1981 (our second year), and starting PMC Weekend at the Host has become a cherished tradition for many of our riders. We salute the town, its citizens, and the many public servants and local businesses that have been wonderful PMC supporters for more than four decades.
August 2025 will be the last opportunity to ride the PMC from Sturbridge. Let’s go out in style! As a reminder, PMC 2025 rider registration opens to Heavy Hitters (those who raised $10,000 or more in 2024) on January 9, to alumni on January 13, and to the public on January 16.
Hello, Worcester!
The PMC is always looking to provide riders with the best weekend cycling experience possible. Moving our central Massachusetts start to Worcester will allow us to do just that.
Our two-day routes have remained essentially unchanged since 2000, when Babson College in Wellesley opened as a hub site. College campuses have been terrific upgrades for the PMC, as exemplified by our experience at Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne (since 1985) and Babson College (2000). Holy Cross will be another such upgrade for the PMC community.
The first 23 miles out of Worcester will be new to the PMC, offering beautiful pastoral scenery, rural backroads, and some hills before cyclists merge with the previous Sturbridge route just prior to the Franklin water stop. Rest assured, Cherry Street is still on the route, allowing riders to enjoy long-standing traditions while embracing this exciting new chapter.
In the spring of 2025, the PMC will disclose a list of preferred Worcester-area hotels with PMC group rates and shuttle service to the Holy Cross campus. Riders are asked to not book hotel rooms until these preferred hotels are under contract and announced.
Find out more about PMC 2026, including the proposed route and FAQs at pmc.org/ride/worcester.
