CABLE, WI (2/28/26) – The 2026 Fat Bike Birkie, the premier fat tire bike race in the Midwest, delivered another high-energy, adrenaline-packed event on Saturday.
Riders from 14 states (Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Missouri, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Washington, Indiana) and even one rider from New South Wales, Australia tackled the legendary Birkie Trails, pushing their limits on snow-packed terrain in the Big Fat (47K), Half Fat (21K), and Fun Fat (10K) races. With clear skies and fast conditions, competitors hit the course at 9AM and battled for the podium. At the starting gun, the temperature was 9° getting as high as 13°, keeping the snow-covered trail frozen and fast.
Men’s Big Fat winner Corey Stelljes took home the top spot for the third year in a row, beating his 2025 winning time by over a minute. Jennifer Youngwerth, the women’s Big Fat winner, also bested her 2025 time having placed second last year. Additional podium finishers include:
2026 Big Fat Overall Winners:
| Big Fat 47K – Male | Age | Time | Big Fat 21K – Women | Age | Time |
| Corey STELLJES | M40-49 | 1:45:46 | Jennifer YOUNGWERTH | F40-49 | 2:15:48 |
| Sean COOLEY | M40-49 | 1:47:13 | Heather STELLJES | F40-49 | 2:20:36 |
| Nick NYGAARD | M30-39 | 1:47:16 | Kimberly HOLAK | F50-59 | 2:31:56 |
2026 Half Fat Overall Winners:
| Half Fat 47K – Male | Age | Time | Half Fat 21K – Women | Age | Time |
| Aaron VANDENBUSCH | M40-49 | 48:23 | Meredith DUCUNS | F40-49 | 1:00:58 |
| Matthew BOSMAN | M40-49 | 48:24 | Marin PATNODE | F12-17 | 1:01:45 |
| Logan GRIM | M12-17 | 48:25 | Kathleen PALMER | F40-49 | 1:03:09 |
A huge thank you to all the racers, spectators, and volunteers who made this year’s Fat Bike Birkie an unforgettable experience. The energy, camaraderie, and passion for fat biking were on full display, proving once again why this race is a must-ride event!
For more information and to register for future events, please visit birkie.com/. Additional media to accompany this story be found by visiting: https://www.birkie.com/2026/02/fast-course-conditions-at-fat-bike-birkie-2026/ Additional comment media@birkie.com | 715-575-1168
