A viral video of a rider being rammed by a bull in 2022 has certainly raised the profile of the BMC Rock Cobbler Gravel event. Race organizer Sam Ames, who did not want to promote the Bakersfield, California, event, said registration was up 73% this year.

The Rock Cobbler 10.0 course will still take riders through the infamous "Dead Bull Road," but additional measures have been taken to ensure that riders will not encounter angry bulls again.

"The bulls are a surprise feature and something we don't want to see again," Ames told Cycling News. 'You can't contain all cows. You can't contain all the cattle."

"This year we met with the ranchers, surveyed their property extensively, hired several cowboys, and had the ranchers themselves ride the quads to ensure the safety of all participants."

Ames takes pride in organizing "ridiculously hard" rides. Organizers go out of their way to include unique features such as races through someone's house or "on-course shenanigans."

For the most part, Ames wants all participants to have their own experience on the grueling 80+ mile (128 km) ride with 6,500 feet (2,000 m) of climbing, but getting stung by a bull is not on the list.

"In nine years, I have never had a single problem with a cow. Every year I passed cows without incident and I think I just got unlucky as I grew up! I'm kind of wild and crazy when it comes to this event, but I'm not reckless and I don't want to jeopardize anyone's safety"

.

The Rock Cobbler, now in its 10th year, will have four starting waves on Saturday, randomly assigned by the plate number on the riding package. Conveners will be first in the first wave and women will be first in the second wave. All riders participating in the half distance peblers will start in the fourth and final wave.

Leading the men's contenders is Peter Stetina, the overall winner of the Cobbler 9.0. Last year's second-place finisher John Borstelmann and fourth-place finisher Christopher Blevins will also return. In the women's race, last year's third-place finisher Anna Yamauchi will lead the second wave, joined by Rachel Holzer and Monica Tucker.