LOTOJA Pacing Arrival
Calculator
The LOTOJA Classic is a 203-mile one-day road race from Logan, UT to Jackson, WY with three major climbs (Strawberry, Geneva, Salt River Pass) and multiple time cutoffs. First-time finishers typically run 11-13 hours (16-19 mph). This calculator converts your target finish time into a leg-by-leg arrival schedule, cutoff buffers, climb power targets, and a per-hour fueling plan.
Pick your category, set a target finish time, and enter your email to unlock your plan. You get a complete arrival schedule for every feed zone and cutoff point on the course, built around your goal time.
Distances and cutoffs come directly from the official 2026 LOTOJA Cyclist Bible. Optional FTP and body weight inputs unlock climb power targets and a per-hour fueling estimate for the full effort.
Enter a target finish time to see your leg-by-leg arrival schedule and cutoff gaps
How This Is Calculated
Leg distances and cutoff times come directly from the official 2026 LOTOJA Cyclist Bible. Leg time fractions (13% / 15% / 26% / 25% / 15% / 19-21%) are derived from typical LOTOJA finish patterns: Leg 1 is the flat Cache Valley warmup; Legs 2 and 3 contain the major climbs (Strawberry 22 mi, Geneva, Salt River KOM at 7,630 ft); Leg 4 is rolling through Star Valley; Leg 5 descends through Snake River Canyon to Teton Village with one final climb. Headwinds, weather, group dynamics, and individual climbing strength shift these fractions by 2 to 5% in either direction.
Climb time estimates apportion ~60% of Leg 2 time to the Strawberry climb, ~25% of Leg 3 time to Geneva, and ~20% of Leg 3 time to Salt River, based on the climb-to-leg distance and gradient ratios. Sustained climb power targets (80-88% FTP for Strawberry, 88-95% FTP for Salt River) reflect typical endurance pacing guidance for sustained efforts of 45 to 90 minutes.
Calorie burn estimates use 4.5 kcal per pound per hour, an average for sustained moderate-intensity cycling: a 160 lb rider finishing in 10 hours comes out near 7,200 kcal, inside the 6,000 to 10,000 most LOTOJA finishers' head units report and close to the 6,000 to 7,300 riders with power meters record. A power meter is the most accurate check, since one kilojoule of pedaling work costs roughly one calorie. The "up to 15,000" figure often quoted for LOTOJA is a ceiling, not a typical day; it would mean averaging roughly 400 watts for 10 hours. Per-hour fueling targets (60 to 90g carbs / 240 to 360 kcal per hour) follow the standard sports nutrition guidance for events over 2 hours.
This is a planning tool, not a prediction. Use the splits as a pacing reference, not a guarantee. Veteran tip: build a 10 to 15% buffer against the published cutoff times. The numbers above are what success looks like; race day always asks for a little more.
Not Medical Or Nutrition Advice
This calculator and the resulting plan are educational only. Endurance sports carry inherent risks and individual nutrition needs vary. Athletes should consult a qualified healthcare professional or a registered sports dietitian before applying any nutrition, hydration, or supplementation strategy, especially if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, take medications, or are training through injury. Use this information at your own risk.
LOTOJA Race-Day Weather and Sodium
At LOTOJA, plan two sodium tiers: 500 to 700 mg per hour through the cool morning passes, then 800 to 1000 mg per hour once the afternoon heat builds from Afton to Jackson. Salty sweaters should run 1000 to 1200 mg per hour late, and pre-load 1000 to 1500 mg sodium in the 24 hours before the 6 AM start.
38-88°F · low humidity
Climate
hot
Humidity
low
Cutoff
8:30 PM (Teton Village finish)
10-yr avg high
78°F
10-yr avg low
50°F
Record high / low
88° / 38°F
Years with rain
40%
Where the sodium deficit builds
LOTOJA is a temperature swing event. You roll out of Logan at 6 AM in 40F kit and finish in Jackson with afternoon temperatures often pushing 85F. Sweat rate climbs across the day even at the same effort, and most athletes underestimate the cumulative sodium deficit on the back half of the course (Afton to Jackson) where the climbing stops, the heat peaks, and pacing relaxes. Aid stations are well stocked, but the stretch from the Geneva descent onto Salt River Pass is the highest cramping window in the race.
Key considerations
- Plan two sodium dosing tiers: cool-morning rate for the first 60 miles, hot-afternoon rate for miles 100 to 203.
- Salt River Pass on Leg 3, the 7,630 ft KOM that follows the Geneva descent, is the most common cramping checkpoint; pre-load 600 mg sodium 30 minutes before the base.
- Aid stations carry standard sports drink (~150-200 mg sodium per bottle). Salty sweaters should carry electrolyte capsules; do not rely on the on-course supply.
- Jackson finish line averages 4-7F warmer than the Afton checkpoint; budget an extra 200 mg sodium per hour for the final 40 miles.
Free Tools, Pre-Filled For LOTOJA
Tap any tool. We pre-load your event, climate, and sweat profile. Adjust your weight and finish target and the plan generates instantly.
Sodium plan
Per-hour sodium and fluid targets for LOTOJA conditions.
Carb fueling
Hourly carb targets and a fuel menu calibrated to your weight and the LOTOJA duration.
Heat protocol
10-14 day adaptation plan if you're racing into heat.
Hydration audit
Weigh-in test that converts a 60-minute training session into a measured sweat rate.
Caffeine timing
Pre-race dose, mid-race top-ups, and race-week taper protocol for LOTOJA timing.
LOTOJA Pacing Guide: Common Questions
LOTOJA is a 203-mile one-day road race from Logan, UT to Jackson, WY with mandatory cutoffs at Preston (10:00 AM), Montpelier (1:00 PM), Afton (4:00 PM), Alpine (6:00 PM), and the finish (8:30 PM). First-time finishers target 11-13 hours; racing categories target 8-10 hours. This pacing calculator converts any target finish time into a leg-by-leg arrival schedule, cutoff buffer, and per-hour fueling plan.
How do LOTOJA cutoff times actually work?
LOTOJA cutoffs are fixed clock times, the same for every wave: Preston 10:00 AM, Strawberry 12:00 PM, Montpelier 1:00 PM, Salt River 3:00 PM, Afton 4:00 PM, Alpine 6:00 PM, Game Creek 7:30 PM and the finish at 8:30 PM. Missing one is a DNF, and because the clock does not move with your wave, a later start leaves less margin. The pacing calculator shows your arrival time at every cutoff alongside the deadline, so you can see your buffer in minutes.
What is a realistic LOTOJA finish time for a first-timer?
First-time LOTOJA finishers in the cyclist category typically finish in the 11 to 13 hour range, averaging 16 to 19 mph. Strong recreational riders with structured training often finish in 9 to 11 hours (19 to 22 mph). Racing categories (Cat 1/2/3) target 8 to 10 hours. The calculator builds your arrival schedule around any target finish time you enter; entering an unrealistic time will surface cutoff conflicts immediately.
How long is LOTOJA?
LOTOJA is 203 miles from Logan, Utah to Teton Village, Wyoming, with about 9,800 ft of climbing. It is still often quoted at 206 miles, a figure from earlier versions of the route, which has changed over the years. The Cyclosportive Ride starts on a longer first leg to Preston, so its riders cover about 5 more miles than the Licensed Race. The calculator uses the official leg distances for whichever class you pick.
How long are the climbs at LOTOJA?
The three big climbs are Strawberry (Leg 2, a 22-mile climb topping out at 7,424 ft), Geneva (early in Leg 3, 6,923 ft) and Salt River Pass (Leg 3, the 7,630 ft KOM). With FTP and body weight inputs, the calculator returns estimated climb times in minutes and goal wattage for each climb, scaled to your goal finish time.
How many calories does LOTOJA burn?
For a 70kg rider finishing in 10 hours, total calorie burn is roughly 6,500 to 8,000 kcal, depending on tempo. The 80g per hour carb fueling target translates to about 800g of carbs over the day (3,200 kcal of intake), leaving roughly half the calorie burn to come from stored glycogen and fat. The tool returns a per-hour fueling estimate based on body weight and effort.
When should I leave each feed zone?
Plan 4 to 7 minutes per feed zone, longer at Afton (the first major refuel) and shorter at later feeds where you are pulling bottles and gels and rolling. Sort bags by zone the night before. The calculator outputs both arrival time and recommended departure time, so you can give your crew a usable schedule.
Does LOTOJA have a wave start or a mass start?
LOTOJA uses a wave start. Packs are released at four minute intervals, alternating between the Licensed Race and Cyclosportive Ride classes, so consecutive packs in the same class go off eight minutes apart. In 2025 the first pack left at 5:30 AM and the last at 6:58 AM, an 88 minute spread. Because every LOTOJA cutoff is an absolute wall-clock deadline, that spread changes your margins substantially. The calculator pre-fills your wave from the published pack schedule when you pick your category, and you can edit it to your exact time. Start order is finalized in August and shifts year to year, so confirm it against the wave sheet in your LOTOJA Cyclist Bible.
Can LOTOJA support crews follow their cyclists on the race route?
No. LOTOJA prohibits support vehicles from driving on the same roads as racers during active legs. Crews must use official support vehicle detour routes that run parallel to but separate from the race course. Violating this rule can result in a time penalty or disqualification for your rider. The official LOTOJA Cyclist Bible includes the required detour routes and feed zone parking instructions for each section.
How do LOTOJA feed zones work for support crews?
The major supported feed zones (Preston, Montpelier, Afton, Alpine) are divided into numbered stations, typically 1 through 9. Before race day, you and your rider must agree on a specific station number to meet at for each zone. Arrive at the zone before your rider's projected time, walk to your numbered station with pre-packed nutrition bags, and stand clear of the incoming lane until your rider pulls in. Plan for 4 to 7 minutes per stop and pre-stage your bags the night before.
What should a LOTOJA support crew do if they miss their rider at a feed zone?
Cell coverage through the canyons of Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming is unreliable, and live tracking apps often lag or drop entirely. If you miss your rider, check with the ham radio operators or timing volunteers at that checkpoint to confirm their bib number cleared the timing mat. Always carry a printed crew schedule with projected arrival windows and a manual offset chart so you can recalculate fallback ETAs without cell service. The LOTOJA Crew Chief Kit (beetrootpro.com/tools/lotoja-pacing/crew-kit) includes a printable dashboard sheet and offset chart designed for exactly this scenario.
How much sodium should I take per hour at LOTOJA?
For an average-profile cyclist targeting a 10-hour finish in typical September conditions, 600 to 800 mg per hour is the working window. Salty sweaters often need 900 to 1200 mg per hour during the afternoon segments (Afton to Jackson). Use the calculator with your actual weight and sweat profile to dial it in.
When does the climate shift from cool to hot?
The first feed zone in Preston is typically still in the morning shade and runs 50-65F. The climb to Strawberry summit warms quickly. By Montpelier, at the end of Leg 2, most years are 70F+. The Snake River Canyon descent at Alpine is the hottest segment of the course, often peaking at 85-90F in early-September afternoons.
Is LOTOJA hot enough to require pre-race sodium loading?
Yes, especially for salty sweaters. The combination of a 10-13 hour effort, late-day heat, and limited shade after Alpine makes pre-race sodium loading meaningfully impactful. Add 1000-1500 mg sodium in the 24 hours before the start, weighted toward the night-before meal and race-morning breakfast.
More LOTOJA Tools
Every LOTOJA page links the rest: the race guide, the pacing calculator, finish times by category, the feed zone playbook and the crew kit.
Race guide
Course, climbs, the four-week countdown, nutrition rules and a leg-by-leg playbook.
OpenFinish times
Three years of verified finish times by category, so you set a goal against riders like you.
OpenFeed zones
What to eat, carry and hand off at each feed zone, and the crew routing rules.
OpenCrew kit
Printable dashboard sheet, 3-bag packing guide and emergency protocol for your crew.
Open