Merrilee Thomas is a gravel racer with True Grit Racing based in Bozeman, Montana. A scientist by profession and endurance athlete by passion, she first fell in love with gravel cycling through the freedom to cover big miles, explore remote roads, and spend entire days on two-wheeled adventures.
Those long rides eventually led her to a handful of local gravel races, where she discovered she enjoyed the challenge of testing herself in a competitive environment. What began as a way to explore Montana's backroads quickly evolved into a passion for racing and a desire to see how far she could push her potential as an athlete.
After a successful season last year, Merrilee has fully embraced the steep learning curve that comes with gravel racing. Each race is an opportunity to gain experience, build fitness, and become a stronger competitor. She is driven by the challenge of continual improvement and the pursuit of becoming the best version of herself on and off the bike.
Her 2026 race calendar includes some of the sport's premier events, including The Last Best Ride, Lauf Gravel Worlds, USA Cycling Gravel National Championships, and Big Sugar Gravel.
Looking ahead to 2027, Merrilee hopes to expand her race schedule, compete at more events across the country, and continue learning, growing, and improving as a gravel racer while proudly representing True Grit Racing.
