Lachlan Morton Will Ride Historic Pony Express Route
The cyclist will depart St. Joseph, Missouri, on October 5, 2026, to cover the 3,164-kilometre trail.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Cycling
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Lachlan Morton is set to begin a 3,164-kilometre journey along the historic Pony Express route on October 5, 2026. The 34-year-old cyclist will depart from St. Joseph, Missouri, and finish in Sacramento, California, while delivering letters.
Why it matters
The ride marks Morton's transition away from professional team racing after six seasons with EF Education-EasyPost. He is now shifting his focus entirely to endurance adventures and long-distance cycling challenges.
Morton will navigate the 3,164-kilometre route using a combination of his Cannondale TopStone gravel bike, SuperSix road bike, and Scalpel mountain bike. The original horse relay legs measured approximately 120 kilometres or 75 miles each.
The players
Lachlan Morton
He is a 34-year-old professional cyclist known for completing the entire 2021 Tour de France route solo.
EF Education-EasyPost
This is a professional cycling team that employed Morton for six seasons.
The details
To honor the historical mail delivery service of the 1860s, Morton plans to carry and deliver letters along the trail. He identified the terrain in Nevada as the most challenging portion of the cross-country endeavor.
Timeline
October 5, 2026: The start date for Morton's Pony Express ride.
September 2026: Morton competed in his final race with EF Education-EasyPost in Yorkshire.
2023: Morton established the fastest time on the Tour Divide.
1861: The year the fastest time was set by original horse-mounted riders.
1860s: The era when Pony Express riders operated across the American West.
Season Trajectory
Morton’s shift away from WorldTour team commitments represents a broader move toward independent cycling adventures. This transition mirrors a growing trend among elite cyclists who are increasingly prioritizing personal endurance challenges over professional team racing rosters.
Morton will be cycling across multiple states, focusing on high-endurance performance rather than competitive team standings. His route involves switching between road, gravel, and mountain bike setups to navigate varying terrain.
The takeaway
Morton's decision highlights how modern professional cyclists are redefining their careers by pivoting to independent endurance projects. Fans of the sport can implement his approach of selecting specialized equipment for varied terrain to improve their own long-distance riding experiences.
What happens next
The journey begins on October 5, 2026, when Morton departs St. Joseph, Missouri, to start the 3,164-kilometre ride toward Sacramento.
Further reading
Find more information on professional athletes moving into independent challenges in the Cycling section.
More information
To see updates on the route, Follow Morton's Pony Express ride.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cyclingnews.
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