Mark Myles still calls Owensboro home, even as his cycling career continues to take him across the country.
The 26-year-old, who grew up in Utica just south of Owensboro, has emerged as a rising competitor on the national gravel cycling circuit, building his own racing program and competing in some of the sport’s top events.
Myles was introduced to cycling at a young age through his father, who raced and operated regional teams. Growing up in a rural area, he spent much of his childhood riding quiet backroads, developing an early feel for the sport.
“As a kid, you have a bike and you just kind of piddle around,” Myles said. “We were in the country, so I couldn’t really ride on sidewalks or anything, but we had those little one- or two-lane roads where nobody was around.”
Though cycling was always part of his life, Myles initially focused on soccer, playing competitively through high school at Daviess County. That changed after a strong showing at a national cyclocross race, when he made the decision to fully commit to cycling.
“I told mom and dad I wanted to pursue cycling as a full-time thing,” Myles said. “I’d always loved the sport, but that’s when it really clicked.”
The decision came with a trade-off. Myles stepped away from soccer just before Daviess County’s back-to-back state championship runs — something he still reflects on.
“I’ve always been kicking myself in the rear end on that one,” he said.
Myles spent several years focused on cyclocross, a high-intensity discipline that blends off-road riding with running. But as gravel cycling began to surge in popularity in the late 2010s, he transitioned into longer-distance races that better suited his skill set.
Gravel cycling — often contested on remote, unpaved roads — has grown rapidly, offering a mix of endurance, technical riding, and strategy.
“It’s kind of like the adventure side of cycling,” Myles said. “You can get off road, not see many cars, and just kind of explore.”
In 2021, Myles launched his own program, MM Racing, allowing him to partner with sponsors and compete more independently on the national circuit.
His 2026 season opened with a major result — a win at the Dirty South Roubaix in Alto Pass, Illinois, a 62-mile race run in wet and grueling conditions.
“I went over the top solo and never looked back,” Myles said. “It was about two and a half hours solo to the finish.”
The victory carried added meaning. Myles said he had learned earlier that week that his grandfather had passed away.
“That gave me a little extra motivation to give it everything I had,” he said.
A week later, Myles lined up at Mid South Gravel in Stillwater, Oklahoma, one of the largest gravel events in the country with roughly 3,000 participants. Racing in the pro field, he was part of a fast early pace before mechanical and physical issues forced him to withdraw.
“I had to pull out, and that’s tough,” Myles said. “I’m not someone who likes to quit, but I couldn’t even really push on the pedal.”
Even with the setback, Myles remains focused on a demanding race schedule that spans multiple states and includes some of the sport’s most competitive events.
Among his goals is improving on a seventh-place finish at Unbound Gravel, widely considered one of the premier races in the United States.
“I’m hoping to move up a couple spots there,” he said.
Now based in Evansville, Myles still trains frequently in the Owensboro area. His preparation often includes long weekend rides lasting four to six hours, building the endurance needed for races that can exceed 100 miles.
“It’s long days in the saddle,” he said.
Beyond physical fitness, Myles said gravel racing also requires a deep understanding of equipment and race conditions — an aspect of the sport he enjoys.
“There’s a lot of setup that goes into it,” he said. “That technical side is something I’ve always liked.”
As gravel cycling continues to grow, Myles is embracing both the opportunities and unpredictability that come with competing at a high level.
“It’s the highs and lows of the sport,” Myles said. “You just try to ride the highs as long as you can.”
From the quiet roads of Utica to national podiums, Myles continues to build his career one race at a time — carrying his hometown roots with him along the way.
