Participants from Pelotonia’s 2025 Ride Weekend. Courtesy of Pelotonia.
The annual Pelotonia Ride Weekend is set to feature new experiences for participants in light of its unprecedented fundraising achievement from 2025 — $29.2 million raised for cancer research at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
Pelotonia is a Columbus-based organization raising money for cancer research at The James, primarily through its annual bike-riding event, according to the website. The 2026 opening ceremony will take place Friday, with Ride Weekend following Saturday and Sunday. This year, the event introduces a new 17-mile loop route — the shortest distance offered to date, according to a press release.?
“I am most excited to see all the survivors and caregivers and people impacted by cancer out there celebrating,” said Joe Apgar, CEO of Pelotonia and cancer survivor. “We have over 1,000 cancer survivors signed up for Pelotonia this year, which is a record.”
The opening ceremony is expected to have over 15,000 spectators, according to Apgar, in addition to 8,000 riders and 3,000 volunteers. The festivities will commence with inspirational speakers and live music at McFerson Commons and North Bank Park — located at 218 West St.
“There’s a lot more work to be done, and we have an amazing world-class team of researchers and physicians at Ohio State that show up to work every single day, trying to make the world a better place for people with cancer,” Apgar said. “We feel really lucky that we get to play a part in that.”?
The new 17-mile route will be offered Saturday only, according to the press release. It begins at the typical downtown Columbus North Bank Park starting point and goes through Bexley and Ohio State’s campus.?
“We wanted something shorter than 20 miles that felt more approachable to people,” Apgar said. “Wanting to be more inclusive and wanting more people to get to experience Pelotonia, we felt this was an amazing opportunity to do this.”?
Participants from Pelotonia’s 2025 Ride Weekend. Courtesy of Pelotonia.
Other Saturday routes include 23-mile and 46-mile courses that go through New Albany, as well as 66-mile and 100-mile routes that travel to Kenyon College in Gambier, according to the press release. Sunday offers a singular 27-mile loop of New Albany, while the two-day courses include a 131-mile and 165-mile track depending on a starting point of downtown Columbus or New Albany.?
Apgar said the event will partner with the Ohio State Police Department and the Columbus Police Department to ensure the safety of riders along the downtown Columbus and campus paths.?
Since its founding in 2009, Pelotonia has raised more than $339 million for The James from Ride Weekend participants, funding partners and sponsors, according to the press release.?
Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell, CEO of The James, credits many opportunities for cancer research, innovation and training to the funding received from Pelotonia. She said the largest investment made from the funding has been the establishment of the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology — which has increased The James’ immuno-oncology department more than tenfold.?
“[The James went] from a respectable-sized immuno-oncology program to, now, one of the largest, most productive, high-impact groups of immuno-oncology people in the country, doing all kinds of basic science, understanding the interaction of the immune system and the cancer cells, to developing novel therapies that activate the immune system to attack cancer cells,” Rathmell said.
The funding that The James has received also supports the Pelotonia Scholars Program — a scholarship for undergraduate and PhD students to partake in cancer research and special projects, Rathmell said.
“It helps us bring in some of the best and brightest minds who can do lots of really great and talented things, and bring them to focus their efforts in cancer,” Rathmell said.?
Rathmell said in the future, The James plans to focus on expanding an initiative in cancer genomics to provide comprehensive genomic profiling for every cancer patient — part of a greater goal to advance personalized medicine for all patients and eliminate county-based medical disparities for patients across Ohio.?
The James also seeks to grow their BRIDGE early on-set cancer program, Rathmell said. Cancer rates in young adults, ages 18 to 39, and early-onset cancer, in those ages 18 to 50, are actively rising, according to a blog post from The James. Pelotonia’s funding will enable researchers to study why this shift is occurring and how care for young people can be personalized to their needs.?
“The funding is amazing and does let us have this ability to take on big projects, but it gives us this tie to the community as well,” Rathmell said. “All of those projects are distinctly tied to things we’ve heard from the community, things we’re seeing as needs in the community, and we really want to be partners with community members.”?
Pelotonia fosters connections not only in the Columbus community, but in Ohio State’s.?
Sarah Thomas, a second-year in environmental public health, will ride on Team Buckeye — Ohio State’s official team — and follow the 66-mile route on her late father’s refurbished bike to honor his legacy.?
Sarah Thomas and her father, Dylan Thomas. Courtesy: Sarah Thomas.
Thomas said her father, Dylan Thomas, competed in world cycling championships in 1991, where he placed in the top 15 for downhill mountain biking. He was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer in the bones and soft tissue surrounding them, when Thomas was 3 years old, leading to his passing two years later.?
Her father’s bike went untouched for 15 years before Thomas decided to refurbish it, she said. With the help of Ohio State’s Bike Hub and her father’s friends and riding partners, the bike was completely restored.?
“It does make me feel more connected,” Thomas said. “The connection is even deeper because I am riding his bike. The bike gets a second life.”?
Thomas said she cherishes memories at the dinner table with her family. She recalled one moment when she was sitting, cranky, at the table beside her sister when her father stuck a raspberry on his nose — she found it hilarious. These are the fond memories, she said, she will think of as she rides in honor of her father.?
Rathmell said Ride Weekend defines Columbus’ sense of community. She said not only is it inspiring to see people come together for a shared cause, but it is emotional to see those personally affected stand and ride together.?
“Cancer impacts everybody and cancer doesn’t discriminate,” Apgar said. “We have people from 42 states and four different countries riding this year. It sort of proves that people show up for one another and people care about this cause. People care about each other and, more than ever, people are craving community and human connection.”?
To learn more about Pelotonia and sign up for Ride Weekend, visit the website.
