WORCESTER, Mass. - It’s billed as the world's most successful athletic fundraiser, and the Pan-Mass Challenge will move to Worcester in 2026 from its traditional location in Sturbridge.  

The new starting line is the College of the Holy Cross. The ride's founder Billy Starr says over the last 40-plus years they have simply grown too big for the Sturbridge Host Hotel, which is why they decided to move their operation to the city of Worcester.  

"Something that I value more than tradition is an opportunity to increase the quality, comfort, and safety of the PMC weekend," said Starr.  

The decision to move the PMC's start wasn't an easy one for Starr. The ride has been in Sturbridge since the bike-a-thon’s second year in 1981. But it's a move that has been in the works for more than a decade.  

"Everything is about making it better, to accommodate more, with four seasons-level service for 7,000 people on bikes," Starr said.  

Holy Cross will also host opening ceremonies for the iconic ride, which surpassed $1 billion raised for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute earlier this year.  

"Even just to play a very small role in the work that they're doing was tremendously meaningful," said Kit Hughes, Holy Cross' vice president for intercollegiate athletics. "Like I said, eager for 2026."  

Discussions about the starting line date back to Tim Murray's run as the city’s mayor. Now president of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, he describes hosting thousands of riders, family members and volunteers as a big win.  

"That brings repeat visitors, which is really good for our hospitality, travel, and tourism industry, which is a big part of our economy here locally," Murray said.  

The route will drop from 109 miles to 100, trek through a number of new towns, and see a significant drop in the amount of vertical climbing. Holy Cross says the new partnership also honors the city's rich cycling history, with Worcester's connections to historical figures like Major Taylor.  

"We feel a responsibility to support events of this nature through our community whether it's the largest athletics fundraising event in the world or even smaller local events," said Hughes.  

The upcoming PMC in August will take place as usual in Sturbridge. A place Starr says will always be near and dear to his heart.