UPDATE: 'We are on, until we are not' - Mid South Gravel thrown into chaos as area wildfires force evacuations

One of the premier gravel races in the United States, Mid South Gravel, has been thrown into chaos as fast-moving wildfires erupted around the host city of Stillwater, Oklahoma.

High winds, with gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour, tore through central Oklahoma on Thursday morning, just as the official trail-running event got underway and cyclists were preparing for the main gravel race scheduled for Saturday.

While high winds are nothing new to Oklahoma, the combination of extreme gusts and dry conditions created prime conditions for wildfire outbreaks.

As thick smoke blew into Stillwater, painting the skies in hues of orange and brown, race organisers swiftly decided to pull runners off the course and suspend all scheduled activities. Electrical outages soon followed, and emergency officials issued evacuation orders for several parts of the city. Those not in immediate danger have been urged to shelter in place, with many athletes gathering at the Stillwater Community Center.

"We are sharing an unprecedented moment in time right here, right now," commented race organiser Bobby Wintle on Friday night.

"People's homes are being lost, people's properties that they've owned for decades upon decades are currently burning and on fire... and that breaks my heart."

"As of now, I believe every single participant is safe and inside the city limits of Stillwater. I have had no communication as far as any emergency situations or accidents or anything of that sort, Everyone, I believe, has made it home safe."

High winds continue to agitate the active fires in the region, but the gravel race has yet to be officially canceled.

"We are on until we are not," said Wintle, explaining that they expect conditions to improve overnight as the winds shift.

The elite race will depart the downtown starting line at 7:30 a.m. sharp. Race crews will inspect the course and remove debris and obstacles overnight.

"We are absolutely on top of this, I promise you," Wintle said.

Should organisers have to cancel the event, announcements will be made on social media. Even if the event isn't officially canceled, elite athletes—many of whom have been seen wearing masks—are voicing concerns about competing in the hazardous air. Pollution levels remain as high as 250 AQI in some areas, well into the "very unhealthy" range.

Mid South Gravel is one of the top races on the gravel calendar, with thousands of amateur and elite racers making the trek to Oklahoma each year to conquer the dirt roads the race is known for. For the elite field, it's often considered the season opener and a good test of fitness and equipment alike before the Life Time Grand Prix kicks off in April. Some years, the race is dry, which leads to a very fast course. When it’s wet, the race is a different story, with “peanut butter” mud clogging bike frames and reducing sections to run-ups.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for further updates.