The annual Denver Post Ride the Rockies Cycling Tour, Presented by Flexential, is celebrating its 34th year as the beloved Colorado institution and one of the Denver Post Community Foundation’s signature events. The 2019 route is a seven day loop, beginning and ending in one of the Centennial State’s most famous mountain towns, Crested Butte. The ride will take place from Sunday, June 9th to Saturday, June 15th, and is prefaced with a opening day prologue, which starts on Mt. Crested Butte on Saturday, June 8th. From there, day one of the 2019 Ride the Rockies promises to pack a punch as riders will roll west out of town, straight up Kebler Pass. The daily mileage varies between 40 miles and 83 miles, with total of 445 mi., and approximately 28,230 feet in total elevation gain.
“The 2019 Ride The Rockies showcases some our Colorado's most iconic passes and it is an epic climbing Tour. They will ride over beautiful passes as well as have vistas and views of the surrounding mountain ranges and valleys. Not only will the participants in this year's Tour want to come back and visit but some will never want to leave,” said Ride the Rockies Tour Director, Deirdre Moynihan.
Each day will bring its own highlights and challenges for the advenventous, citizen cyclists. Certain days will consist of higher mileage endurance rides, offset with lower mileage days, including the final 31.2 mile celebratory stage on Day 8 from Gunnison to Mount Crested Butte. These last 31.2 miles will serve as both a home stretch and recovery ride from the previous Day 6. On Day 6, riders will complete the climax of the race in terms of elevation gain, gaining almost 7,000 feet from Hotchkiss to Gunnison. Other tour highlights include the Collegiate Peaks, Monarch Pass, Independence Pass, Black Canyon and Gunnison National Park. Day 2 will serve as the longest day of the 2019 Ride the Rockies tour, and while the first 32 miles on this day are mostly flat, the climbing is set to begin as riders will grind their way up towards their second encounter with the Continental Divide.
“We are proud to put our name behind this iconic Colorado event for the sixth consecutive year," said Jason Carolan, chief innovation officer of Flexential. "The event continues to gain notoriety, attracting cycling enthusiasts from all over the world to the Rocky Mountains, and most importantly supporting a great philanthropic cause.”
The epic ride encompasses sublime scenery and showcases some of Colorado’s most spectacular mountain towns, including; Buena Vista, Snowmass, Carbondale, Hotchkiss, Gunnison, and of course, Crested Butte. The accessibility of a once bustling mining hub, downtown Crested Butte, gives riders traveling from farther distances an added convenience by allowing them to have a home base to park automobiles and leave essentials where the ride will begin and end. Additionally, for the second year in a row, RTR will open up the ride to outside participants for “Ride The Rockies’ 1-Day Loop,” on Sunday, June 9th. The loop-day ride, open to riders and locals alike, will be a 63 mile loop starting and ending in Crested Butte.
Ride The Rockies is a non-competitive event that is no longer held as a lottery event. The ride is currently open to cyclists of all ages, and participants are encouraged to ride at their own pace. All registrations are on a first come, first serve basis, until the ride is sold out. Proceeds from the event benefit The Denver Post Community Foundation and all the funds raised are returned directly to Colorado nonprofits. Open Registration to the public begins on January 18th, and a list of everything that the tour fee includes can be found on the website at www.ridetherockies.com/registration/.
