DENVER, FEBRUARY 4 – The Denver Post Ride The Rockies (RTR) Bicycle Tour presented by Flexential, (formerly Peak10 + ViaWest) announced its 2018 tour route to an excited crowd gathered for the annual RTR Route Announcement Party held at the Cable Center on Saturday, February 3. The 2018 ride will be a loop, beginning and ending in the Front Range accessible mountain town of Breckenridge. The tour will span over six days beginning with the RTR Bike Expo on Saturday, June 9 and ending with finish line festivities on Friday, June 15.
The 2018 Ride The Rockies Tour will showcase the communities of Breckenridge, Edwards, Steamboat Springs, Grand Lake and Winter Park. Cyclists will ‘Ride The Loop’ by beginning their epic ride in Breckenridge and returning to the historic mining town to cross the finish line and celebrate. Each town in the 2018 tour offers spectacular hospitality and the quintessential charm of Colorado’s mountain culture.
“Ride The Rockies provides the best opportunity for cycling enthusiasts from all over the world to experience what Colorado is known for – its stunning Rocky Mountains,” said Jason Carolan, chief cloud officer of Flexential. “For the fifth consecutive year, we are proud to put our name behind this iconic event for Colorado that continues to innovate and draw more cyclists to participate. The opportunity to explore our unique towns and passes for an even better cause is reason in-of-itself to not only participate in the bike tour but support it.”
Tour highlights include Fremont Pass, Tennessee Pass, State Bridge, Rabbit Ears Pass and Ute Pass. The tour will cover 418 miles and ascend 25,935 vertical feet in elevation as RTR riders experience endurance days as well as days of lower mileage. For the first time, on June 12, RTR will open up the ride to outside participants for “Ride The Rockies’ Steamboat Springs 1-Day Loop.” The loop-day ride, open to riders and locals alike, will be 48 miles and end with an unforgettable party in Steamboat.
“Our hope is that by creating a loop tour close to the I-70 corridor, it will be more accessible to riders on and off the bike.” said RTR’s new Tour Director, Deirdre Moynihan, a seasoned cycling professional whose recent bike events include Colorado Classic/Velorama, Denver Century Ride and Mavic Haute Route Rockies. “We believe this route will entice our veteran cyclists, as well as draw in new folks.”
Ride The Rockies, the biggest fundraiser for The Denver Post Community Foundation, has opened up their registration for applicants to sign up on a first come, first served basis, moving away from the former lottery process. Registration prices are tiered, allowing the first 500 applicants to register at the lowest Tier 1 price level. The 33rd annual RTR tour will admit 2,000 cyclists who will join us from around the state, across the US and even overseas.
Cyclists will have the opportunity to either camp or stay at hotels in the different host communities that RTR visits along the route. At the heart of RTR is a group of people who make the tour possible and consider Ride The Rockies to be like family. These loyal volunteers have been involved with the RTR tour since its inception and continue to pour their time, energy and passion into making the tour a classic Colorado event.
Prior to the tour, the Ride The Rockies VIP Prologue Experience will take place Friday, June 8 – Sunday, June 10 near the start line of RTR in Breckenridge. Prologue participants will ride, wine and dine with cycling celebrities in Breckenridge, a town historically referred to as “Colorado’s Kingdom.” Prologue riders will join an elite group of celebrity cyclists, including cycling legends Mara Abbott and Chris Anthony, for a ride up and over Hoosier Pass, ending in Fairplay, where the VIP group will enjoy an elegant lunch and wine tasting in the middle of South Park City, a restored mining town. The dining experience will continue after guests enjoy afternoon massages with a western dinner served at the famous Country Boy Mine.
Ride The Rockies is made possible by these sponsors: Flexential (formerly Peak10 + ViaWest), Suncor, King Soopers, and Odell Brewing Co.
To learn more about Ride the Rockies, please visit the organization online at www.ridetherockies.com.
To learn more about Ride the Rockies’ premier sponsor, Flexential, please visit them online at www.flexential.com.
Will Ride the Rockies allow E-bikes or will they be banned.