May 3, 2021–Are you looking for a quick getaway to Steamboat this weekend and want to race or join this event as a Gran Fondo? We just spoke with Corey Piscopo of the Steamboat Roubaix and while a lot of mountains are getting snow today, the roads for this race are in great condition and no snow. Racers who have been coming to ride the spectacular paved roads for the past 12 years at the Steamboat Springs Stage Race now have the Steamboat Roubaix to test their skills in spring conditions over mixed hardpack dirt and paved terrain.
Steamboat Roubaix Hell of the High Rockies will kick off from Steamboat Springs on Saturday, May 8th with Covid-mitigated staggered start waves. Split by gender and ability level, groups will race a 36, 53, or 70 mile course. USA Cycling category divisions allow participants to start and race alongside riders of the same gender and ability level in a good ol’ fashioned peloton, with group options for Juniors, Pro Men & Women, and Masters (40+). The event also features a Gran Fondo group for non categorized riders looking to spin the 36 or 53 mile routes at their own pace.
“Steamboat Roubaix is perfect for riders who want a fun but tough early season race experience set against stunning and leg-crushing terrain. Plus, we are sticking with USA Cycling to ensure fair racing rules and ability groupings” says Race Director Corey Piscopo, who also runs the Steamboat Springs Stage Race and Steamboat Velo Cycling team. “Steamboat Roubaix isn’t an ‘ultra’ distance race or a mass start Gran Fondo with thousands of racers, but instead we are following a traditional format of Pro-amateur road racing tied to our local grassroots race culture, which is a blast to participate in.”
The course terrain, potential for gnarly spring weather, and opportunity for team tactics are what make Steamboat Roubaix unique. Paying homage to the legendary Spring Classic Paris-Roubaix, riders will see between 3 and 5 dirt ‘sectors’ depending on their course length, and conditions that could range from smooth and fast to muddy. Roubaix will surely test all of the skills that make a good bike racer – speed, handling, power, tactics, teamwork, equipment, and grit. Riders will need to monitor updates on the course conditions ahead of race day and then make the call on which equipment to run, ensuring they can maintain speed and traction on the dirt without sacrificing durability.
Registration is open at a bargain price of $65 for all competitive groups and a discounted rate of $40 for juniors 15 – 18, but riders should register early as groups are limited to 25 participants and will sell out. Full event details, course maps, and registration can be found at bikesteamboat.com/roubaix/
The Steamboat Roubaix is promoted by local cycling team Steamboat Velo and will be donating a portion of proceeds from the event to local nonprofits including Lift-up Food Bank, the Mark Satkiewicz Legacy Fund, and Bicycle Colorado.
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