#Breckenridge, Colorado.
Thousands of road bikers will return to Summit County again this summer for the 29th annual Ride the Rockies cycling tour. Ride organizers released the official course map for the charity ride Sunday, Feb. 9. The 473-mile ride will start this year in Boulder and wind its way through the Rockies before finishing in Golden.
“Our 29th tour showcases some of Colorado’s finest communities, a number of which are renowned for world-class skiing, but it’s their summertime activities that make them desirable destinations year-round,” tour director Chandler Smith said. “A Front Range start and finish should appeal to the masses and make for an enjoyable experience all week.”
The six-day ride — June 7-13 — will cover 28,265 vertical feet and cross six mountain passes. After leaving Boulder the course will make stops in Winter Park, Steamboat Springs, Avon and Breckenridge. After covering the 75 miles between Avon and Breckenridge — over Tennessee and Fremont passes — the ride’s final 80-mile stage will head from Breckenridge to Golden over Loveland Pass and Lookout Mountain. Along the way riders will also pass over Berthoud, Muddy and Rabbit Ears passes.
Ride the Rockies is a non-competitive event that riders can complete at their own pace. Proceeds from the ride benefit The Denver Post Community Foundation, which distributes funds to a number of Colorado nonprofits. Host communities like Breckenridge also receive a $5,000 grant for a local nonprofit from The Denver Post Community Foundation in partnership with Wells Fargo.
Cyclists can register online for the event, but only a select number of participants are chosen through a lottery system. Organizers expect around 3,500 applicants for 2,000 spots. Applications are accepted from Feb. 9 to March 2.
More information is available at www.ridetherockies.com
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
