It's the perfect route - Carbondale to Fort Collins
Get ready to train with purpose, ride hard and enjoy the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Tonight the route of the 2016 The Denver Post Ride the Rockies presented by Viawest (RTR) was announced. Organizers have created a fine tour this year with a dream route that will prove to be very popular. Registration is now open for the June 12-17th tour with 2000 lottery spots available.
Host cities for 2016 include: Carbondale, Aspen, Copper Mountain, Grand Lake, Estes Park, and Fort Collins. This will be the first time Grand Lake will host Ride the Rockies.
Highlights for 2016 include, in order: Missouri Heights, Rio Grande Trail, Independence Pass, Fremont Pass, Tennessee Pass, Red Cliff Bridge, Battle Mountain, Vail Pass, Ute Pass, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Devils Gulch and Horsetooth Reservoir.
Ride the Rockies affords road cyclists an opportunity to ride a route in quick succession that would otherwise be near impossible without support. I have been fortunate to ride every climb and road on this year's route - although it took me many years to get it done piecemeal. I promise you, this year's route is special.
If you have been wanting to visit Colorado to ride a bike, now would be the time. Tonight at the announcement party I met a woman who had ridden twenty-four Ride the Rockies and a man who was hoping to ride his first. You will meet all types and ages out on the roads of Colorado. Next week I will share with you, comments from a number of the enthusiastic guests at tonight's Ride the Rockies announcement party. For now here is the route:
2016 Ride the Rockies Route - point to point
DAY 1, Sunday, June 12, 2016 - Carbondale to Aspen, 50 miles, +4253ft
DAY 2, Monday, June 13, 2016 - Aspen to Copper Mountain, 85 miles, +7655ft
DAY 3, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - Copper Mountain to Copper Mountain, 79 miles, +6537ft
DAY 4, Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - Copper Mountain to Grand Lake, 85 miles, +3939ft
DAY 5, Thursday, June 16, 2016 - Grand Lake to Estes Park, 49 miles, +4636ft
DAY 6, Friday, June 17, 2016 - Estes Park to Fort Collins, 55 miles, +2762ft
Quick Facts about the 2016 Ride the Rockies tour:
2016 Ride the Rockies Tour (7-days)
START CITY: Carbondale, Colorado
DAY 1, Sunday, June 12, 2016 - Carbondale to Aspen, 50 miles, +4253ft, 3 Aid Stations
DAY 2, Monday, June 13, 2016 - Aspen to Copper Mountain, 85 miles, +7655ft, 6 aid stations
DAY 3, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - Copper Mountain to Copper Mountain, 79 miles, +6537ft, 3 aid stations
DAY 4, Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - Copper Mountain to Grand Lake, 85 miles, +3939ft, 6 aid stations
DAY 5, Thursday, June 16, 2016 - Grand Lake to Estes Park, 49 miles, +4636ft, 3 aid stations
DAY 6, Friday, June 17, 2016 - Estes Park to Fort Collins, 55 miles, +2762ft, 4 aid stations
FINISH CITY: Fort Collins, Colorado
2016 Ride the Rockies Prologue Ride (2-days)
Jun 10-12, 2016 - Aspen, Colorado. 47 miles, +3632ft. $2500, first come first serve (no lottery). Come ride with the pros - Ted King, Tim Johnson, Ron Kiefel, Nelson Vails and more. Think of the prologue as a top-notch local bike tour prior to your week (guaranteed lottery entry) of Ride the Rockies. Read more about the RTR Prologue.
If you arrive into Carbondale area a day or two early, consider these bike rides highlighted in one of my earlier posts: Pedal Dancer® Recommended Road Bike Rides Near Aspen.
Read more information and facts about the climbs by Pedal Dancer® Colorado Climbs
Get ready to train with purpose, ride hard and enjoy the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Tonight the route of the 2016 The Denver Post Ride the Rockies presented by Viawest (RTR) was announced. Organizers have created a fine tour this year with a dream route that will prove to be very popular. Registration is now open for the June 12-17th tour with 2000 lottery spots available.
Host cities for 2016 include: Carbondale, Aspen, Copper Mountain, Grand Lake, Estes Park, and Fort Collins. This will be the first time Grand Lake will host Ride the Rockies.
Highlights for 2016 include, in order: Missouri Heights, Rio Grande Trail, Independence Pass, Fremont Pass, Tennessee Pass, Red Cliff Bridge, Battle Mountain, Vail Pass, Ute Pass, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Devils Gulch and Horsetooth Reservoir.
Ride the Rockies affords road cyclists an opportunity to ride a route in quick succession that would otherwise be near impossible without support. I have been fortunate to ride every climb and road on this year's route - although it took me many years to get it done piecemeal. I promise you, this year's route is special.
If you have been wanting to visit Colorado to ride a bike, now would be the time. Tonight at the announcement party I met a woman who had ridden twenty-four Ride the Rockies and a man who was hoping to ride his first. You will meet all types and ages out on the roads of Colorado. Next week I will share with you, comments from a number of the enthusiastic guests at tonight's Ride the Rockies announcement party. For now here is the route:
2016 Ride the Rockies Route - point to point
DAY 1, Sunday, June 12, 2016 - Carbondale to Aspen, 50 miles, +4253ft
DAY 2, Monday, June 13, 2016 - Aspen to Copper Mountain, 85 miles, +7655ft
DAY 3, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - Copper Mountain to Copper Mountain, 79 miles, +6537ft
DAY 4, Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - Copper Mountain to Grand Lake, 85 miles, +3939ft
DAY 5, Thursday, June 16, 2016 - Grand Lake to Estes Park, 49 miles, +4636ft
DAY 6, Friday, June 17, 2016 - Estes Park to Fort Collins, 55 miles, +2762ft
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| 6-day 403 mile route of the 2016 Ride the Rockies in Colorado |
Quick Facts about the 2016 Ride the Rockies tour:
- 6-days (no rest day)
- 403 miles and 29,782’ elevation gain
- Website & registration: www.ridetherockies.com
- Ride the Rockies 2016 lottery registration dates: Sunday, February 7, 2016; 12:00 a.m. – Sunday, February 28, 2016; 5:00 p.m. MST. Notifications will be sent out on March 4, 2016.
- Tour Cost (registration only): $5 lottery fee + $495
- Included in registration fee: sag support, basic camping, showers, transportation of one 70lb bag, shuttle services, aid stations, medical support, water bottle, jersey, entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park, free concerts & entertainment, mechanics, bike or wheel demos.
- Services provided for a fee: parking, bike & luggage shipping, sherpa camping, food trucks along the route, your own support vehicle, refunds with limitations.
- Read more about the logistics
2016 Ride the Rockies Tour (7-days)
START CITY: Carbondale, Colorado
DAY 1, Sunday, June 12, 2016 - Carbondale to Aspen, 50 miles, +4253ft, 3 Aid Stations
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| Route map - Day 1 Ride the Rockies 2016 |
- Independence Pass
- Fremont Pass
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| Route map - Day 2 Ride the Rockies 2016 |
- Traditional Copper Triangle route
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| Route map - Day 3 Ride the Rockies 2016 |
- Ute Pass
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| Route map - Day 4 Ride the Rockies 2016 |
- Trail Ridge Road
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| Route map - Day 5 Ride the Rockies 2016 |
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| Route map - Day 6 Ride the Rockies 2016 |
FINISH CITY: Fort Collins, Colorado
2016 Ride the Rockies Prologue Ride (2-days)
Jun 10-12, 2016 - Aspen, Colorado. 47 miles, +3632ft. $2500, first come first serve (no lottery). Come ride with the pros - Ted King, Tim Johnson, Ron Kiefel, Nelson Vails and more. Think of the prologue as a top-notch local bike tour prior to your week (guaranteed lottery entry) of Ride the Rockies. Read more about the RTR Prologue.
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| Ride the Rockies Prologue route map 2016 |
If you arrive into Carbondale area a day or two early, consider these bike rides highlighted in one of my earlier posts: Pedal Dancer® Recommended Road Bike Rides Near Aspen.
Read more information and facts about the climbs by Pedal Dancer® Colorado Climbs