01/14/2021
Leadville Winter Race Series is a go, with a twist
The 2021 Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series is taking place with options for riding groomed trails in the Leadville area -- or trails at your home -- and with new options for cross-country skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts. It starts with the Colorado Cup Race Jan. 23-31, 2021.
“Tweaked, not canceled. This is our new way to pull off our most important fund-raiser while staying pandemic-safe,” said Cloud City Wheelers Executive Director Sterling Mudge. “Those with the fastest times will win prizes and all racers will be eligible for prize drawings.”
Traditionally, a series of five fat-bike races on Leadville-area trails has attracted folks far and wide with a mass start, timed finishes and a festive atmosphere.
This year, the races will be self-timed on defined courses with different modes of racing. Registrants will have a number of days to ride each course and log their time on the registration website. To sign up and get more details, go to http://www.cloudcitywheelers.com/race. Registration for the five-race series costs $75; or each race costs $20.
Here’s the schedule:
Colorado Cup starting at Colorado Mountain College Leadville: Jan. 23-31
Tennessee Pass Nordic Center: Feb. 5-7 and Feb. 12-14 (two weekends only)
Mineral Belt Mayhem starting at Dutch Henri Hill Trailhead: March 6-14
Fatty Patty 50k starting at Colorado Mountain College and winding through the historic East Side Mining District: March 20-28
East Side Epic (course to be determined): April 10-18
These are unsupported rides. Participants must bring their own provisions and be prepared to make necessary repairs.
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this past year, it’s the importance of getting outside, enjoying sweet trails, and doing what makes you feel good. The pandemic might have changed things around a bit, but not enough to stop us from doing what we love,” Mudge said.
The series is important to the continuing work the Wheelers do to plan, build and maintain trails. This past summer, the Wheelers and funding partners put in 6.5 miles of new singletrack trail at Turquoise Lake. This summer, 6 more miles will be built. In the coming weeks, the Wheelers will be submitting a Singletrack Trails Master Plan for review by the U.S. Forest Service.
For more information, contact Sterling at [email protected]
