If Mavic and the organizers of Haute Route have their way, the Rockies may very come to be regaled alongside the Alps and Pyrenees, amongst international cyclists.
Indeed, the French sportive event announced this week, their bringing all of the grit and glamour that’s made its Haute Route event one of the most celebrated and sought after cycling challenges in Europe – to Colorado next summer.
Carving through the heartland of American cycling, the Mavic Haute Route Rockies 2017 will feature an unforgettable combination of jaw-dropping scenery and breathtaking climbs. The event offers high-level cycling enthusiasts the opportunity to compete on a professional level, with unprecedented support.
The event starts in Boulder on June 24th, 2017 and finishes in Colorado Springs on June 30th. Competitors face seven timed and ranked stages covering 875km (550 miles) and in excess of 16,000 vertical metres (52,500 feet) of climbing on some of Colorado’s best known mountain roads, many soaring above 3,000m in altitude (10,000 feet).
Riders will benefit from full mechanical assistance from the event’s Title Partner Mavic – drawing on decades of experience supporting the pro peloton in cycling’s Grand Tours – in addition to daily stage timings, feed stations and Mavic’s exclusive event jersey and bib shorts.
Off the bike, daily massages, food in the race village and transfer of luggage to accommodation between stages is provided – all hallmarks of the comprehensive event support experienced by riders in the European Haute Route series since 2011.
Influenced by Colorado’s rich cycling culture, sections of dirt and gravel road (approximately 15% of the course) will add a new dimension to the Haute Route proposition but these can still be negotiated on a standard road bike.
A point-to-point event, the Mavic Haute Route Rockies offers a unique platform for committed amateur cyclists to set themselves a defining challenge, while taking in the spectacular Colorado canvas of high plains, deep canyons, lush forests and spectacular mountain roads that are ingrained in the fabric of American road cycling.
Registration is now open for the June 2017 event, and with only 600 spots available organizers are expecting a sell-out for the seven-day stage race. All 600 competitors in the Mavic Haute Route Rockies will receive a level of rider support unparalleled in US amateur cycling. Decades of experience supporting the pro peloton in cycling’s Grand Tours will aid Title Partner Mavic in providing the ultimate ride-like-a-pro experience. In addition to Mavic support throughout, the event will have a convoy of safety vehicles and mechanical support, stage timing and ranking, feed stations and Mavic’s exclusive event jersey, arm warmers, and bib shorts. Off the bike, competitors can expect daily massages, hot food at the stage finish, daily stage briefings and transfer of luggage to accommodation between stages.
The Haute Route’s official charity partner is the Team Type 1 Foundation (TT1) – its mission is to fight for the right to live and for equal access to medication, education and empowerment among people affected by type one diabetes. Phil Southerland, TT1 founder and CEO of the Novo Nordisk all-diabetes professional cycling team, said: “Our partnership with the Haute Route is tremendously important – over the past two years it has helped us raise enough money to pay for the diabetes supplies for people affected by diabetes in Rwanda.
“The Mavic Haute Route Rockies will give us the chance to tap into the wonderful US cycling community who have a history of excellence in philanthropy through bikes. The money raised will allow us to provide even more scholarships for athletes affected by diabetes in the US. People will suffer on the bike, but serve the kids in need here in America.”
The full course will be revealed in July.
To learn more about the event, please visit Mavic Haute Route Rockies.
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