The one-of-a-kind spectacle could return for the 50th anniversary event in 2022. The Roostmaster mountain bike race at Chapman Hill drew a television audience to Durango during Iron Horse Bicycle Classic weekends in the early 1990s. Always changing through the years to stay on top of the latest trends in the cycling world, many events have come and gone, and some long lost are likely to return for the 50th, even if for only one year. The IHBC asked for public comment in 2019 on what participants would like to see at a 50th anniversary. Sippy has doubled down on his commitment to the IHBC since the death of his mentor and will aim to bring his vision to life in 2022. Zink had long looked forward to the 50th anniversary before he died of a heart attack in October 2019. “To have the ability to get the 49th off the ground is fantastic so that we can really get ready for that 50th next year.” It’s good to know now that, from a COVID standpoint, we are in good shape and it won’t stop us from having this 49th event,” said IHBC director Gaige Sippy.
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“We held off opening registration and planning this year as long as possible because the COVID needle kept moving. A toned down 49th edition of the IHBC will now ride on Saturday and Sunday. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 edition of the Memorial Day weekend spectacle that is the second-longest continuing cycling event in the United States. While that golden anniversary should have come this weekend, 50 years after bicyclist Tom Mayer first challenged his brother, Jim, in a race between bike and train from Durango to Silverton, it instead will come in 2022 – 50 years after co-founder Ed Zink first helped Tom Mayer put together a 36-rider event as a kick-start to tourism season. (Courtesy photo)Īs soon as the 45th Iron Horse Bicycle Classic finished in 2016, organizers started to think about the 50th. In 2022, the IHBC will celebrate its 50th event. The picture of the cyclists racing the train helped the event skyrocket in popularity after its first year. Elliott is pictured here racing the train ahead of Tom Mayer, the inspiration behind the race, and Ron Moore. Sarah Sturm took second (2:43:22) and Evelyn Dong took third (2:44:45).ģ45 cyclists participated in the legendary event high in the Colorado Rocky Mountains which allows cyclists to race a steam locomotive from Durango to Silverton over the Continental Divide of the United States.Ĭomplete Iron Horse Bicycle Classic results here.Mike Elliott, front, led the peloton up the valley and won the 1972 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, the first official race. Second place went to 2019 GFNY Santa Fe Gran Fondo champion Fortunato Ferrara in 2:19:33 with Olympian Howard Grotts taking third at 2:20:18.Įrin Huck earned victory in the Women’s race with a time if 2:43:17. 19 year-old Amos, just back from Europe where he finished second at a World Cup Mountain Bike Race, also set a new course record of 2:17:53. After summiting two passes, including 10600′ Coal Bank Pass, and accumulating over 5700 vertical feet of climbing, it was local teenager Riley Amos who rode away from a field of former winners, ex-pros and top amateurs to win his first Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Road Race.