SBT GRVL gets approval for two-day event in June 2025

October 8, 2024 Shannon Lukens

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By Shannon Lukens.

SBT GRVL race organizers told Routt County Commissioners about their new plan for the world-renowned cycling event in Steamboat Springs and Routt County. It was in front of a standing room only crowd in the Routt County Commissioners Hearing room. Agenda

After hearing changes to the event, commissioners approved the large event permit. Those changes include 2,500 riders instead of 3,000, a new date in late June, and two days instead of one, for a ride and a competitive race with professional cyclists.

Here’s SBT GRVL founding partner Amy Charity.

“We’re pleased with the outcome. We understand that this was a bit of a compromise for everybody. Our numbers are lower this year. We’ve changed things fairly dramatically to have a race and a ride. But we are really looking to listen and understand the rural concerns and address them.”

The SBT GRVL ride is on the rural roads of Routt County. Rural residents became frustrated with the extent of the 3,000 cyclists on county roads on race day, and the week leading up to the event in late August. They started speaking up after the race in 2023. Krista Monger is a local rancher.

“People say they’ve lived her for five, ten, 15, or 20 years, but our ranches have been here for generations. And our generations of family members have seen tons of change happened in the Steamboat community and our surrounding areas and we feel like the tourism has just gotten so big and so mighty and it just keeps growing and growing and our rural residents are ready for it pause and stop, and we’re not asking to go back in time. We’re just asking for a stop of the brutal marketing that’s occurring on our county roads.”

Here are some details that were approved on Tuesday. (Pictures of graphics are below)

There will be a SBT GRVL ride of three distances, with 1,800 riders on June 28. There will be a race with 750 riders, including professional cyclists on a 39-mile loop south of Hayden. The pros will loop it three times and the amateurs in the race will loop it twice. It is very rural with around 30 structures on the course. The race will be finished by 1:30 p.m. that afternoon and it will not affect airport traffic.

There will be a rolling enclosure like a “safety bubble” for the participants. Race Director Micah Rice added, “This will be the safest gravel event in Colorado, if not the world.” There will be marshals, flaggers, an aid station, and motorcycles.

There will not be any shakeout rides, which are large groups of riders in organized rides in the week before the event. There had been as many as 11 in previous years. Any pre-ride events would be in the City of Steamboat Springs and not the rural county roads.

The Town of Hayden will be involved in case there needs to be an application for a special event permit.

Commissioners asked race organizers to work with the county attorney about any liability concerns for those who live along the 39-mile race course, and a safety plan, approved by Sheriff Doug Scherar. They also asked for a place where spectators can watch the race on that Sunday.

Commissioner Tim Corrigan started off the hearing saying that his focus has always been on the safety, the residents, and the infrastructure of the event. He spoke of the outcry after the SBT GRVL ride in 2023 and how commissioners have received a considerable amount of texts, letters, emails, phone calls, and public comment since then.

Amy Charity said since the race began, she has always wanted to bring a positive impact to the community. It has always been her goal.

She says SBT GRVL is a year-round business owned by women, with full-time employees and local contractors. The event is a major contributor in the summer, and it is the type of visitors that you want to have coming to the community. She has lived in the community for 16 years.

She added that the past concerns from rural community members are valid and “we are listening,” and they are addressing those concerns.

Regarding finances, Charity said 85% of the revenue for SBT GRVL is from entry fees from riders signing up. “The sponsorship side pales in comparison. Cutting the number of riders cuts in what we can do and give back to the community.”

Also, because the event is on two days, the cost will rise because of things like two days of fencing, and timing, and race officials and moto crews. “There is no way to make it financially viable with smaller numbers.”

Commissioner Corrigan asked the large crowd to not participate in public comment if it is something that has been said before. It needed to be new information. And he cut public comment down from three minutes per person to one minute.

Comments were for and against. Patrick Delaney from The Granary in Hayden is in favor, saying this summer’s race which went by The Granary was their busiest day ever. He is also happy to see the Routt County Fairgrounds more utilized. He is in favor.

Steve Williams lives off County Road 16 near Stagecoach Reservoir. He has also ridden in the SBT GRVL ride. He said, “I feel Amy and her group have demonstrated a sincere willingness to make this event work after some now obvious mistakes in the past. They have created a local business and benefit lots of other local businesses and local cycling enthusiasts. I urge us to all find common ground and make this work for the few days of inconvenience it may require of some. This event would be welcome by my place all day if they don’t mind the asphalt.”

Renee May and her father-in-law, Jay May, both spoke about liability concerns, as Renee and Kody May had a fence come down during the race. SBT GRVL organizers paid to fix the fence.

Dale Appel said, “The ones who benefit are here in Steamboat. Think about the community.”

Mary Kurtz asked that commissioners deny it, saying it is, “an incompatible use of our Routt County roads.”

Other comments included paying taxes in Routt County so they should be able to use the public roads, adding that the rural residents are going way overboard with the focus on safety. Another person said the tension needs to stop and that SBT GRVL has been marvelous as to what they have done, so approve the request.

Brent Demmit says he is a lawyer/rancher/cyclist and that it is the “safest event you can possibly have,” especially compared to the rodeo.

The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association sent a letter asking that solutions be found to support the ag and recreational communities.

Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar says they don’t have the county resources to put on the event so he would have to reach out for help for certified flaggers and Colorado State Patrol motorcyclists, and possibly extra officers from Craig and Moffat County. He said it would create stress on staff and deputies who have to work overtime.

Routt County Commissioners then discussed the permit. Commissioner Sonja Macys said people talk to her about this topic everywhere she goes. They discussed the safety issues and feels that has been addressed.

Commissioner Tim Corrigan said he is distressed that it is such a divisive issue in our community, and he is concerned about how much it has grown. “It has gotten to a point where it is too much for some.” He also said everything has an impact, but this is two days and it is temporary and not forever. He added, “I will be hard-pressed to approve any events of this size and nature in the future.”

Commissioner Tim Redmond also said it is disappointing and disturbing to see the community so divided. He added that the ranchers in Routt County have been stewards of the land for generations. He said this is an opportunity for us to come together and work toward creating an opportunity for all, adding that we need to “listen, work, and respect each other.”

Letter from Routt County Riders

Participant Release of Liability

SBT GRVL Community Impact Narrative

Agenda Communication Form