Epic Rides’ New Event – $20k Purse

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2013 Grand Junction Off-Road Presented by U.S. Bank

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT! Who’s ready to let their junk fly in Grand Junction? Epic Rides is taking the party up to ColoRADo on Labor Day weekend and the DC crew wants YOU to join us because well, we just want to have more fun than everyone else. There’s a $20,000 purse, but that doesn’t really apply to us. What does apply however is that there will be kickass singletrack, slick tunes, pretty ladies, and enough beer to feed 20,000 people who like to throw back a couple cold ones and ride their bikes. Registration opens March 16th and you can do so ——–> HERE <———-

(Tucson, Ariz.) March 4, 2013 – Western Colorado, already a popular destination for mountain bikers, is about to become a lot more fun. The inaugural Grand Junction Off-Road endurance mountain bike event and free community concert, presented by U.S. Bank, and produced by Epic Rides will take place in Grand Junction on Labor Day weekend, Friday, Aug. 30 through Sunday, Sept. 1.

Modeled after Epic Rides’ popular Whiskey Off-Road event in Prescott AZ, the 3-day Grand Junction event will offer participants three distances to choose from including 15 Grand, 30 Grand and 40 Grand courses (each grand = 1 mile). Designed to appeal to all levels of mountain biker, each course will present an authentic cross country mountain bike experience, allowing each finisher to feel pride in a meaningful mountain bike accomplishment, commemorated by a custom wine glass that pays homage to the area’s unique wine country.

Pro racers will vie for a slightly juicier award; a $20,000 cash purse. Much like the Whiskey, the Grand’s cash purse will be shared evenly between the male and female categories.

“With $55,000 of prize money between the Prescott, AZ and Grand Junction, CO events, the quality of racing will be second to none in the world”, said Todd Sadow, President of Epic Rides.

Through great cooperation with the Grand Junction Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, “The Grand” routes will feature world class riding located in the Lunch Loops, Magellan loop and Bangs Canyon area trail systems.

Limited to a first-year field of 600 riders (500 amateurs/100 professionals), attendees will enjoy three solid days of racing, riding and celebrating the mountain bike in Grand Junction. The weekend will kick off with a pro level fat tire Criterium downtown, a well appointed industry vendor and tech expo, and beginner level “15 Grand” fun ride on Friday.  Saturday will offer a complete day of amateur riding in the 30- and 40-Grand distances. Competitors, their family and friends will bask in free live music in the shaded streets flanking Grand Junction’s unique meandering Main Street, which is lined with original bike art and a localized retail mix. The showdown for the cash purse will begin Sunday morning, after a spirited Saturday evening of gratified amateurs imbibing the area’s finest fruits, hops & barleys and exploring the community’s culinary exploits. Pro and amateur “40-Granders” will ride the same course.

“U.S. Bank is excited to sponsor the Inaugural Grand Junction Off-Road Endurance mountain bike event and community concert”, said Steve Gunderson, U.S. Bank Western Colorado Regional President. “U.S. Bank actively supports the community, and we are excited to partner with Epic Rides in bringing a new economic driver to the City of Grand Junction that also highlights the natural resources in Mesa County”.

Hosting all event activities in a centralized downtown location only four hours from both Denver and Salt Lake City, the event’s accessibility and surrounding attractions are sure to entertain the first year’s anticipated 1,800-plus mountain bike event attendees and Western Colorado residents enjoying the free community concert.

Registration for the event will open Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m. Mountain Standard Time. With the first year field limit of 600 total riders, Epic Rides anticipates the event reaching capacity very quickly. All registrants will receive an Official event T-shirt, water bottle, poster and goodie bag (estimated value of $75). And of course, the custom finisher’s stem-less wine glass for all finishers who successfully complete the distance they sign up for.  All top five finishers in the 30- and 40-Grand categories will receive an additional custom finisher’s award.

The Grand Junction Off-Road Presented by U.S. Bank is an example of public and private cooperation, made possible from the City of Grand Junction, the Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction Field Office, Mesa County and Epic Rides. Major sponsors include Blackburn, Cirrus Visual Communication, GU Energy Labs, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Scott USA, Shimano, Stan’s No Tubes, Springhill Suites by Marriott and U.S. Bank.

Don’t miss out on this one..

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