Ready to rock and roll? Get your bike wheels rolling at Moab Rocks.
TransRockies Race Series, the organizers of the Moab Rocks mountain bike event, say on their website that they are ready to “present not only the best in Moab riding, but also the best in Moab culture.”
Beginning on Saturday, March 30, and ending on Monday, April 1, Moab Rocks is three days of fully supported cross-country mountain bike racing on some of the area’s best trails: Klondike, Porcupine Rim and Mag 7.
“Moab Rocks is a great way to start the mountain biking season — fun trails in a great mountain biking community,” said Aaron McConnell, president of the TransRockies Race Series. “The early date makes it the first mountain bike stage race of the year in North America and it is a great chance to get some early fitness going into the cycling season.”
Spectators are welcome at the races. For participants, registration and sign-in will take place on Friday, March 29, at Swanny City Park, from 5 to 7 p.m. Overlapping with this will be an evening social from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees who are 21 years old or over may purchase beer from Moab Brewery.
Event organizers say that while Moab Rocks is a competitive race, it also has a heavy dose of camaraderie and a “fun and friendly atmosphere.”
Local business Poison Spider Bicycles is a partner in the event, along with a number of other sport-related businesses.
Scott Newton, co-owner of Poison Spider Bicycles, said he enjoys working with the TransRockies Race Series crew and that they put on an excellent event. Newton also said they partner with Grand County Trail Mix after the event for a day of trail work to clean and do any type of trail work that’s needed.
“There’s not a lot of multi-day events,” Newton said. “They’re offering three really hard races in Moab, they’re all really good courses and super fun.”
According to the event’s race guide, the race will take place in three stages. Stage One will happen on Saturday and centers on Porcupine Rim Trail. Riders will leave Grand County High School at 8:30 a.m. and finish on Porcupine Rim Trail above the final singletrack. The ride is 24 miles and has a 3,964 feet of elevation gain. At mile 14.5 in the race, there will be an aid and check-in station, and there also be a “feed zone” located at the Porcupine Rim trailhead, approximately 3.7 miles past the finish.
Stage Two kicks off on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
Riders will start at Klondike Bluffs Road (BLM 142), 16.3 miles north on U.S. Highway 191 from Swanny City Park, and finish at Klondike Bluffs trailhead. This stage is 25.5 miles and has 3,110 feet of elevation gain. There will be checkpoint and aid stations at mile 13.4 and mile 18.4 of the ride.
Monday will see Stage Three completed. Riders will start and finish at the Gemini Bridges staging area, 9.6 miles north on U.S. Highway 191 from Swanny City Park. Stage Three is 28.4 miles, with 2,507 feet of elevation gain.
Each day will conclude with an evening social at Swanny City Park, where participants can hang out and unwind with beer from Moab Brewery, hear the “daily briefing” and see the “pictures of the day.” The nightly briefing and slideshows will include awards for winners in the daily stages.
Competition and camaraderie at mountain biking event
“They’re offering three really hard races in Moab, they’re all really good courses and super fun.”
When: Saturday, March 30, through Monday, April 1
Where:
Swanny City Park, 400 N. 100 West
Grand County High School, 608 S. 400 East
Klondike Bluffs Road, 16.3 miles north on U.S. Highway 191
Gemini Bridges staging area, 9.6 miles north on U.S. Highway 191 from Swanny City Park
Cost: $439
Info: Visit https://www.transrockies.com/moab-rocks/ or call1-866-373-3376
