Colorado's Gravel Racing Scene
Colorado has more gravel races per capita than almost anywhere in the country. That's partly because the state has the terrain for it. Eastern plains with hard-packed farm roads, canyon climbs through the Front Range, and high-altitude passes above 10,000 feet all sit within a few hours of each other. You can race flat prairie gravel in the morning and be on a mountain pass by afternoon.
The 2026 calendar has a few notable changes. The biggest is SBT GRVL moving from its traditional August date to late June. A handful of newer events are also gaining traction, and the Grassroots series continues to expand. Here's what's worth your attention this year.
The Races
SBT GRVL
This is the big one. SBT GRVL moved from August to June for 2026, which means cooler temperatures but potentially more snow on the upper sections. Four distance options cover a wide range: Green (25 mi), Red (53 mi), Blue (77 mi), and Black (111 mi with roughly 11,000 feet of climbing). The Buff Pass climb at altitude is where most people crack. It's not just the grade. It's the thin air at 9,000+ feet that gets you if you haven't trained for it. The race weekend has a full festival atmosphere with a bike expo and live music in downtown Steamboat. Registration sells out fast, so don't wait on this one.
Boulder Roubaix
One of the oldest gravel-adjacent races in Colorado. Boulder Roubaix has been running for years on the hard-packed farm roads of northern Boulder County, and the 2026 edition features a new 30-mile course that crosses the Boulder Reservoir dams. The terrain is rolling rather than steep, but wind is always a factor out on those open plains. If you've never done a gravel event before, this is a strong first pick. The field is competitive at the front but welcoming throughout.
Outlaw Gravel
Outlaw Gravel uses an unusual format. The course is broken into four timed segments connected by untimed road sections. You're racing the clock only during those segments, so the stretches between them become something closer to a group ride. It takes some pressure off compared to a traditional point-to-point race. The 66-mile option has real climbing, and the 40-mile course is more manageable if you're still building fitness. Good scenery, relaxed atmosphere, serious riding when you want it.
Grassroots Gravel
Grassroots Gravel isn't a single race. It's a community-focused series with multiple events at different locations around Colorado throughout the summer. Distances tend to be shorter and the vibe is more inclusive than competitive. Nobody's tracking KOMs here. If you want to try gravel racing without the pressure of a mass-start timed event, this is where to start. The series keeps growing each year, with new stops added regularly.
Leadville Trail 100 MTB
Leadville isn't technically a gravel race, but plenty of gravel riders cross over. One hundred miles at 10,000+ feet of base elevation. The qualifier race is 50 miles and is a gravel race in everything but name, with long stretches of dirt road and fire road climbing. The full 100 is brutal. You'll be riding for 9 to 12 hours at altitude, and the cutoff times are strict. But if you want a single goal to structure a whole season of training around, Leadville is it.
Rule of Three
A three-day stage race on western slope gravel near Grand Junction. Each day covers a different course with different terrain, which keeps things interesting and tests a broader range of skills than a single-day event. Rule of Three is still relatively new but it's building a reputation quickly. The western slope gravel is different from Front Range riding: redder dirt, more desert character, fewer trees. If you've only ridden the I-70 corridor, this will feel like a different state.
How to Choose Your First Race
Start short. Boulder Roubaix, a Grassroots event, or the SBT GRVL Green course (25 miles) are all manageable for someone with a reasonable cycling base. You don't need to jump into a 100-mile race to call yourself a gravel racer.
If you're coming from out of state or from lower elevation, don't underestimate altitude. A climb that would feel moderate at 5,000 feet becomes significantly harder at 9,000. Give yourself a few days to acclimate if the race is above 7,500 feet, and adjust your pace expectations downward.
Train on actual gravel. Riding pavement doesn't prepare you for the way loose surfaces drain your energy and change your handling. Even a few sessions per week on dirt roads will make a real difference in how confident you feel on race day. Bring food you've tested in training, not something new you grabbed at the expo. And brush up on basic mechanical skills. Support is limited on course, and a flat tire or dropped chain in a gravel race means you're fixing it yourself.
Find Training Partners
Training with a partner makes race prep more consistent. You're less likely to skip a Tuesday gravel ride when someone's meeting you at the trailhead. TerenGO matches gravel riders by skill level and location so you can post a training ride or find one near you. It's free.
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