In an effort to provide Vail, Colorado with an annual signature mountain bike event, organizers are bringing a new bike festival to the ski town this fall. The Vail Outlier Off-Road Festival plans to debut September 25-27 with a cross country mountain bike race, an endure race, 2016 bike and gear demos, and live music. Seasoned race organizer of Breckenridge Firecracker 50 fame Mike McCormack told the Vail Daily that the race will be "a mash-up of Outerbike (in Moab), Sea Otter Classic (California) and CrankWorx (Whistler)."
In total, organizers expect about 500 racers for the cross country race, 300 for the endure, and hope to draw top pros in the region with a $25,000 purse.
Although the final race courses need to meet Forest Service approvals, current proposals have the race starting in Lionshead, heading up Mill Creek Road toward Two Elk and dropping into Vail's Back Bowls. No matter the course, it will be on never-before-raced terrain in Vail.
Enduro races are becoming increasingly popular in the mountain bike world, and Vail's version will have three stages, with downhill segments timed, about 8-10,000 feet of vertical loss, and lift-accessed climbs.
Interested in tackling Vail's newest adventure race? Registration is open here and ranges from $50 to $150 depending on which race you choose.
· Vail gets new bike festival [Vail Daily]
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