The Ride the Rockies Bicycle Tour, a cherished institution in Colorado’s cycling community for more than three decades, has been canceled for 2024 due to lack of interest, according to the event’s website.
Founded by The Denver Post in 1986, Ride the Rockies was a fully supported tour that took cycling enthusiasts to dozens of locations around the state and over many high mountain passes over the years. The Post sold the event in 2021 to a subsidiary of Gannett USA Today, Ventures Endurance Events.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the towns, participants, sponsors, crew, volunteers, and supporters who have had a role in making this ride so special for the past 37 years,” the event website states.
Efforts to reach tour officials for more information resulted only in an email repeating the statement on the website.
It is unknown whether there will be an attempt to bring the event back next year in some form, or to sell it to another organizer. Officials are “assessing the best options for this beloved ride,” according to the website.
At its peak, the six-day event attracted more than 2,000 cyclists annually for rides of 60 to 80 miles per day. It supported nonprofits in the more than 50 towns it visited over the years.
The website says refunds for those who registered for this year’s tour will be automatically processed within 60 days of submission through EnMotive, an event registration website. Registrants also will receive a commemorative jersey “as a memento and token of our deep appreciation.”