Now called the Blue Sky Hill Climb, this event was previously known as the Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hill Climb, an iconic bike race on North America’s highest paved road. It began in 1962 as the Mt. Evans Hill Climb and was renamed in 1981 to honor 5-time race winner Bob Cook, who died of cancer at 23. It was picked as one of our Best Road Cycling Events in Colorado and the Rockies. Team Evergreen Cycling produces the event, which is also part of the prestigious Gran Fondo National Series.
The race starts at an altitude of 7,540 feet and climbs to 14,130 feet, 130 feet below Mount Evans’ summit. Due to the altitude, the event requires special preparation. Unless you’ve had 5-7 days to acclimate to high altitude, a common technique is to arrive and complete the event within 24 hours. The start line is at The Old Middle School, 320 Chicago Creek Road in Idaho Springs. The finish is twenty-eight miles away at the summit. Juniors finish at Echo Lake, which is eleven miles up the mountain. Also, you need to be prepared for inclement weather. Even in the middle of summer, it can be cold at 14,000 feet, not to mention wind, rain, or snow potential. During the challenging 7,000-foot climb, you’ll encounter an aid station at Echo Lake offering essential supplies such as electrolytes, water, and gels, as well as at the summit. Please note that shuttle service will not be provided, so be prepared to descend on your own back to your vehicle.
Over the years, the race has attracted significant professional riders. Riders come from all over the United States, and the race commonly attracts riders from France, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia. The age range of the participants is from nine to eighty-five years. The race is also supported by volunteers from the Colorado cycling community who help marshal, drive support, officiate, and work the picnic. The event includes categories for all levels of racing and encourages riders of all abilities. Between six hundred and a thousand riders compete each year in several categories. You can read more about the history of the event on Wikipedia.
Part of the Gran Fondo National Series
The Mt. Evans Hill Climb & Gran Fondo is part of the prestigious Gran Fondo National Series, established in 2012 and comprising 12+ European-style rides/races staged in the United States. Every GFNS event offers courses covering 30, 60, and 100-mile journeys through some of the most beautiful and challenging terrain in endurance sports. Timed sections allow riders to compete in specific course segments, while casual cyclists can ride at their own pace. Participants can ride as individuals or on teams. GFNS awards special prizes to the top riders in every age and gender category. Each rider is assigned an electronic timing chip to keep track of their progress throughout the course and to allow riders to compete for the best time through highlighted sections.
For the most competitive cyclists, the series partnered with USA Cycling to bring the one-day Gran Fondo National Championship into the portfolio of official USA Cycling National Championship events. The event is held annually, and a national championship jersey and medal are awarded to the overall winner in each Gran Route age group category. The USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship event will be held at Gran Fondo, Maryland, in Frederick, Maryland, on September 15, 2024.
To compete in the National Championship category, riders must qualify by meeting specific criteria, including results and rankings in Qualification Events. However, all riders are welcome to participate in Gran Fondo Maryland and ride any of the normal Maryland Gran Fondo routes (Gran, Medio, and Piccolo), regardless of qualification status.
GFNS-owned events include Gran Fondo Florida (Dade City FL – March 17), Tour of Georgia Gran Fondo (Helen GA, April 21), Highlands Gran Fondo (Butler NJ – June 2), Gran Fondo Asheville (Asheville NC – July 14), Boone Gran Fondo (Boone NC – Aug 4), and Gran Fondo Maryland (Frederick MD, Sept 15). Gran Fondo Maryland doubles as the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship. Partner events include Cheaha Challenge (Jacksonville AL – May 18-19), Vermont Gran Fondo (Bristol VT – June 29), Cache Gran Fondo (Logan UT – July 13), Bob Cook Memorial Mt. Evans Hill Climb – Gran Fondo (Idaho Springs, CO – July 20), 719 Ride (Colorado Springs – July 20), and Virginia’s Blue Ridge Gran Fondo (Fincastle, VA – Oct 13). All GFNS races consistently rate among the Best Road Cycling Events in the Southeast, New England, Rockies / Colorado, and Southwest / California.
Idaho Springs, where the course begins, is a mountain town right at the mouth of the Rockies, offering innumerable outdoor adventures to enjoy before or after the event. There are a number of bars, restaurants, and shopping to enjoy in the town, while the surrounding area offers great hiking, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and gorgeous scenery.
