COURSE INFO

The Grand Enduro will challenge you on three demanding stages in and around Grand Junction's Lunch Loops trail system. For those unfamiliar, the nature of these trails is very technical and require expert handling skills as well as solid fitness.

Watch Intro to event on YouTube >>

What to expect:

• Chunky, desert terrain that's hard on body and equipment - bring sturdy tires and spare tubes!

• Stages will lose significant elevation, but lack sustained steeps - be ready to pedal! However, this is no XC race, so bring your well equipped all-mountain bike. You'll hate it on some of the punchy, short climbs but wish you were on an even bigger bike at some points!

• All stages feature at least a few "moves" - sections of trail that are particularly precarious. Where possible we'll have go-arounds, however these will generally cost you time! Pre-riding all stages is definitely recommended and required for stages 1 and 3.

• 25-40 minutes of racing over 7.2 miles of trail. 2.5-4 hours of total ride time covering ~23 miles.

STAGE DETAILS

PROLOGUE: WAVER ROCK > PUCKER UP > RAVEN RIDGE > CURT’S DOWN

Riders will be seeded based on Saturday’s Prologue race, which will take place on the last 2 miles of Stage 3. You will start at the Waver Rock, just below Widow Maker, and head straight to Pucker Up. After you complete Pucker Up, you’ll head straight across the saddle up Raven Ridge rather than down Moto as the first two years had been. You’ll be challenged to navigate through a short technical climb as you enter Raven Ridge. Then it’s mostly downhill with a couple of relatively smooth rolling climbs before you bomb down Curt’s Down into Curt’s Lane. Finish line is right at the wash area.

Be sure to pump the brakes on your adrenaline through this as you’ll need some of this for the next day. Stay smooth and safe! Riders will be seeded based on their times in this stage. We will start fastest riders first and progress to the slower times to minimize passing which may provide a safer racing environment and enhance your experience during the event.

PROLOGUE STRAVA SEGMENT LINK >>>

STAGE 1, ALL CATEGORIES: THE RIBBON, 2.1 miles, estimated time 8-12 minutes

A Grand Valley classic and one of the few "shuttle-able" local trails. We're so stoked we were able to secure the permits to take you down this legendary route. You'll start on an otherworldly, humongous slab of rock and be hitting speeds in excess of 30mph in a matter of seconds. Riders who aren't racing generally take their time on this section and carve the lunar-like landscape, but the clock is running on you! You need to get off that rock and onto the singletrack as soon as possible! We'll have it heavily taped, but pay particular attention during practice for landmarks that'll help you navigate the correct route - a missed turn or off-course excursion up here could at best cost you loads of time and at worst send you plummeting off a cliff!

Shortly into stage one you'll be at your first true challenge, the section known as the Toilet Bowl (pictured above). Make sure you smile for the cameras as this will be one of only a few easily accessed spectator and media locations of the race. Don't let those hecklers goad you into riding over your head though!

Further down you'll hit warp speed in the section known as the Wine Glass. Keep your fingers covering the brakes, but stay off them and get tucked if you want a chance at taking home the top spot in the High Speed Challenge. We'll have a radar gun on site and a sweet prize for the riders in each category hitting the highest digits. Fast locals have been clocked at right around 50mph here, so it's no joke.

Up next is the part you'll probably want to puke in/after. You've a got a few minutes of slow, technical, and loose traversing and one gut-buster of a climb before the final descent to the finish line. Sorry about that.

We'll have the finish line at the second wash crossing, saving you a lot of flat pedaling through a wash and us from too much carnage at Hospital Hill.

STAGE 1 STRAVA SEGMENT LINK >>>

TRANSFER 1-2

A bit of a climb awaits you following stage 1. You'll be finishing wayyyy down in a wash and need to grunt your way back up to Little Park Road and over to Gunny Loop. Signs will direct you to Little Park Road Staging Area for aid station supplies before proceeding to the start of Stage 2. Study COPMOBA’s trail map here for your reference.

STAGE 2, ALL CATEGORIES: GUNNY LOOP, 2.1 miles, 8-12 minutes

A local's favorite and considered by many to be the best descent in the valley, Gunny Loop serves up copious amounts adrenaline pumping and grin-inducing singletrack. Used previously for the Gunny Enduro, this trail has all the key ingredients of killer stage: high speeds, technical maneuvers, and, if you get it right, flow. We've cutout the short, but brutally steep climb towards the end of the usual Gunny Enduro course and ended our stage just before that. There will still be plenty of pedaling, but we didn't want to give the edge to the fitness junkies!

STAGE 2 STRAVA SEGMENT LINK >>>

TRANSFER 2-3 (LIMITED TO EXPERTS ONLY)

For this transfer, you'll finish out Gunny Loop and then choose your own route to the top of the Lunch Loop trail system for stage 3, kicking off with Free Lunch. You'll have a few options here: up Little Park Road via pavement or through a few of the mid-system trails in the Lunch Loop network. If you opt for trails, we'd suggest Holy Bucket, to Clunker, to the final climb out of Holy Cross, over to Coyote Ridge, up High Noon, up the Tabeguache doubletrack, and finally, Prenup. Sounds like a lot, but that's only because we like to name every 100 yard section of trail out here in GJ! For a map of the system check out our local advocacy group's (COPMOBA) website. We'll have an aid station just off Little Park Road hooking you up with food and beverage before you grind up the last part of the transfer (Lunch Line) to the final stage.

STAGE 3, EXPERTS FINAL STAGE: FREE LUNCH > PUCKER-UP > RAVEN RIDGE > CURT’S DOWN, 3 miles, 9-14 minutes (LIMITED TO EXPERTS ONLY)

We're throwing you right into it on stage 3, beginning on Free Lunch, the first BLM-sanctioned freeride trail in the nation. The trail features several "play areas" with multiple line choices, so pre-riding is not only recommended, but required. There aren't any Rampage-worthy lines on the trail, but there are a few mandatory and un-rollable drops on the "A" lines.

Following Free Lunch, you'll descend down the Widow Maker, past Wafer Rock, and onto Pucker-Up. Pucker-Up is littered with jumps and a few drops, again, nothing too crazy, but it's definitely worth picking and practicing your lines at race pace so you don't get in over your head.

The final section of the stage 3 is a rolling section over Raven Ridge through Curt’s Lane onto Curt’s Down right to the Lunch Loop trailhead. Finish line is near the wash - no worries, you won’t have to ride up that steep hill entering the north end of the parking lot, we’re not that mean ;) We wanted to provide an exciting finish with more shade options and entertainment close to the parking lot for the spectators.

STAGE 3 STRAVA SEGMENT LINK >>>

REGISTRATION / PRICING DEETS:

2024 Grand Enduro RIDER CAP @ 300
UPDATES —> We will keep you posted of any major changes via “Ongoing Updates" link located in the menu!

* Registration fee includes: entry into race, registered riders by Jun 31 is guaranteed 1 (one) Grand Enduro sun hoodie by Loki (if you miss this deadline, we have plenty of previous years hats for additional entries), 1 (one) food / drink voucher good at Handlebar Tap House, swag bag full of goodies from our wonderful sponsors, close medical monitoring onsite during race day(s), provided mandatory shuttle for Sunday event.

Categories (Experts = Junior, Amateur, Master 40+, and Pro/Open; Mid-level = Intermediate):

• Junior (Ages 10-18): This category is for experienced mountain bikers with advanced enduro racing experience / able to clean Toilet Bowl feature on Ribbon trail and Cathedral Drop feature on Pucker Up trail. Riders will be awarded in-kind product prizes.

• Amateur: This category is for experienced mountain bikers (over 18) with limited advanced racing experience / able to clean Toilet Bowl feature on Ribbon trail and Cathedral Drop feature on Pucker Up trail. Riders will be awarded in-kind product prizes.

• Master: This category is for experienced mountain bikers with advanced enduro racing experience, ages 40 and over / able to clean Toilet Bowl feature on Ribbon trail and Cathedral Drop feature on Pucker Up trail. Riders will be awarded in-kind product prizes.

• Pro/Open: This category is for pro riders and very experience & advanced enduro racers / able to clean Toilet Bowl feature on Ribbon trail and Cathedral Drop feature on Pucker Up trail. Riders will be eligible for cash awards but no in-kind product. Riders in the Pro/Open category are required to pedal from the staging area to stage 1 (The Ribbon).

• Relay Teams: This category requires 3 riders to complete the relay format. One rider will complete one stage for the team, not all 3 stages. The number must be handed off to the next rider before the team rider can proceed the next stage. Team will need to pick their rider to complete Prologue stage for team’s staging times on following day. Times will be combined like the standard 3 stage format for best combined team time! Only 1 team will be awarded the podium & each rider on winning team will be awarded in-kind product prizes.

• Intermediate: This category is for experienced mountain bikers with little to no enduro racing experience / not comfortable with riding Free Lunch and Pucker Up trails. Winners will be awarded next year’s entry to advanced levels. This category will complete the following portions:

  • Prologue - Entire Couse; Use caution on Pucker Up section! Feel free to walk as needed.

  • Stage 1, Ribbon - Entire Course; Assistance available on Toilet Bowl!

  • Stage 2, Gunny - Entire Course; Super fun way to close out your enduro experience!

  • OPTIONAL RIDE BACK on Free Lunch - Ride at your own risk… consider riding back on easier trails or on Little Park Road to Handlebar after completing Stage 2!

*Categories are subject to merge if fewer than 4 riders register in a category!

Registration CAP: 2023 Total Cap = 300 participants.
In addition to registration cap, following are our initial category caps including all genders: 100 total max for Intermediate; 100 total max for Juniors, Amateurs, and Masters.  100 total max for Pro/Open.
* Note: Race Director reserves the right to change cap and category caps dependent on current situation and outcome. *       

Registration Changes policy:

• All registration changes will require $25 change fee, such as:

  • Change categories

  • Transfer to another participant

  • Defer to following year

• However any minor details such as operator error putting in wrong email, phone number, etc are waived.

Postponement / Refunds / Cancellation policy:

• First off, we do not control weather, pandemics, wildfires, or things beyond our control, so it is beyond our means to ensure you are guaranteed a great condition day of racing. Our priority is to maintain our trail health, keep your bike healthy, AND ensure your safety and experience.

• Close coordination with local agencies (BLM, County, Cities, Public Health, State, and Federal) regarding event day changes based on unfavorable trail conditions or environments may be required. Evaluation and escalation will be used as follows:

  • Delay start time max 2 hours (latest time person on course = 5:45pm).

  • Modify timed stages (do Gunny loop 2 times, or do Gunny and Max Gnar only, etc - final decision made prior start of event.

  • Inclement weather / horrendous trail conditions / unfavorable situations all around: postpone to 10/05-06/2024.

  • 10/05-06/2024 weekend still proves unfavorable due to weather OR unforeseeable situations? Cancel! Your hats and goodies will be mailed to you.

    • We must protect our trails and YOU! Some of the trails consist soils mixed with Bentonite. This will make your travel experience horrendous and destroy trails if too wet.

    • Your safety is utmost important to us and your understanding is much appreciated as we dedicate energy and resources to pull this event off.

• Refunds? Sorry, no refunds - we invest a lot in this event with our own time and money. Please plan your weekend and postponed date around this!

  • See “Registration Changes policy” above for options that may be available for you.

SCHEDULE

SUBJECT TO CHANGE - PLEASE CHECK IN WITH REGISTRATION FOR FINAL DETAILS

Friday: Packet Pick Up & Pre-Ride

8:00am - 5:00pm : Course pre-ride available at your own risk (RECOMMENDED WITH A BUDDY!) - not all markings will be in place & no medical monitoring will be available! 

Sun sets @ 8:30pm - we encourage you to start no later than 5pm for pre-ride!

4:00pm - 8:00pm: MANDATORY Packet pick up / Registration @ location TBD (check “Ongoing Updates” page for the details, located in the menu above).

Saturday: Pre-Ride, & Prologue

8:00am - 12:00pm: Course open for pre-ride (RECOMMENDED WITH A BUDDY!) - not all markings will be in place & no medical monitoring will be available! 

1:00pm: Grand Enduro Prologue (Intermediate & Amateur categories first 1-3pm, Pros start approx. 30 minutes after last Amateur rider; specific start times will be posted on the “Ongoing Updates” page the day before.)

6:00pm - 8:00pm: Live music with break in between for Racer Meeting

7:00pm: Racer meeting @ Handlebar Tap House (check “Ongoing Updates” page for the details, located in the menu above) - get your start time slots. Prologue results will be posted online on the Ongoing Updates page as well.

Check your emails and the ongoing updates page for the start times!

Sunday: The Grand Day!

6:30am - 7:00am: Pros MANDATORY check-in @ location TBA in “Ongoing Updates” Page (link located above)

Click here for suggested pro climbing route >>>

7:30am - 11:00am: APPROX TIME to load amateur & intermediate mandatory shuttles @ Handlebar Tap House (parking available by Nate Porter Homes office / empty restaurant lot west of HTH). Shuttle times will be announced Saturday night after seeding is determined.

NO self-shuttles to Ribbon TH allowed. If you still want your own shuttle “service”, you will need to park / drop off at Bangs Canyon (approx 1.5 miles & 500 ft elevation gain ride to Ribbon TH). No one else can drop you off at Ribbon TH as we DO NOT have room at the Ribbon TH for various public traffic dropping off riders. If you attempt be dropped off at the Ribbon TH outside of our included & provided shuttle service, you will be DQ’ed. You have been warned. This will be posted in the FAQ section as well.

9:00am: Begin Pro @ 30 - 60 second stagger starts

Seeded by Prologue results at Stage 1. Then thereafter, first come, first serve for stages 2 and 3.

9:30am: Begin Amateur / Master / Junior / Intermediate riders @ 30 - 60 minute second stagger starts with 5 minute gaps between categories.

Seeded by Prologue results at Stage 1. Then thereafter, first come, first serve for stages 2 and 3.
—> Final start schedule will be released Saturday night after the Prologue. This will be coordinated with the shuttle company to ensure you’re dropped off in a timely manner.

11:00am - closing: Handlebar Tap House open for serving food / drinks. Use your included food/drink tickets!

1:00pm: Stage 2 Finish cut-off for Intermediates / Stage 3 Finish cut-off for all expert classes.

3:00pm: Results posted - if all goes well! We have to wait for all riders to cross the line, gather data, and process them.

3:00pm - 6:00pm: Live music with break in between for Awards Ceremony

4:00pm: Awards @ Handlebar Tap House. we will be announcing the winners and allowing 15 minute wait period for protest. Then we will proceed to announce official winners. Results can be accessed here - be sure to check this link frequently!