The Routt Forward
Since 2019 SBT GRVL presented by Wahoo has quickly grown into one of the most well-respected gravel cycling events in the country, with professional cyclists and first-time riders lining up together in Steamboat Springs, Colorado to complete one of four courses ranging from 40 to 140 miles. In 2023 the agricultural community pushed back; fed up with the inconvenience of thousands of cyclists on the roads and a perceived threat to their rural way of life, ranchers quickly organized and lobbied the local government to end the race. Event organizers responded with drastic changes for 2024 to reduce negative impacts on the rural community, but many rural residents felt the changes didn’t go far enough. With a 2025 permit application approaching and the event’s future on the line, proposed changes from the County Commissioners threaten the future of SBT GRVL and animosity escalates to a breaking point. Can SBT GRVL and the rural community find common ground? This is The Routt Forward.