Haute Route coming to Colorado in 2017

The Haute Route is bringing its European-style, multi-day gran fondo series to the United States in 2017, opening registration for the Mavic Haute Route Rockies on Thursday. Starting in Boulder, Colorado, on June 24, 2017, the yet-to-be-revealed route runs seven days and finishes in Colorado Springs.

Organizers have run an event in the Alps for six years, and also have week-long rides in the Pyrénées and Dolomites. Next year’s Colorado event will also be a seven-day event, but it will be slightly longer — 875 kilometers, while both the Pyrénéan and Alpine runs are about 800km; the Haute Route Dolomites is 900km. This reflects Colorado’s terrain and geography, which is not compact like most of Europe. Haute Route Rockies will have slightly less climbing as well, 16,000 meters (52,500 feet), while its three European predecessors climb over 20,000 meters (65,617 feet).

Riders will be treated to a convoy of safety vehicles and mechanical support, stage timing and ranking, feed stations, and Mavic apparel. The event will also offer daily massages, hot food at the stage finish, daily stage briefings, and transfer of luggage to accommodation between stages.

Ride the Rockies is a similar tour of Colorado for amateur cyclists. However, it is less race-oriented and runs six days. That route is 649km with about 9,078 meters of climbing (29,782 feet). The entry fee for Ride the Rockies is $495, and about 3,000 people participated in 2015.

The Mavic Haute Route Rockies will be a much smaller event, offering only 600 entries at the price of $2,400 per person. Currently, organizers are offering a discounted early registration price of $2,200.