On Saturday, July 8, 2023, riders gathered for the annual Ned Gravel race, a lively event for all levels of bikers. The race gave participants the opportunity to push their physical limits while enjoying the scenic routes through the Peak to Peak region. Participants and spectators also got to celebrate with food, drinks, music, and games after the race.

Ned Gravel said they had 900 riders registered. There were four different courses including Ultra, Tungsten, Gold, and Silver. They featured steep climbs, gravel roads, punchy hills, and fast descents. Ultra, one of the hardest courses of the day, started at 5 a.m. The route topped out at 10,500 in elevation and split into the Tungsten course. Tungsten, the premier event of the Ned Gravel, began at 7 a.m. The Gold route began at 7:30 a.m., and Silver began at 8 a.m.

The vibe of the morning was energetic and the feeling continued post-race. Award ceremonies were held after the races and food trucks, sponsor and vendor tents, games, and activities for the kids opened at 10 a.m. The festivities were also accompanied by The Ghost Town Drifters playing on the stage, courtesy of the Eldora Ski Resort. Other vendors and sponsors included Weller Drinks, Suerte Tequila, Kona Ice, Keep Driving Foundation, and Groove Auto.

Executive Director Gavin Coombs said, “Overall the event went great! We definitely walk away from each event learning something to make the next year even better. We had over 50 Nederland riders, our most yet, and we were really happy with that.”

Ned Gravel is presented by Peak to Peak Endurance, a non-profit that supports youth sports and activities in the greater Nederland area. For more info about Ned Gravel, check out their Ned Gravel Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ NedGRVL or check out the website at https://www.nedgravel.com/.