The Pikes Peak APEX is a unique multi-day off-road challenge on the slopes of Pikes Peak, America’s Mountain.
Choose to race one day, two days, or all three days! In addition to the 3-day mountain bike stage race, this event includes one-day mountain bike options and a brand NEW gravel race with two distance options. It features exhilarating, exceptionally crafted routes through dirt roads, jeep trails, and the amazing alpine single-track that is quintessential Pikes Peak. The terrain will be challenging, but not overly technical. This Rocky Mountain trail experience through the aspens in Colorado’s backcountry will draw not only professional riders but also amateur cyclists looking for a bucket list endurance experience.
We offer a $12,500 pro purse in the mountain bike 3-day event split evenly between the Pro categories with equal prize lists for open pro and women pro. Amateur categories and gravel participants will be racing for prizes. This is a USA Cycling sanctioned event, so if you don’t have an annual USAC license, you must purchase a one-day license which covers you for all three days of the event.
ROUTE:
Stage 1: Palmer Park – back by popular demand, the Palmer Park Prologue will be on the same 11 mile course as in the past and be run as a time trial where each rider gets their own individual start. This “race against the clock” has riders starting around lunchtime in 30 second increments to allow each rider to have a clear path on the singletrack. How many riders can you catch in 11 miles?
Stage 2: Cañon City Tentative Course
Stage 3: Cheyenne Cañon – we continue the tradition and legacy of the APEX with a ride down Captain Jacks—arguably the most famous downhill trail in Colorado Springs. This stage will be the same course we had in 2024, including the popular start/finish area at the Penrose House. It’s only 20 miles, but you will have to earn that downhill with some tough climbs early in the ride.
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