Questions and answers

Status

Is Grand Tour Gravel actually happening?

It is a proposal in development and has never been run. The first edition is targeted for late summer 2027. It goes ahead once land-management permits, sanctioning and insurance are in place. Progress is tracked on the Road to 2027.

When is it?

No dates are set. The target is a week in August or September 2027, clear of the established Leadville summer races. Exact dates follow the permits. Join the list to hear first.

Who runs it?

It is being organized from Leadville around its basecamp hosts, Sugarloaf Mountain Lodge and Leadville Offroad Adventures. See About for how to reach us.

Is it affiliated with Life Time or the Leadville Race Series?

No. Grand Tour Gravel is independent and not affiliated with Life Time or the Leadville Race Series.

How is this different from the Leadville Trail 100?

It's a different discipline and a different kind of race. The Leadville Trail 100 MTB is a one-day mountain bike race. Grand Tour Gravel is a gravel stage race: drop-bar bikes, several days, a general classification on total time, and a small field based in town every night, in September rather than August. What makes it its own.

Is the course final?

No. The seven stages are an indicative candidate route and will change with permits, conditions and course design. See the course.

Entry

When does registration open?

Not yet, and no date is set. The entry method will be published well before entries open, and the update list hears first. See how entry will work.

How much will it cost?

No entry fee has been set. It depends on permit terms, field size and what's included. Rider services shows what is planned.

Will there be a lottery?

We haven't chosen an entry method. Under consideration: first-come with a cap, a lottery, or a hybrid with priority for the update list. The method will be published well before entries open.

How many riders will there be?

Capped at what the land-management permits and basecamp capacity allow. That number isn't known yet.

Can I ride only part of the week?

Under consideration: a first half (stages 1 to 3), a second half (stages 4 to 7), and pairs or relay entries. See Enter.

What is the minimum age?

Proposed: 18 for GC categories; younger riders in touring waves with a guardian is under consideration. Subject to sanctioning and insurance.

Riding

How hard is it?

Very. The candidate route crosses Mosquito Pass at 13,185 feet and several other passes near 12,000 feet, and the longest day is about 75 miles with about 7,300 feet of climbing. The altitude is the hardest part. Touring waves with generous cutoffs are planned. See the stages.

Should I ride a gravel bike or a mountain bike?

A gravel bike. This is a gravel race, built for drop bars on old mining, rail and wagon roads. Bring wide tires and low gearing: Mosquito's rough 4WD road is the hardest sector, so choose tires and gears for that. A light hardtail will get you round, but the course isn't designed for one. The athlete guide has more.

Can I ride an e-bike?

An e-gravel classification is part of the plan. Which e-bike classes are allowed, and where land managers permit them, is still being worked out. See the rules.

Is the race supported?

Riders are self-supported between neutral aid stations, and crews can help only in designated crew zones. A support fleet runs each stage and a sweep follows the last rider.

What do I have to carry?

A mandatory kit on every stage: a shell and warm layer, full-finger gloves, a repair kit, two bottles and emergency food, a phone and emergency card, and ID. The full list is in the rules.

What happens if I miss a cutoff?

Proposed: you leave the overall but may start the next stage as a stage rider if medical staff clear you. See the rules.

What if a stage is cancelled for lightning or smoke?

The race director can hold, shorten, neutralize or cancel a stage for lightning, wildfire, smoke or closures. Proposed: a shortened or cancelled stage isn't refunded per stage; the overall is computed on the stages completed. See policies.

What about the Willow Fire and the Hagerman area?

The 2026 Willow Fire burned about 7,200 acres west of Leadville and forced the 2026 Leadville Trail 100 MTB off Hagerman Pass Road, Sugarloaf Mountain and Powerline. Our Stage 4 (Hagerman) and Stage 6 (the ranch near Sugarloaf and Turquoise Lake) sit in or next to that area. Post-fire closures and burn-area conditions for 2027 are unknown, so alternate routes will be planned for both stages.

Altitude

How do I prepare for the altitude?

Arrive early, keep the first days easy, drink more water than you think you need, and pace the first climbs well below what you would ride at home. Visiting Leadville covers the basics and the athlete guide goes into acclimatization, pacing and gearing.

Should I talk to a doctor first?

Yes, if you have a heart or lung condition, are pregnant, or have had altitude illness before. Entry is planned to include an altitude and medical self-declaration. See the athlete guide.

Logistics

Where do I sleep?

The basecamp is Sugarloaf Mountain Lodge near Turquoise Lake, which sleeps ten and is booked directly with the owner. Leadville also has hotels, motels, inns and rentals, and there are Forest Service campgrounds nearby. Book as soon as dates are known. See where to stay.

How do I get to the stage starts in Buena Vista and Twin Lakes?

Stage 3 starts in Buena Vista, about 34 road miles from Leadville, and Stage 7 starts in Twin Lakes, about 15 road miles away, both reached on US-24. Rider transport to those starts is being planned. Crews can drive. See rider services.

Can I ship my bike?

Leadville has no airline service, so most riders drive in with their bikes or ship them to where they are staying. Whether the race will receive shipped bikes is listed on rider services.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. There is plenty to do in and around Leadville on race days. The altitude affects everyone in the party, not only riders. See Visiting Leadville.

Can I have a support crew?

Yes. Crews may help only in designated crew zones. Candidate crew zones are subject to permits and road access, and some high sections will have no crew access. See crews and spectators.

Money

What is the refund policy?

Proposed and not yet in force: a refund window until a set date, transfers until check-in, deferral to the next edition, and free deferral or refund for documented deployment, pregnancy or serious illness. See refunds, transfers and deferrals.

Will women and men get equal prize money?

We intend to pay women and men equally. The amount depends on sponsorship.

Will some of the money stay in Leadville?

We want part of every entry to stay in Lake County. The beneficiary will be chosen with the community.

Get involved

How can I volunteer?

See Volunteer, and join the list as a volunteer so we can reach you when roles open.

How can my company sponsor the race?

Read the founding-partner page and the sponsor deck, then write to us with the Sponsors subject line from the About page.

I'm with the media. Who do I talk to?

See Media and production for coverage plans, and write to us with the Media subject line from the About page.