Stewardship
Land, town and air (planned)
A race on public land and a small mountain town owes both of them something. These are our intentions, written down before the first edition.
The land
Leave it as we found it
ProposedLeave No Trace
Leave No Trace principles are part of the rider agreement and the briefing. Riders carry out their wrappers; a dropped wrapper is a rules issue, not a courtesy. Course markings come down behind the sweep.
ProposedZero-waste aid, cupless
No single-use cups at aid. Riders refill their own bottles and flasks. Aid points sort recycling, compost and trash, and every site is packed out.
ProposedHuman waste
Portable toilets at starts, finishes and aid points that vehicles can reach. Above treeline and between aid points there are no facilities, so riders and staff carry WAG bags and pack them out.
ProposedRoads and trails
We'll ride only permitted roads and the ranch, work with the land managers on timing and conditions, and help local trail groups with road and trail care before and after the race.
Fire
Fire restrictions and the Willow Fire
In 2026 the Willow Fire burned about 7,200 acres west of Leadville. It forced the 2026 Leadville Trail 100 MTB to drop Hagerman Pass Road, Sugarloaf Mountain and Powerline and reroute along the north side of Turquoise Lake (Velo; Vail Daily).
Our candidate Hagerman stage and ranch stage sit in or next to that area. We don't know what closures or burn-area conditions will apply in 2027. Burned slopes can shed rock and mud in summer storms, and weakened trees can fall.
- Proposed Plan alternates for both stages on open roads, ready before the course is published.
- Proposed Follow every closure and fire restriction the land managers set, without asking for exceptions.
- Proposed No open flame at any race site when restrictions are in force, including crew and camping areas.
- Proposed A wildfire contingency in the safety plan: evacuation routes for each stage, and the authority to cancel a stage if a new fire starts.
Air
Smoke and air quality
Wildfire smoke can drift into the Arkansas valley from fires hundreds of miles away. Hard breathing at altitude in smoke is a real health risk.
Proposed Our approach: check public air-quality data and the National Weather Service forecast each morning as part of the go/no-go call, alongside the weather. The thresholds for delaying, shortening or cancelling a stage will be set with the medical director and published before the race. We won't make them up before then.
The town
Giving back to Lake County
ProposedPart of every entry
We want part of every entry to stay in Lake County. The beneficiary will be chosen with the community.
ProposedOpt out of swag
Riders can decline the event shirt and other swag at registration. We'd rather not make things that end up in a drawer.
Grand Tour Gravel is independent and not affiliated with Life Time or the Leadville Race Series. Commitments here are subject to permits, sanctioning and insurance.