SBT GRVL: The highest potential race in gravel?
SBT is back, and is this the best course in American, if not world gravel?
More brief than normal, as I only arrived in Steamboat Springs fifteen hours before the race started. But, long story short, you should put SBT GRVL on your calendar for next year.
1. The best course in American, if not world gravel?
It’s an honest and true gravel race.
A sporting course where the balance is right. It’s dynamic, with multiple options to keep it fresh year on year. There’s a low risk of mud. No place you’ll blow up a bike. Not even a major risk of flatting. The black course is a perfect distance; not every race has to be six hours plus. Hard enough to hurt, manageable enough for everyone.
SBT GRVL’s narrative isn’t surviving, it’s all about racing.
2. SBT is back, but will it return to its best?
After a few years of calendar clashes and arguments with locals, SBT feels like it’s back.
The town is beautiful, the event is great, and the course is spectacular. There was a point in gravel’s young history that people spoke about SBT in the same breath as Unbound. Those days seem to have gone, which is a real shame.
SBT has all the ingredients of a world-class gravel race; it’s just missing the start list it deserves. Will it return to its 2024 strength? Only time will tell.
3. The organisation is great.
The SBT organiser and comms team are gold standard. Pre-race instructions were clear, the smoke risk was handled transparently and quickly, and the course itself was safe. In fact, I think this is the first big gravel race I haven’t had to write “We’ve got to talk about safety.”
Extra kudos for the good prize money, the free photos sent to every participant, and the post-race food and drink.
4. Shock! Specialized win again.
Is this the most successful first year of a team in cycling’s history?
Specialized ‘only’ had Keegan and Sofia lining up at SBT, but of course, they won.
Those two winning is nothing new, but their pure dominance cannot go unmentioned.
5. Life Time events shouldn’t dictate the calendar
The pro field at non-Life Time races in the US has seriously dropped off, and the vacuum of start-list depth has been disappointing to see.
We need more gravel race days and more regions of the country to have big races. There needs to be a way to generate buzz outside of the Unbound, Sea Otter, or Leadville strongholds.
Ironically, the LTGP is missing a race exactly like SBT or Mid South, and it’s still CRAZY to me that they don’t have a single summer gravel race. We have Life Time to thank for modern-day pro gravel in the States, but it’s a shame that other races don’t get the same recognition.
6. Steamboat’s altitude is no joke.
The average elevation of the black course is 2,178m (7,145ft).
With the start line sitting a touch over 2,000m (6500ft), and the highest point of the race at 2,500m (8,200ft), altitude is a constant presence. Everything feels harder.
Paradoxically, the course doesn’t really feel like you’re at that high of an altitude; American high altitude feels very different to European altitude.
7. Bring races to cool places.
You’d go to Steamboat Springs whether there was a race on or not, and that’s kinda the point. Colorado in summer is hard to argue with. The mountains, the town, the whole setting, they all add something that Kansas cannot.
The mid-west gravel scene has its charm that I love, and I don’t want to take anything away from it. But Steamboat is more a ‘fun for the whole family’ sorta place. It’s a destination race; heck, there’s even a rodeo the same weekend.
It’s a true American western experience.
8. I want to come back for the Hill Climb.
The Friday night special event.
A Hill Climb that doubles up as a costume party (fancy dress for my British readers) that triples up as a party.
I couldn’t attend as I was still travelling, and I’m disappointed that I missed it.
9. I’m world-class at doing too much.
A personal note. Big shock as racing TT Nationals on Thursday afternoon in Wales, flying 4,500 miles on Friday, and driving 4 hours on Saturday is sub-optimal prep for a big race.
I had good legs at TT Nationals and was hoping, praying, that they’d transfer to Sunday’s race. Unfortunately, I picked up a sniffle on the plane - probably as a result.
Thanks to Andy Lydic, Rob Lydic, and Logan Jones-Wilkins for contributing.
-To read Logan’s articles from the weekend, click here.
While you’re here…
I’ve added a paid subscription and a ‘Buy Me A Coffee’ link to this post. This allows me to write articles that don’t necessarily fit in at one of the normal outlets. Thanks for your support.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/joelaverick
The following brands are either financial or equipment partners of mine, and allow me to do cool stuff.
Glad you could experience the Colorado mountains! I was in the Orange Seal media jeep and listening to the radio traffic between the technical director, media vehicles, and race motos really underscored how much effort SBT put into safety. The moto team clearly had lots of uci road racing experience and was led by a guy who is working on the LA2028 road race. It is a massive investment for race promotors though.
A few years ago ( I actually can’t recall which year) I was flying from Denver to Boston and had the pleasure of sitting next to two Steamboat Springs residents (2 sisters) One was a local firefighter/paramedic. Her perspective of the race was interesting. She said that many times injured riders were a 45 minute drive in the ambulance away. She said that drive was terrifying as the ambulance with sirens going had to weave thru riders .
Surprisedly many riders didn’t move out of the way, even though she had the sirens blaring. I am sure or I hope that rider behavior has improved since then. Part of the safety issue is on us riders.
Side note… that plane ride was the most fun of any plane ride. We were laughing and laughing… my apologies to all the other passengers who were trying to sleep!