SBT GRVL is set to shrink in 2025 as local officials have slashed the event’s participation limit by nearly half and said they would not permit prize money. The move comes after tensions have risen in the past year between race organizers, local officials, and local residents, and is one of the first major gravel races to face such drastic government regulation.
Routt County commissioners met earlier this month and agreed that they would only permit an event with a cap of 1,800 riders and that does not include prize money. SBT GRVL (and any other event, cycling or not) must obtain a permit from Routt County, where Steamboat Springs is located, in order to operate.
This year, the popular gravel event attracted about 3,000 riders, so the new limit would drastically decrease field sizes at an event that already has more demand for spots on the start line than supply.
As reported by Steamboat Pilot & Today, Commissioners discussed capping the event at 1,500 riders but ultimately landed on the 1,800 figure. Prize money will not be allowed since law enforcement says that any competitive event must take place on a closed road.
Founded in 2019, SBT GRVL quickly tapped into a surge in popularity of off-road cycling events to become one of the most prominent events in the country, even attracting international participants at the pro and amateur level. Although the event has experienced widespread popularity among participants and the cycling industry, tensions with the local community have risen in recent years.
In January, The Colorado Sun reported that local ranchers were not happy with the event, saying that riders relieved themselves on private property and disrupted ranch operations on one of the busiest weekends of the year during the Routt County Fair.
The event was allowed to go on this year, and for its part, SBT GRVL has conducted extensive community-relations efforts, dedicating multiple thousands of words on its website to the topic.
Local officials have grown uncomfortable with the size of the event, which could present a tipping point for gravel events around the country.
Locations like Emporia, Kansas—the home of Unbound Gravel—have experienced growing pains, but the sentiment from the local community is largely positive. Unbound is seen as an economic boon for the town and has even attracted cyclists to the Flint Hills the rest of the year too.
A different dynamic is in play in Colorado. Steamboat Springs is already a resort town and is not hurting for tourists. The move by county commissioners appears to be an attempt to strike a balance between the needs of the community and the popular event, even if it may be unpopular among cyclists.
The move comes at a time when other events in Colorado have come under scrutiny. Emergency responders said that they had trouble accessing an injured rider this summer during Ned Gravel near the cycling hotspot of Boulder. The Ride The Rockies road tour was canceled this year, in part due to lack of interest from host communities and decayed community relations.
SBT GRVL has not yet addressed the recent decision which will have major impacts on its operations. The reduced field size suddenly decreases revenue from race registration in a business that already has slim margins. It also means SBT GRVL will have to make tough decisions about who to let into the race. The race currently operates on a lottery system.
The prize money issue only relates to the elite fields. It’s not uncommon for elite gravel races to offer no prize money, operating on prestige alone, but it’s still a consideration for pros planning their season calendars and race goals.
Whether or not the SBT GRVL decision is a tipping point for other top races remains to be seen. What’s clear is that any medium or large size event must invest in proper community relations.
Ryan MTB has reached out to race organizers and will report on further developments.