April 5, 2013
Breck Epic Organizers Launch MTB Event in Eagle, CO
$11,000 Cash Prize Purse Offered
(Eagle, Colo.) – April 5, 2013 – The Greenspeed Project, Inc., organizers of the popular Breck Epic MTB Stage Race, are pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural Eagle Outside Festival. Scheduled for May 11-12, 2013 in Eagle, CO, the event serves as a showcase for the community’s extensive trail network and as a centerpiece for the town’s destination tourism marketing effort.
“We’ve made a commitment to increase the quality and quantity of our already substantial trail network,” states Mayor Yuri Kostick, “We believe that Eagle offers some of the best riding in the Rockies, all within an easy drive of the front range. The Eagle Outside Festival shines a spotlight on what we consider to be a perfect early season riding option for the Colorado mountain biking community.”
Accurately described as a ‘re-envisioning’ of Eagle’s former Get Out Expo, the new event incorporates many new elements for riders, runners and outdoor enthusiasts alike. First among them is the inaugural Firebird MTB Race and its counterpart, the women’s only Firebird la Femme. Non-USAC sanctioned, the mountain bike events take place on Saturday and Sunday respectively and collectively boast a $10,000 cash purse with equal payouts for men’s and women’s fields.
The festival also features the 1st annual Rocky Mountain Bike and Outdoor Expo, a consumer facing demo boasting some of the bike industry’s leading brands. Santa Cruz, Pivot, Ibis, Felt, Niner, Specialized, Yeti, Ellsworth, Twenty Two Cycles, Orbea, Wilier, Ridley, BMC and many, many more will all be on hand with their latest models. The free demo invites consumers to test ride their dream rigs all day long on Eagle’s signature climbs and descents.
“With three great coffee shops, a VERY good brewery, some killer Mex, dining options galore and a full grip of trails leading riders from town into the back of beyond, Eagle is sort of an undiscovered secret,” says event producer Mike McCormack, “The racing part is obvious, and we’re thrilled to have the town’s support in offering a sizable purse. The current dynamic as dictated by USA Cycling is universally unpopular – hopefully another great race without their sanction will prompt them to invest additional thought into their recent decision. Then again, maybe it won’t.”
“The demo is a direct extension of the success we’ve seen at events like Sea Otter, Interbike and Outerbike,” continued McCormack, “People LOVE to try the bikes they’ve only seen reviewed online or in a magazine. Events like these are packed with smiling people. With the industry placing more and more resources into dealer relationship and support demo-type programs, we think we’ve come pretty close to the mark in terms of offering a great venue along with tremendous energy and critical mass, all during the important early season purchasing period. And besides – what better way to introduce riders to Eagle?”
The event will also offer a no-cost set of Strava Challenges. Riders can test themselves on some of Eagle’s signature climbs and descents, trying to best the local hammers and rippers for digital bragging rights.
There’s more than just biking though. New for this year is the Mother of a Half-Marathon, a downhill road marathon that sees competitors finish in the heart of Eagle Ranch. In addition, there will be a 10K longboard push race, a “Chro-Moly Chef” competition, and a wide variety of Mother’s Day activities including yoga, spa treatments, flower delivery, special meal offers from local dining spots and much, much more.
For more information on the Eagle Outside Festival, the Rocky Mountain Bike and Outdoor Expo or any of the events held throughout the weekend, please visit the Eagle Outside Festival site or contact Mike McCormack.
About The Greenspeed Project
The Greenspeed Project was founded in 2008 to utilize cycling events as a mechanism to underwrite trail improvements and enhance MTB access in the Central Rockies. The team has effectively harnessed the power of the collective cycling consciousness in service of demanding accountability and ethical discourse from those that would see mountain bike access greatly marginalized. Greenspeed has also been instrumental in validating the term ‘companion designation’, bringing it into the land protection dialogue along with the concept of the Wilderness B (Wilderness with Bikes), of which Greenspeed is the founder.Through these initiatives, the organization has played a modest role in the crafting of stronger, more meaningful land protections for all. While the group can be found most recently jousting at windmills in the Colorado Springs area, The Breck Epic, Greenspeed’s signature 6-day MTB stage race event, is sold out for 2013.
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