Each day through Sunday, The Durango Herald will look ahead to race weekend as well as back at some key moments in Iron Horse history.
Weekend forecast
For the first time in Iron Horse Bicycle Classic history, race organizers have hired a meteorologist to help prepare for the Memorial Day weekend activities. Joel Gratz of opensnow.com is providing daily reports to race director Gaige Sippy.
“On Saturday, I think a lot of the state will see dry conditions in the morning as we’ll be just ahead of the next storm,” Gratz said on the website. “Most models are showing a tongue of dry air for the morning, at least at the lower levels of the atmosphere, so we may be able to squeak out a nice start to the day. Then, starting around noon on Saturday, showers will increase over Colorado as the storm moves right over the state. Snow levels will likely get down to 8,000-9,000 feet, with the best accumulations over 10,000 feet.”
From the Iron Horse archives
Only once in Iron Horse history has the classic road race and hill climb to Silverton been outright canceled: 2008. In 1977, the race was altered for the first time because of weather, always a concern during Memorial Day weekend; the race finished atop Molas Pass. In 1995 and 1996, only the strongest – and fastest – survived the race to Silverton because a blizzard trapped several riders between Coal Bank and Molas passes. Several riders were evacuated and treated for hypothermia. In 1997, race organizers heeded the storm and shortened the race to Purgatory Resort for the first time. The 2014 IHBC shared a similar fate.
Race officials will make formal announcement at 6 a.m. Saturday letting riders know if this year’s Durango-to-Silverton ride is a go. Visit www.durangoherald.com early Saturday for their announcement.
Herald Staff