Rules, Regulations & FAQs

Believe it or not, there are rules in GRVL®. Please familiarize yourself with our SBT GRVL® p/b Wahoo Rules and Regulations. We’ve also tried to read your minds and cover every question and topic; however, if there is something you don’t see addressed in our FAQ section give us a shout.

We are so lucky to have these beautiful gravel roads for our event. Please enjoy these roads and treat them like you are a guest.

Respect the Routt: SBT GRVL® Oaths

I will ride on the right side of the road and follow all traffic laws and Rules of the Road | I understand that these are open, public roads and that there are others using the roads for work and/or commuting | I will respectfully share these roads with all other users | I will use portable toilets to relieve myself and will not trespass on private property | I will practice kindness to others on and off the bike and understand that this event is
inclusive of all types of riders, regardless of age, race, gender or ability
| I understand that breaking any of these Oaths may result in disqualification from SBT GRVL® and future GRVL® events.

Sunday Policies—All Amateur Riders, All Courses:

  • All Riders must follow all Rules of the Road:

    • The Green course is not a race! All riders are subject to Colorado and Routt County laws as they participate. These are open roads and you must follow traffic rules including but not limited to:

      • Ride no more than two abreast. Please ride single file when appropriate in areas where the road is narrow and vehicles are needing to pass.

      • Ride as far to the right as safely possible.

      • Stop at all stop signs unless waived through by law enforcement or certified traffic safety flagger

      • Be aware of all other traffic around you–cars, trucks, and ranching equipment all use these roads and we are guests here.

    • Ebikes are allowed on our Blue, Red or Green courses, but you are responsible for the life of your battery. Ebikes are NOT allowed on the Black Course.

    • We will not have any prizes or podium presentations for our Green Course Riders.

    • Be prepared — bring a rain jacket, tools, and equipment to fix a flat tire. We will have limited technical assistance at the aid stations but it is your responsibility to be self-reliant.

    • If you change courses mid ride, shortcut a course, or don’t finish–please let the timer know at the finish line so they can count you as done and adjust your time.

    • For rail crossings, riders must stop if the lights, signals or crossing arms are active or if a train is reasonably close, signaling, or visible. Any race stoppage for a rail crossing will be considered a race incident with no adjustments in time or place.

    Interacting with the Pros

    One of the unique aspects of SBT GRVL® is the opportunity for amateur riders to share the course with some of the best professional gravel racers in the world. These athletes are competing at the highest level, and as us mere cycling mortals are aware, are traveling at very high speeds; particularly in the closing miles of the race and as they enter the finishing chute.

    If you hear lead vehicles, motos, or pro riders approaching from behind, please move safely to the right side of the course (or as otherwise directed) and allow them to pass. This helps ensure the safety of both the pros and fellow participants. We also know getting passed by the pros can make for spectacular social content, however we ask that if you have the urge to grab your camera, that you do so from the side of the road while you are stationary. Loose gravel, rocks, and ruts (especially on Zipp Cow Creek) make riding with one hand on the bars unsafe for even the most experienced videographers.

    Key Notes If Being Passed by the Pro Field

    • Be predictable and stay to the right in single file unless otherwise directed

    • Give the right of way to those passing you

    • Refrain from taking pictures or videos unless stopped and out of the race line

    • Do not jump on the back wheel of the rider(s) passing you

Sunday Race Policies and Rules—Black, Blue and Red Courses

Staging Information

  • The start area will be available for staging at these times:

    • Elite Men: 5:15 AM

    • Elite Women: 5:15 AM within the designated corral

    • Amateur: 5:50 AM

  • Stationary trainers, spot holders, or bikes left unattended are not allowed and will be removed from the start chute.

  • All black, blue & red waves will have a neutral start to the Steamboat Springs city limits and will have a rolling race start at that point.

Start Times:

Elite Men: 5:45 AM

Elite Women: 5:50 AM

Amateur Starts: This year, the Black, Blue & Red Courses will feature self-selected amateur start waves designed to create a smoother, safer, and more comfortable experience for all riders. This format will help distribute riders more evenly early in the event and allow participants to choose the start environment that best matches their pace and riding style.

More information on selecting your wave during the registration process is to come….

Things to consider when selecting your wave:

Trying to decide which start is right for you? Here are a few important details to help guide your decision:

  • Both waves on each course are part of the official event.

  • Each wave will have its own official gun time. Your overall finish time will be based on the start time of your selected wave.

  • Riders in both waves remain fully eligible for podium awards within their respective categories.

  • Concerned about starting five minutes later and still making the course cutoff? The cutoff times will be adjusted accordingly, ensuring riders starting in each wave have the same amount of time to reach the checkpoint and continue on their full course.

Our goal is simple: to create a safer, more enjoyable start experience while giving each participant the opportunity to select the wave that best fits their expected pace and preferred riding dynamic.

Most importantly, we ask that you select the wave that best reflects your expected pace and riding style so we can maintain a fair, safe, and enjoyable experience for all participants.

Rolling Enclosure for Elite/Pros Only:

  • These Elite/Pro waves are being run as “rolling enclosures” which means we are creating a race safety bubble that allows riders to move through the course with full right-of-way. As long as riders are behind the “Lead Closure Car” and ahead of the “End of Convoy” vehicle, they have full use of the road and right-of-way in all intersections. That being said, all riders should keep their heads up and not dive through blind corners as cars can sometimes mistakenly get on these narrow dirt roads. Please see the graphic below for a visual interpretation of the rolling enclosure:

Diagram illustrating road rules for organized motorcycle and car convoys, showing race direction, protected race bubble, and lane rules, with lead police vehicle, convoy cars, motorcycles, and marked end of convoy car.
  • An initial selection for the portion of the field protected by the rolling closure will be made after the Cow Creek section of the course at mile 11. The rolling closure will protect those in the front of the competitive group(s).

    • Riders protected by the rolling closure at this point will be shown green flags by race staff positioned at this location.

    • Riders shown a yellow flag will be outside of the rolling closure and must follow all traffic laws and rules of the road.

    • Past this point, riders passed by the marked “End of Convoy” vehicle are outside of the safety bubble. Once passed by the “End of Convoy” vehicle, riders are subject to all rules of the road as if participating in a casual Sunday ride (see the “Rules of the Road” section above for additional detail).

    • Intersections will be staffed with safety personnel for riders outside of the safety bubble.

    • The following are important locations concerning the rolling closure and use of roadways:

      • Riders who are within the race “bubble” after the blue course splits from the black course at mile 70 must stay to the right of the centerline on all paved roads.

      • See the map of the finish for information on the fenced finish chute and final corners.

    • All Amateurs will follow “rules of the road” as detailed above.

    • Riders can only work with other riders who were in their same start group. Pro Men can only draft Pro Men, Pro Women can only draft Pro Women, and all Amateur riders can draft each other regardless of age category.

Rule Violation Consequences:

Consequences will be handed out on a sliding scale, depending on the nature of the infraction:

Level One: Warning (two warnings equals a higher consequence)--minor infraction or misunderstanding, race number partially obstructed, unintentionally littering, minor traffic rule infraction, etc.

Level Two: Relegation to a lower position in the results, and/or loss of prizes–safety rule infraction, disrespect toward a race official or fellow competitor, minor violation of outside support or missing a race number, dangerous riding

Level Three: Disqualification from the race/ride–major safety rule infraction or repeated violation, major disrespect to race official, law enforcement, or community member, cheating.

Level Four: Disqualification and banned from future GRVL® events–Major infraction, blatant disregard for policies and disrespect for staff, volunteers, law enforcement or community member, intentional trespassing