Moab Rocks Stage Race Preview

Are you bummed on the lack of snow this year? Have you already made the mental switch over to bike season? If so, this is a great time to start training for one of the best cross-country stage races in the US! Moab Rocks is a 3 day cross country mountain bike race in Moab, Utah, that takes some of the regions best classic and new routes including Klondike, Porcupine Rim and Mag 7 and combines them into a three-day xc masterpiece in a fully supported format.

Photo by: John Gibson

Each year Moab Rocks hosts some of the top names in North American mountain biking. Top competitors looking for an early-season bump to their fitness and the experience of Moab’s best trail networks flock to southern Utah, riders like: Geoff Kabush, Payson McElveen, Chris Baddick, Kris Sneddon, and Rotem Ishay will be pushing that pace at the front of the pack in 2018. Vying for the top female rider will be former Moab Rocks winners Liz Carrington and KC Holley along with top contenders like Jenni Smith, Marlee Dixon, Sparky Sears, Ksenia Lepikhina, and Liza Hartlaub.

Day 1: Starting in downtown Moab, racers will line up and head out of town amongst crowds of onlookers. The first 10 miles is a climb up Sand Flats road – perfect for the climbing legs, this is your opportunity to push yourself and get into position for the downhill. Once at the top of the road, it’s left onto one of the most famous Moab trails. Porcupine rim is a an extremely challenging and technical downhill trail that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. With over 12 miles of descending, you’ll finish day one having fallen in love with Moab.

Lea Davison (3rd on Stage 2) leads teammate Maghalie Rochette (2nd on Stage 2) Photo by: John Gibson

Day 2: After an epic day one, day two is a true cross country race. Klondike Bluffs is a new trail system that features a lot of punchy short ascents and descents, rock features, and moderately technical riding. Today’s course will keep you sharp with almost the entire 25 miles of technical single track racing.

Day 3: After two days of racing, there’s no letting up on the last day of Moab Rocks. Today is your opportunity to race hard and finish strong. Starting at Gemini Bridges road, today racers begin with a 4-wheel drive dirt road climb followed by a short dirt road descent and then everyone is hammering again on the next road climb before getting onto the singletrack. Once on the dirt, racers continue in an upward trend on moderately technical trails. Finally over the climbing, it’s yet another epic descent on Bull Run. Physical and technical, this descent will again leave you grinning. But leave some in the tank, as there’s still some uphill before you’re home. Racers finish by climbing back up the Gemini bridges road and descending back to the start.

Geoff Kabush enroute to winning Stage 3 and the final general classification of Moab Rocks. Photo by: Jean McAllister

With three days of back to back xc racing, Moab Rocks is the perfect jumpstart to mountain biking season. Long known as one of the world’s most iconic mountain biking destinations, Moab has played host to riders from far and wide. Featuring technical, desert riding, it’s a mountain bikers’ paradise. If you’ve never been to Moab before, this is the perfect opportunity to ride some of the best trails in the area. If you have ridden in Moab, then you know you’re in for some of the best mountain bike riding in the country. All this wrapped up in a fun and friendly atmosphere, combining camaraderie and competition.

Riders live on the edge racing on the Upper Porcupine Singletrack. Photo by: John Gibson

Register today and start training for Moab Rocks, April 14^th-17^th, 2018. Get ready to push yourself to the limit as you race against 150 other pros and amateurs. Then prepare to relax in the warm desert afternoons, soaking up the sun and experiencing the best in Moab culture, with beer from Moab Brewery, nightly slideshows and awards.

For more information and to register visit: transrockies.com/moab-rocks.

Giddy up and get ready to ride Moab!