Wave rolling to Craig
Ride the Rockies tour makes pit stop today
About 2,000 cyclists made the 9,426-foot descent down Rabbit Ears Pass throughout Sunday afternoon, eventually converging onto Steamboat Springs.
It is a sight Craig will see today as the wave of people from the Ride the Rockies Bicycle Tour hits town for a brief, one-day pit stop.
Tour director Paul Balaguer said Craig officials, organizations and volunteers have pulled together in preparing for the local tour stop. An estimated 2,500 to 3,000 people will be in town today and Tuesday.
“Craig has done an excellent job of pulling together the many details involving in hosting Ride the Rockies,” Balaguer said. “We’re looking forward to our visit and would like to sincerely thank everyone who’s been involved.”
In particular, Balaguer praised the Craig Chamber of Commerce, which is serving as event site coordinator.
The chamber has worked with “numerous individuals and organizations to provide a number of services to make the visitors’ stay as enjoyable and comfortable as possible,” he said.
This year, the 22nd annual event, marks the first time since 1995 that Ride the Rockies has stopped in Craig. The weeklong, 422-mile tour leaves Craig on Tuesday for a 90-mile trip to Rifle.
While the Craig tour stop is a return trip for Ride the Rockies, it’s also a return home for seven participants.
Pamala Thompson, Thomas and Jacqueline Schnellinger, Terry Carwile, Tom Gilchrist, Brenda McKey and Peggy Clark all are participating in Ride the Rockies.
Steamboat Springs resident and Craig physician Dennis Kinder also is riding.
There is a series of events for the Craig Ride the Rockies visit. Perhaps the signature offering, a concert and beer garden at Craig City Park, runs from 2 to 8 p.m.
Local band 1340 Junction will perform from 1:30 to 4 p.m. and Down Lo will play from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“People who say there is nothing to do in Craig, especially tailored toward the younger crowd, this is an ideal opportunity,” Chamber of Commerce director Christina Currie said. “It’s a little younger, a little hipper.”
Beers will cost $4 for a 16-ounce cup.
Ride the Rockies visits are an expected boom to local businesses, reportedly generating about $200,000 for each host community.
Although local officials said it’s difficult to quantify how much the bicycle tour will generate for the Craig business community, the visit already has been lucrative for one organization.
During a presentation at 4:30 p.m. today at MCHS, the nonprofit Boys & Girls Club of Craig will receive a $5,000 grant from the Post-News Community/Ride the Rockies grant program.
One organization in each host community was selected to receive grant funds.
The grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that provide literacy programs or serve disadvantaged youth through recreation, education and the arts.
Joshua Roberts can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 210, or jroberts@craigdailypress.com.
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