The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
The gonzo Breck Epic, a six-day, 220-mile stage mountain bike race through the mountains of Summit County, attracts some 500 riders from across the globe each summer. They gain roughly 40,000 feet of elevation over the course of the race, which is ridden almost entirely on scenic and technical backcountry singletrack, beginning and ending each stage in downtown Breckenridge. Pros like Lachlan Morton, aspiring racers from the Midwest, and a bunch of daring locals will toe the start line this weekend—which is reason enough to party for the following week, at least according to race director Mike McCormack.
This year, McCormack and his team joined forces with the Town of Breckenridge to create the first Breck Bike Week, a community-focused cycling festival that will include everything from a film tour and speaker panels to group rides, bike demos, and even an “Intergalactic Pond Crossing.”
We caught up with McCormack about the can’t-miss events during Breck Bike Week, which kicks off Saturday, August 10—a day ahead of the Breck Epic.
Editor’s note: The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
5280: The Breck Epic is a unique event in regards to field size and the overall character of the race. How will Breck Bike Week match that vibe?
Mike McCormack: The Breck Epic has always been an extension of mountain biking, and we’ve never tried to be anything else. We want to meet riders where they are. If you want to ride in jeans and a T-shirt, then we’re not going to judge you for that.
We have the same philosophy for Breck Bike Week. The Breck Epic is probably the least expensive mountain bike stage race in the world—which isn’t to say it’s cheap. [Editor’s note: There are still spots available this year. Rates begin at $199 for an unsupported race and $1,149 for a supported race.] But we want to lower that financial barrier to entry. So most of the programming for Breck Bike Week is free to the public.
The women’s pro field is absolutely stacked this year. How’d you achieve that, and what are your goals for inclusion and diversity in the race in the years to come? How do the Women’s Pro Tour and Women’s Cycling Summit play into that?
The women’s field and these events are all tied together. About three years ago, we had an incredibly small percentage of women in the race. So we asked: What’s going on here? We had a women’s-only meeting and discussed some of the obstacles that females face in mountain bike racing.
We launched the Women’s Cycling Summit [a female-focused event now within Breck Bike Week that includes everything from panel discussions to group rides] last year and that drew a really awesome field of pro women to the race. The top 10 changed almost daily and there was some really good racing going on. And at the end, all these women sistered down and pulled together to support each other.
I left last year thinking, How do we get more of that? I thought about how many pro women had ever paid to race with us and the answer was close to zero. So we created the Women’s Pro Tour and eliminated the financial barrier to entry. It’s a real cost to us, but it’s worth it. With 63 pro women in the field this year, it’s for sure a North American record for mountain bike racing—and may even be a world record.
Other bike races are doing good things for the cycling community, and this is our contribution. This is what we can do, and it’s an investment in women’s cycling.
How do you see Breck Bike Week differing from other popular industry events such as Sea Otter?
Do you like dogs? I love dogs. I love cute dogs, and I love ugly dogs, whether it’s a fancy poodle or a mutt from the pound. I feel the same way about bike events. We get inspiration from Sea Otter and the recently revived Downieville Classic—great, bonkers energy there.
But another piece of Breck Bike Week’s DNA comes from the Aspen Ideas Festival. They have a big focus on sustainability and inclusivity, and I want this to be a reflection of that. We want to give folks a place to be productive and talk about the issues we face as an industry.
Overall, Breck Bike Week will be smaller, less expensive, and more personal than some of these bigger, more mature events. I think there’s room for an approachable and fun event where profit isn’t the primary motivation. So I see us emulating the things I love about other events and tying it all into this braid that is uniquely Breck.
What are some of the Breck Bike Week events you’re most excited to debut next week? What are some of the can’t-miss events for folks not involved in the race?
I’m really excited about the Ritual Film tours. There’s one showing that will be open to the public. Then there’s a separate benefit showing, and those proceeds will go to the TreeTop Child Advocacy Center, the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, and Breck Film.
I also think the Epic Creators Workshops will be great. It’s an opportunity for young creatives—like filmmakers, photographers, and athlete ambassadors—to learn from some pros in the industry like they would from an older sibling.
How would you describe the Intergalactic Pond Crossing?
It’s pharmaceutical-grade shenanigans. Sometimes things don’t have to be so intense and can just be about fun.
Breck Bike Week officially begins this Saturday, August 10, and the stage race begins on Sunday, August 11. Both conclude on Friday, August 16, with the closing banquet for Breck Epic riders. Find the full schedule for Breck Bike Week here.
