Fourth annual Pikes Peak APEX mountain bike event held this weekend in Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- At least 160 people have registered to participate in competitive biking and running events that are designed to showcase the area's natural beauty and raise its status as an internationally-known destination for endurance sports.
The event, known as the Pikes Peak APEX Challenge, started in 2020 and will be managed for the first time this year by the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation.
Jeep trails and dirt roads are among the variety of terrain than mountain bikers and runners will compete on.
"We have people coming in from Mexico, we have an Australian, just saw a guy who jumped on a plane from Miami, to ride" said Micah Rice, executive director for APEX. "So, we're getting those people. Word is spreading about this event."
The APEX will use three venues: Palmer Park on the city's east central side; Rampart Range between the city and Woodland Park; and the Cheyenne Cañon area near The Broadmoor in the city's southwestern corner.
Stage One begins Friday at 10 a.m. with preliminary activities, and athletes departing 30 seconds apart on an 11.5-mile course between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
In Saturday's second stage, participants start their journey on the 30-mile Rampart Range course at noon and finish around 3 p.m.
Sunday's final stage through Cheyenne Cañon starts at 8 a.m., and the event concludes with an awards ceremony at noon.
In addition to biking, the APEX previously offered separate endurance trail running events at distances of 5K, 10K and ultra.
"But we're not doing those this year," Rice explained. "The haven't been successful. We hope to bring them back in future years."
One of the participants is Nina "Machina", who's from North Carolina and had a somewhat dangerous experience in her first visit last year.
"It was pouring rain, freezing," she recalled. "My bike had just been built up, so I was kind of going into it pretty uncomfortable, and I hit a rock straight on, went over the bars, cracked my helmet and got a concussion."
Nina said that she learned from the incident.
"There's no need to go 100% all-out, all the time and ride recklessly," she said. "It's better to ride conservatively because of how technical this course is. Don't wipe out on the first day."
That's exactly what Dylan Witte, of Colorado Springs, plans to do in his first trip to APEX.
"I actually grew up about a mile that way, so I'm actually pretty familiar with all the terrain," he said. "It's pretty technical. Kind of sandy in spots this year, because of all the rain. But yeah, today should be fun."
Organizers said that this year's APEX format was shortened from four days to three because some participants had difficulty attending a four-day event because of work or other obligations.
APEX staff began marking trails and courses at dawn Friday in preparation for the event.
The top ten finishers will compete for $25,000 in prizes.
For more information, visit: https://www.coloradospringssports.org/events/pikes-peak-apex/.
