Overview of the Gran Fondo Moab official 2010 course, courtesy of MapMyRide.com
2010 Loop Road Course

The Gran Fondo Moab road cycling event will start in Moab and follow the La Sal Mountain Loop Road. The ride will be 60 miles with 5500 feet of climbing. This is one of the most beautiful routes you will ride in any cycling event.

The route will have a neutral start in town with a police escort for 2 miles to the Colorado River road also known as HWY. 128.  After turning right on Hwy 128, the neutral roll-out ends and riders can assume their own pace. Sixteen miles of rolling terrain along the Colorado  River Road lead to the Castle Valley intersection. From here the road climbs almost 2000 feet in 13 miles to the intersection with the La Sal Mountain Loop Road.  This is where the ascent gets tougher, with some very steep switchbacks, climbing 7 miles to 8300 feet at the Castle Valley Overlook.  The next 6 miles are a rolling descent to the final 1 mile climb to the Geyser Pass turn-off.  From here it is 22 miles downhill to the finish, with more tight switchbacks. Riders should be extremely careful on the descent, looking for wildlife, potholes and loose gravel. This is not where you should plan to make up time for a faster ride.  In May the weather is pretty consistently nice but anything can happen at higher elevations. Be prepared.

Safety

The route will be on open roads with two-way motorized traffic.  All cyclists’ must obey traffic laws at all times. There will be a STRICT yellow-center line rule, even on the parts of the course that have no painted center line. The road in the mountains is very narrow, with blind corners where riders can encounter oncoming motor vehicles so always stay as far right as possible.  Please ride with caution.

Law enforcement will be patrolling the course.