TransRockies Moab Rocks race highlights area’s best trails
Views from Porcupine Rim trail (click to enlarge). Photo courtesy of TransRockies Moab Rocks
In its third year, The TransRockies Moab Rocks offered up three days of pure XC mountain bike bliss on the desert trails of Moab, Utah. With a relaxed and fun atmosphere, you felt as though you were showing up to ride with a group of friends. The crew at TransRockies hosted soon to be friends from all over the U.S., as well as a kind and hearty crew from Canada to test their skill and equipment on the area’s harsh terrain.
TransRockies worked closely with the Moab community to showcase some of the area’s best rides. Three diverse stages were on tap that would map out a great weekend of riding and highly competitive stages for racing. This year’s field attracted all types from seasoned professionals to a group of friends celebrating a 40th birthday. Picnicking was even spotted.
Although the atmosphere was light, relaxed and fun, there was no lack of adrenaline and competition. After each day’s stage, racers gathered in a beer garden for plenty of brews, music, awards, a quick briefing on the next day’s stage, and a slideshow highlighting the vistas and accomplishments of the day. It became a routine soon to be missed as you packed up your bags and headed back to life’s realities.
The end of each and every day (click to enlarge). Photo courtesy of TransRockies Moab Rocks
Stage 1: Porcupine Rim – 29 miles – 4,400 feet of elevation gain
Riders kicked off the weekend with the biggest stage of the three, Porcupine Rim. Typically run as a shuttle, racing started with a 4,000-foot road climb before plummeting their way down the Porcupine Rim Trail. This stage is one that is 50-50 fitness and skill. The views along the grueling climb helped lesson the blow of the seemingly endless climb — as did the iconic descent.
Transrockies Moab Rocks Stage 2 – Keeping it interesting on Klondike Bluffs (click to enlarge). Photo courtesy of TransRockies Moab Rocks
Stage 2: Klondike Bluffs – 25 miles – 2,800 feet of elevation gain
The trails at Klondike Bluffs are unrelenting. The stage was comprised of a mixture of slickrock and fast, buffed desert trail. A fine line of effort and optimum line choice was showcased by the best riders of the day.
Magnificent 7 lives up to its name (click to enlarge). Photo courtesy of TransRockies Moab Rocks
Stage 3: Magnificent 7 – 29 miles – 2,800 feet of elevation gain
Living up to its name, the Magnificent 7 trails have the most flow of anything in Moab. Comprised of plenty of desert chunk and slickrock along with a heavy dose of ripping fun, they’re a blast. The stage’s profile introduced more of a mixture than the Klondike Bluffs stage and was a favorite among racers.
Check out the great photo gallery below for more racing action. For more information visit transrockies.com/moab-rocks.
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