There is a new style of mountain bike race coming to Moab this year, and it will bring even more adventure to an already adventurous sport. It is called the Moab Epic.
Referred by race organizers as a “mountain bike adventure safari,” the Moab Epic will throw away the typical race course. Instead, it will be about you, your bike, and a topo map. How you complete the 60-mile course is entirely up to you. You get to choose the route.
This year is the inaugural Moab Epic, and it will take place north of town on the Mag 7 and Brand Trails network. The way the race will work is this: you will be given a pre-plotted topo map with 20 checkpoints marked on the map. Your goal is to reach as many of the checkpoints, in any order, as fast as you can in under 8 hours. That means the race can be as long or as short as you can make it. You simply have to plot the most efficient route between checkpoints to maximize your time and mileage. That means you don’t just have to be the fastest mountain biker on the course, you also have to be self sufficient and smart.
If you reach all 20 checkpoints, you will have ridden between 50 and 60 miles. There will be $3,000 in cash prizes split up between category winners.
For more information, or to sign up, visit www.moabepic.com