2017 Alberta Rockies 700

UPDATE (Race Recap): This year’s race challenged riders with a warm day 1, upwards of 30°C, as well as cold and wet weather on days 3 and 4. Those prepared for the varying conditions were able to finish the route in under 3 days, and all riders were done within 5 days. The first to finish, Adam Hooson,  had an unofficial finish time of 1 day, 23 hours, and 32 minutes and singlespeeder Dean Anderson (who placed 2nd at the BC Epic 1000 just a few weeks earlier) was a close second with an unofficial finish time of 2 days, 5 hours, and 38 minutes. Of the 24 riders registered with SPOT devices, not accounting for a few groups riding together without tracking, only 14 completed the route.

This is a fully self-supported bikepacking event. The route, which is over 80% gravel, follows the first range of the Rocky Mountains with grueling climbs and epic downhills. Along the way riders pass through small coal mining towns, ride beside glacier-fed creeks, all the while enjoying amazing mountain vistas.

The 2017 version of the route is reversed from 2016, and there is a re-route around Stoney First Nations Land. Total distance approximately 720km/447mi with 9148m/30,013ft of climbing.