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TIER 2

The Rad Dirt Fest

Trinidad, Colorado · 2026: September 26

VERDICT The Rad serves up fast gravel and Spanish Peaks views, but its 31-mile no-service stretch exposes every training shortcut.

69
LAB SCORE
—
RIDER SCORE · RATE IT →
[05]

The Ratings

Course verdict

A 113-mile altitude race on mostly maintained high-desert gravel.[3]

Course Profile ratings for this race. Select a point for its explanation. LOGISTICS3/5LENGTH4/5TECHNICAL2/5ELEVATION5/5CLIMATE3/5ALTITUDE4/5ADVENTURE4/5 25/35
Course Profile
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[01]

Course Overview

113 miles through Trinidad's high desert and Spanish Peaks—long climbing, thin air, and a 31-mile unsupported stretch.

113 mi
Distance
10,613 ft
Elevation
Trinidad, Colorado
Location
September 26, 2026
Date
~2024
Field Size
$190
Entry Cost
+ Google Calendar Download .ics
MORE IN COLORADO: Colorado Trail Race · Leadville Trail 100 MTB · SBT GRVL
Facts & History

Created by Life Time in Trinidad to showcase gravel roads rarely experienced, with Spanish Peaks backdrops and high-desert terrain. Lauren De Crescenzo won the inaugural 110-mile event. Founded in 2021. By Life Time.

Reputation: High-desert Colorado climbing race with stunning Spanish Peaks scenery. Long sustained climbs at altitude define the challenge.

Inaugural 2021 event established Trinidad as gravel destination
2024: Keegan Swenson and Lauren De Crescenzo won the 113-mile race
2026: Added 50 UNBOUND Gravel qualifier coins across the 110- and 70-mile distances
[03]

The Course

Two gravel cyclists racing on paved road through forested valley with hills and pine trees - The Rad Dirt Fest - Trinidad, ColoradoPhoto: YouTube / Life Time Grand Prix
First-person POV of gravel cyclist following riders on rocky dirt trail through desert scrubland terrain - The Rad Dirt Fest - Trinidad, ColoradoPhoto: YouTube / Life Time Grand Prix

A 113-mile altitude race on mostly maintained high-desert gravel. The organizer advertises 10,613 feet of gain and an 8,921-foot high point; its linked route file currently reports about 8,274 feet of gain.

Signature challenge: Covering 113 miles at altitude while managing a 31-mile unsupported gap and three on-course cutoffs.

6
MILE
Trinidad Lake Roller Coaster
Six-mile series of hills in the state park. Packs stay together but legs start to sting.
24
MILE
18-Mile Climb
The main selection. 18 miles up to 9,000 ft with grades up to 18%. Heat, altitude, and gradient blow up groups.
65
MILE
Highest Point & Descent
After climbing to the highest point, screaming descent with mud and deep do-not-change-your-line ruts for about a mile.
90
MILE
South Shore and the Final Cutoff
Fatigue meets a two-mile loose, pitchy trail segment before the 8:10 p.m. mile 106.8 cutoff.
RIDERS REPORT
Early pinch point MI 3.8
A critical choke point between two fences where only a single rider can get through at a time. Creates nervous racing as everyone fights for position.
Trinidad Lake State Park section MI 10
Pretty rowdy rough two-track like a Jeep track with some big rocks. Don't get caught out by the scenery.
Paved climb return MI 10
Short but pretty steep paved climb that you hit on the way back in at 10 miles to go.
Course high point MI 65
Tops out at nearly 9000 feet. The course generally trends upward all the way until this high point.
All sorts of different textures - pavement, sand, mud and rocks. Nice smooth pavement, some pretty well groomed gravel, some deep sand depending on conditions.
It's a full buffet sampler of all the things, all the conditions, all the surfaces.
The gravel is pretty darn fast according to word on the street.
[04]

From the Field

It's almost immediately on the dirt heading out towards Trinidad Lake State Park where the road turns quickly to a pretty rowdy rough two-track like a Jeep track with some big rocks. It's a full buffet sampler of all the things - all the conditions, all the surfaces including pavement, sand, mud and rocks.

The Ride with Ben Delaney · 22.5K views

In general, what I like about the course here is it's that champagne gravel most of the time. It's almost a little desert-like - it's dry and dusty, with most of the roads being gravel, hard packed, very fast, very flowy, very moderate gravel.

Life Time Events · 3.4K views

At Mile 3.8 there is a little choke point where we go between two fences and only a single rider can get through at a time - everybody knows this so we're all trying to be right at the front right at that spot which is going to make for some pretty hectic racing.

Goettl Media · 20.9K views

One thing I like about the rad starts at 9:00 so it's currently 6:15 right now not 4:15. I'm enjoying my Bob's Red Mills gluten-free pancake with some eggs that I had pre-made the other day so all I had to do is heat it up in the microwave.

Goettl Media · 20.9K views
The Rad gravel race course preview 2023
The Ride with Ben Delaney · 22.5K views · 10:27
A BAD DAY at the Rad - 2023 Rad Dirt Race Recap
Goettl Media · 20.9K views · 25:27
2025 Life Time The Rad Dirt Fest | OFFICIAL RECAP
Life Time Events · 3.4K views · 2:32
RACER

Racer Reviews

Raced The Rad Dirt Fest? Be the first to rate it.
[07]

Training

September 26, 2026 THE RAD DIRT FEST
RIDERS REPORT
I think you can get away with something faster and narrower for sure, like 38mm. You could even potentially run slicks depending on the road conditions.
This is definitely a course I would look at running a slick, it's that fast.
Switched over to some slicks, the Maxxis Velocitas. They're surprisingly comfy, more traction than I thought I was going to have, pretty smooth over the rough terrain.
[08]

Train for The Rad Dirt Fest

RACE DEMAND PROFILE

Durability
6
Climbing
10
VO2 Power
6
Threshold
8
Technical
6
Heat
1
Altitude
8
Race Specificity
9
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[09]

Race Logistics

Airport
Colorado Springs (COS) is approximately two hours by car; Denver (DEN) and Albuquerque (ABQ) are each approximately three hours away.
Lodging
Stay in Trinidad and book early; the organizer also lists a city camping option within a mile of the start/finish.
Food
Six aid stations serve the long course, but riders should leave mile 43.6 prepared for the organizer's warned 31-mile gap.
Packet Pickup
Friday, 2:00–7:00 p.m., or Saturday, 7:00–9:00 a.m., at 218 W Main Street; photo ID required and athletes must collect their own packets.
Parking
Use the organizer's current race-week instructions; downtown roads and expo operations affect access.
RIDERS REPORT
You want to be with a group. Most of the climbs are draftable, gradients are four to five to six percent, so if you've got friends to ride with new or old that's a good thing.
Keep your head up on the descents. Most are fairly straightforward but occasionally there's a sharp corner that will sneak up on you. Your Garmin or Wahoo is your friend.
Roads are open so stay to the right even though there's hardly any traffic, especially on blind corners.
Everyone knows about the mile 3.8 choke point so we're all trying to be right at the front, which makes for pretty nervous racing through the first two miles.
OFFICIAL SITE
[10]

Tire Picks

42mmMIXED
1
Specialized Pathfinder Pro
42mm · $55 · 32W
Fast center, grippy edges. The modern all-rounder benchmark.
2
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M
40mm · $74 · 34W
Mixed-terrain specialist. Balanced grip and speed for variable conditions.
3
Vittoria Terreno Mix
40mm · $80 · 34W
Graphene versatility. Mixed-terrain grip with reasonable rolling speed.
FRONT/REAR SPLIT Vittoria Terreno Dry 40mm / Specialized Pathfinder Pro 42mmFaster front for reduced rolling resistance on straights, grippier rear for traction on loose climbs and corners
FULL TIRE GUIDE & PRESSURE TABLE
NEWS

Latest Coverage

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Frequently Asked Questions

"as the day went on the wind picked up and made for a challenging end of the race," creating deteriorating conditions for later finishers. September weather in southern Colorado at elevation can shift throughout the event day. Wind becomes a significant tactical factor in the latter portions of the course. Similar climate challenges to SBT GRVL.[1]

Life Time publishes packet pickup, start times, aid locations, drop-bag rules, crew points, and cutoffs. Trinidad is still a remote drive from major airports, and the organizer warns of limited cell service plus 31 miles to aid on the backside.[5]

Racing through the Spanish Peaks region delivers backcountry Colorado adventure with towering peaks and expansive mesa views. Trinidad's artistic culture and the technical South Shore Trail section add character beyond typical gravel grinding. The elevation and remote location create wilderness exposure without being completely isolated.[6]

Lauren de Crescenzo has won twice including the inaugural 2021 edition, with 2024 bringing elite talent like Vermeulen, Stetina, Lachlan Morton, and Alex Howes. The event draws "more than a thousand" riders "from 46 states and nine countries" but remains newer in Life Time's portfolio. Elite participation is growing but the race hasn't established deep historical prestige yet.[6]

Race it if you want a long, fast gravel course where altitude management and self-support matter more than technical bravado. Skip it if remote travel, a premium entry fee, or a late-day cutoff turns preparation into guesswork.

[11]

Sources & Citations

Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.

  1. Official Official 2026 event informationwww.theraddirt.com/info/
  2. Official Official 2026 registration and pricingwww.theraddirt.com/registration/
  3. Official Official Stubborn Dolores 110 coursewww.theraddirt.com/stubborndolores/
  4. Route Maps Organizer-linked Ride with GPS routeridewithgps.com/routes/51731077
  5. Other Sources Rouvyrouvy.com/life-time/the-rad-dirt-fest
  6. Media & Press Velovelo.outsideonline.com/events/lauren-de-crescenzo-john-ke...
  7. Media & Press Velovelo.outsideonline.com/tag/the-rad/
  8. Other Sources Distancetoemptywww.distancetoempty.com/news/2022/11/03/the-rad-dirt-fest...
  9. Other Sources Distancetoemptywww.distancetoempty.com/news/2022/11/03/the-rad-race-wrap
  10. Other Sources Elevationoutdoorswww.elevationoutdoors.com/go-outside/why-the-rad-dirt-fes...

Last updated September 2026