We’ve just gotten word that there’s a new race series for the gravel and dirt loving crowd that combines three well-known events.
The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) is combining their Lost and Found gravel grinder, the Downieville Classic cross country race and the wildly popular Grinduro into the Lost Sierra Triple Crown race series.
The Lost and Found is a gravel race and ride held in the northeast Sierra Nevada Mountains that mixes pavement, dirt roads, gravel roads and railroad grades over rolling terrain. Last year, as in past editions, the field featured a number of cyclocross racers, including eventual winner, reigning U23 Cyclocross National Champion Tobin Ortenblad.
The Downieville Classic is a cross country mountain bike race that in 2015 celebrated its 20th edition and is one of the last point-to-point races in the country.
And the Grinduro, after just one year, has become a must-do. Pros and average joes can take each other on during timed segments within a combined gravel grinder/enduro/grand fondo type event that’s mostly more bike ride and celebration than hardcore race. We were there last year and can attest to the fact that the event is great.
Whether you take them all on, or just one, the Lost Sierra Triple Crown events should be on your ride bucket list.
You can read the full press release from SBTS below.
Downieville, California – Never resting on their laurels of delivering an epic mountain bike festival for 20 straight years, the fun-loving folks at the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) are upping the ante this year by adding a new three race series, the Lost Sierra Triple Crown. In this new addition, riders will compete in all three SBTS races – the Lost and Found gravel grinder, the Downieville Classic cross country race and the highly acclaimed, Grinduro, mashing up a gravel grinder and an enduro.
The Lost and Found starts the series on June 4th in Lake Davis, Calif. with a 100 mile gravel grinder. It’s the perfect blend of pavement, dirt road, gravel road, and historic railroad grade with 7,000 feet of elevation gain and 80 percent dirt.
Next is the Downieville Classic cross country race on August 6th. The rides starts by ascending 3,000 feet in eight miles to the crest of the Sierra Nevada. From there, riders glide along colorful trail sections, including the infamous Baby Heads, followed by flying through creek crossings, dodging rocks and fellow riders, and traveling at warp speeds down Third Divide. Then enjoy the world famous river jump and party the night away to live music in downtown Downieville. Come see why Outside Magazine called the Downieville Classic one of top mountain bike festivals in the US.
Finally, Grinduro on October 8th completes the Lost Sierra Triple Crown series on pavement and dirt in the scenic hills of Quincy, Calif. With 8,000 feet of climbing in 65 miles, the course is a serious affair but not meant to be a sufferfest. Timed segments are only 5-7 minutes in length over pavement, gravel roads and a twisty singletrack descent back into town. When riders arrive in town, they will be greeted with a celebration of live music, artwork, handcrafted bike displays and delicious gourmet food.
“It’s going to be an exciting year watching these incredible athletes compete for the Crown,” Williams said. “I’m not joking – winners are literally getting metal crowns – that’s how worthy their commitment and accomplishment is to racing these three events.”
he Lost Sierra Triple Crown will be based on the same points system used in the Downieville Classic All-Mountain World Championships. Points will be applied to placing based on the three aforementioned events across 13 racer categories. A different bike can be used for each of the Lost Sierra Triple Crown races.
For more information about these festivals and to register for the Downieville Classic visit downievilleclassic.com, for the Lost and Found visit lostandfoundbikeride.com, and for Grinduro visit grinduro.com
