600 cyclists set to participate in ‘Spring Tour de St. George’

Cyclists participate in a previous Tour de St. George event, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Red Rock Bicycle, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The jaw-dropping beauty of Southern Utah’s diverse landscapes will be on full display as hundreds of cyclists travel throughout Washington County during the “Spring Tour de St. George” Saturday. The event starts at 8 a.m., beginning and ending at Town Square Park, 50 S. Main St., St. George.

Cyclists race toward Snow Canon State Park on state Route 18 during a previous Tour de St. George event, St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Red Rock Bicycle, St. George News

“We like to say that St. George has a little bit of everything,” Marketing Director for Red Rock Bicycle Company Joey Dye said. “It’s layered with red rocks that define the northern side of the city, jutting above the valley. You get to look deep into those sandstone cliffs in Snow Canyon and it’s all topped off with the largest laccolith in the world, Pine Valley Mountain. The area is defined by these layers and accented by the green trees in the valleys and the cottonwoods around the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers. The Tour of St. George gives you a guided tour of all those layers.”

Starting in downtown, the route immediately climbs toward the red rocks and skirts the base of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve as riders head toward Red Mountain and pass by the mouth of Snow Canyon State Park.

Later, riders pedal south to the Arizona state line before heading toward Sand Hollow and Quail Creek State Parks and their respective reservoirs. From there, participants glide into St. George through more layers of sandstone. The race ends at Town Square Park with plenty of green grass and trees.

There are three distances – 35, 75 and 100 miles. All of the distances will have fully stocked rest stops. The 35-mile route has an elevation swing of a little more than 1,400 feet, while the 75- and 100-mile distances contain elevation swings of about 4,000 and 5,500 feet, respectively.

Dye said he is expecting approximately 600 competitors to participate, representing an increase of about 50 riders from 2016. An estimated 85 percent of the participants will be out-of-town guests. The Tour de St. George is in its 14th year and occurs twice per year – in the spring and fall.

“The start and finish for this event is the splash pad downtown,” Dye said. “It is a great venue for spectators, so we encourage everyone to stop by and cheer on the cyclists.”

There will be no road closures for this event, Dye said, but road signage will be placed to alert motorists that cyclists will be on the road. Motorists and cyclists are encouraged to be courteous and use extra caution when sharing the road.

Online registration is closed but riders can still register at packet pickup located at Red Rock Bicycle, 446 W. 100 South, St. George, on Friday from 1-7 p.m. and also on the morning of the ride at Town Square Park from 6:30-7:30 a.m.

Registration varies depending on distance and is between $40-$80. There is no price increase for late registration, Dye said.

More information about the Spring Tour de St. George including course maps and elevation details can be found online.

Event details

  • What: Spring Tour de St. George.
  • When: Saturday, Aprill 8, 8 a.m.
  • Where: Begins and ends at Town Square Park, 50 S. Main St., St. George.
  • Cost $40-$80; spectators free.
  • Additional information: Online registration is closed but riders can still register at packet pickup located at Red Rock Bicycle, 446 W. 100 South, St. George, Friday from 1-7 p.m. and also on the morning of the ride at Town Square Park from 6:30-7:30 a.m.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

 

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6 Comments

  • Not_So_Much April 5, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    Hey this is great, it’s what is done in St George. I am curious why when there was 700 participates for a shooting event at the Southern Utah Sports Shooting Park last weekend there was not one mention before, during or after the event.

  • Caveat_Emptor April 5, 2017 at 7:25 pm

    My only hope is that the county has planned to run a street sweeper along the shoulders of the roads used in each of the loops. The skinny tires, running at 100 psi, do not handle the accumulated junk that well.
    BTW – Memo to the lycra-clad riders, please take your damaged tubes home with you. Discarded bicycle tubes litter the shoulders of several of these stretches of highway, especially Highway 7…..

    • .... April 6, 2017 at 1:08 am

      Wanna a crying towel ?

      • ladybugavenger April 6, 2017 at 12:08 pm

        Now you know where to look for spare parts for your tricycle ? Much love Dot…much love ❤️

    • Lastdays April 6, 2017 at 11:35 am

      Memo to Yoga Pant-clad drivers in their cars: please pick up your trash, beer cans, Starbucks cups, etc… it very unsightly as I ride around the area on my bike.
      Especially on Highway _______ (fill in the blank, any road)

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