Record-Breaking Crowd Races at Cloudcroft’s High Altitude Classic
The fun and challenging mountain bike racecourse finished at the newly-named Elevation Park
This year's Chubby Tire High Altitude Classic saw record participation and strong regional representation, according to organizer Mark Castelo.
Castelo organizes the popular annual race alongside Matt Willett, Dave Halliburton, and Amy Coor.
The Stats
188 riders signed up, with 175 racing on the day—marking the largest turnout in event history.
Supported by the village’s Lodger’s Tax, the Classic brought riders to Cloudcroft from all over, with a 60% showing from El Paso and Chihuahua, Mexico. Local racers represented about 10-15% of the field, showing healthy home support, along with riders from across New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and beyond.
New Course, Waitlist
Racers crossed the finish line at Elevation Park and the Cloudcroft Disc Golf Course—a scenic and relaxed setting for the family-friendly event.
The current course—changed two years ago due to Checker Spot Butterfly conservation regulations—is regarded as one of the most challenging in the region, rivaling classics in El Paso, Gallup, Farmington, and Aztec, according to Castelo.
The new course is popular with racers, especially since it removed a notoriously tough Jeep climb while keeping high difficulty and fun.
There are three race distances/categories, based on USA Cycling standards, ranging from 10 to 17 miles, with up to 2,900 feet of climbing.
Winners received cash prizes, wooden plaques and medallions, and other swag from various sponsors like Bear Canyon Coffee.
Keep an eye out for the fall race registration next year—the classic sold out a week ahead of time, the earliest sellout since the event’s revival in 2011, and even necessitated a waitlist due to demand.
Photos
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