The Tour of Colorado is a series of seven of the state’s important bicycle road races. The inaugural tour begins May 10 in Boulder and concludes over the Labor Day weekend. 

 

The first race in the tour is the Excel Sports Sunshine Hill Climb in Boulder. It is a 9.14-mile race with 3,226 feet in elevation gain, with an average ascent grade of 7.6 percent and maximum ascent grade of 23.1 percent. Over 300 cyclists are expected to compete. For more details about the race, including registration, visit www.boulderbikerace.com/shc.

The remainder of the Tour of Colorado schedule is as follows:
May 24-26: 36th Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Durango, Colo.
June 21-22: Fort Collins Cycling Festival
July 25-27: Salida Omnium in Salida, Colo.
Aug. 8-10: Gateway Canon Road Cycling Festival in Gateway, Colo.
Aug.17: Excel Sports North Boulder Park Criterium
Aug. 30-Sept. 1: Santa Fe Trail Stage Race in Lamar, Colo.

“This year is clearly a building year,” reads the tour’s Web site. “But, everyone involved will work very hard to make each race a success.”

For further details, visit www.tourofcolorado.com.