Timed Segments.
This Is the Race.
You don’t have
to win the race
to win your race.
This is where the racing happens. Your combined time across the timed segments determines where you finish, whether you're racing solo or with a team.
Everything in between is neutral. Time to recover, regroup, talk a little strategy, and get ready to throw down again.
New for 2027, The Breakaway. One timed segment on the Long Course with its own individual podium. Work with your teammate, make some new alliances, or go it alone. The three fastest men and three fastest women take the honors. And every second still counts toward your overall race result.
Go for the podium or go for your best day. Race the clock. Race your friends. Race yourself.
SEGMENT 1
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7.4 miles • +631 ft / -334 ft • 7.8% max grade
Mixed terrain: smooth and fast in places, rutted, dusty, and a little chunky in others. Deep potholes, water in the shade.
Where to make up time: the 1.3-mile paved section is primed for a time trial effort. -
Segment 1 – Insider knowledge:
These roads have never seen an official race. Until now, the only times that mattered came from weekday shootouts between locals. Consider this your shot to leave a mark on what’s always been a locals-only segment.14E - known locally as “14E for Extreme” - is where it all starts. Chunky gravel, likely riddled with potholes. It rolls straight for a moment, then kicks up hard into a set of switchbacks that separate those who’ve done the work from those who haven’t.
Out of the switchbacks, it opens into a fast straight before a left onto 14B. This is your first taste of true Steamboat mag chloride gravel - fast, smooth, but with enough South Valley gut punches to keep the heart rate pinned. You’ll drop into Pleasant Valley with big views of conserved ranchland and Rabbit Ears Pass looming ahead.
A quick right turn - watch for loose gravel on pavement - leads into a straight where it’s heads down, diesel power. This is the kind of stretch where local shootouts have set the tone. Teams should be working here. Solos will start to feel the elevation creep in.
Then the course changes. The road tightens and runs alongside the Yampa River, climbing through one of the most beautiful stretches of dirt in Routt County. Short rollers. Punchy efforts. It keeps going longer than you want it to.
The final climb before the cattle guard is exposed and unforgiving in the morning sun. Cross it and you’ll see the finish - but it’s still uphill. From there, it’s everything you’ve got. Strategic or survival. Smooth or unraveling.
Get it done and you’ve just put your name on a segment that used to belong to the locals. The first aid station is waiting - cold drinks, a reset, and a reminder that the day is just getting started.
Solo or team?
your call.
Go it alone or bring a teammate. Either way, there's plenty of racing to be had.
Racing solo? Find your rhythm, pick your moments, and make every second count. Racing as a team of two? Work together, share the suffering, and see how fast you can go.
And when you hit The Breakaway, team loyalty might just get tested.
The strongest doesn't always win. The smartest usually does.
SEGMENT 2
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3.3 miles • +126 ft / -268 ft • 4.1% max grade
Consistent terrain: smooth and fast - this is the gravel Steamboat is known for.Where to make up time: push it on the opening switchbacks. Time won’t be made on the lower section.
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Segment 2 – Insider Knowledge
Spirited shootouts have played out on this segment for years. It climbs gradually to the high point, but it’s always hard, with a few switchbacks along the way. Don’t hold back here - if you don’t push early, you won’t get that time back on what comes next.Over the top, it opens up quickly to massive views. Fast, slightly downhill into a big left, followed by a few steep punches that can split a group or crack a solo rider.
It flattens briefly before a hard right - make the turn or you’ll meet an irrigation ditch, a barbed wire fence, and whatever’s watching from the pasture.
From there it trends downhill, but you’ll still be on the gas chasing time. This is a section where strategy beats strength. Ride it smart and keep it smooth.
The segment ends hot, heart rate maxed, just before the course splits - short course heads west back to Olympian Hall, long course hangs a left toward the red schoolhouse.
NEW SEGMENT 3
the breakaway
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NEW FOR 2027 | LONG COURSE ONLY
The three fastest men and three fastest women earn a spot on The Breakaway podium, whether they're racing solo or with a teammate.
4.1 miles • +448 ft / -223 ft • 7.2% max grade
Mixed terrain: Expect some deeper, loose gravel mixed with smoother, faster sections, especially on the final climb.Where to make up time: Find a wheel and save your legs. Draft while you can, work with your teammate or make a few new friends. When the final climb hits, it's every racer for themselves. Time to make your move.
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Segment 3 – THE BREAKAWAY
Insider KnowledgeLong Course Only | New for 2027
You've just covered 11 miles of neutral riding since Segment 2, but it wasn't exactly a free ride. Those miles packed in 1,100 feet of rolling hills and punchy climbs. Hopefully you've managed your effort, because this next one is going to ask for plenty more.
And this one's personal.
The Breakaway is where teammates can become rivals, solo racers find unexpected allies, and the fastest individual times earn their own podium spots.
Racing with a teammate? Work together to slingshot one of you toward the finish, or decide it's time to look out for yourself. Racing solo? Find a wheel, make an alliance, and see how long it holds together.
The segment starts with a slight downhill before quickly pitching up into a climb that'll sting the legs a bit. Nothing too long, but enough to remind you of the miles already behind you.
From there, the road drops into a fast descent and a sharp right-hand turn. Pay attention here. There's a barbed-wire fence and cattle guard near the turn, so pick your line early and keep the speed under control.
The road opens up to pastures and a small creek view before narrowing alongside a rock wall. A few tight sections and a narrow bridge demand your attention, especially if you're riding in a group. Then comes another punchy climb. This is where the pace may start to split things apart. If you've been sitting on a wheel, you might have to make a decision.
At the top, the road swings right and you'll get your first look at the final climb. A fun descent gives the legs a brief break, but don't get too comfortable. The road tips up again soon enough.
And this climb has a little trick waiting for you.
The false summit.
You'll think you're getting close, but there's still work to do. Keep the pressure on, manage what's left in the tank, and don't back off until you see the segment finish markers. When the line finally comes into view, give it everything you've got.
The three fastest men and three fastest women earn a spot on The Breakaway podium, whether they're racing solo or with a teammate.
But remember, your time here also counts toward your overall Outlaw result. Going all in for The Breakaway podium could pay off twice, but every second you give away follows you into the overall standings.
Every segment. Every second. It all counts.
And because this is Outlaw, there might just be a little surprise waiting after that final climb. You've earned a break, and we know a thing or two about making one worth stopping for.
Race day — May 23, 2027
SEGMENT 4
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Only the long course will see Segment 4.
3.8 miles • +500 ft / -10 ft • 5.6% max grade
Mixed terrain: Chunky. Rutted. Potholes. Cows on course. Cow pies guaranteed.Where to make up time: No letup here. It’s a steady push to the line. When the pitch eases, that’s your chance — keep pressing.
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Segment 4 – Insider Knowledge
Long Course OnlyAfter the big effort of The Breakaway in Segment 3, your legs have already been through plenty. And the nearly 4 miles of neutral riding to get here isn't exactly a free pass. There's another 350 feet of climbing along the way. Doesn't sound like much, but this late in the day, you'll feel it. You might be alone now, or doing what you can to hold your group together.
Routt County Road 45, better known as Cow Creek, has been ridden hard for years, and it never shows the same face twice. Conditions change, and you won't fully know what you're getting until race day.
It typically starts rough. Rutted, chunky, teeth-chattering washboards, sometimes soft, with cows on course and cow pies included. You'll need to stay light on the bike and pick your line early.
As it unfolds, the road begins to smooth out, but it doesn't get easier. It rolls over small rises and into longer, gradual climbs that keep the pressure on. This is a segment where you can push the entire way, but only if you manage your effort. When the pitch eases, that's your moment to press and take time.
Most of the road is shaded by old cottonwoods before it opens up to the afternoon sun near the end, where the effort starts to bite a little deeper.
Watch for potholes, loose gravel from spring runoff, and pockets of mud hiding in the shade.
Then Cow Creek opens up, and the segment finish comes into view. No tricks here. Nothing technical. Just you, the road, and whatever you've got left in your legs. In or out of the saddle, keep the pressure on all the way to the line.
Did you pace yourself, or did you spend too much too early? Strategy over strength matters here. The riders who managed their efforts through the earlier segments will still have something left. The ones who went too hard will feel every pedal stroke to the finish.
You made it! Another timed segment in the books, but there's still One More to go. For now, soft pedal up the hill to the aid station. A cold Coke, water, snacks, and a few Outlaw surprises are waiting at the top. Refuel, enjoy a well-earned break, then get ready for the final push to the finish line.
SEGMENT 5
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350 Feet • +0 ft / -1 ft • 0.0% grade
Consistent terrain: Gravel road. Occasional marble-like loose sections.Where to make up time: Adrenaline spikes here. Spectators, loud guitars, finish line in sight. Don’t burn it too soon. Time it right, then go.
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Segment 5 – “ONE MORE?”
Insider KnowledgeYou've just come down River Road with big views of Steamboat Mountain and the Yampa River rolling off to your right. One of those stretches that leaves an imprint.
Then the course turns, and for maybe the first time in local history, riders roll through the back arena of the historic Steamboat rodeo grounds. A place where cowboys and cowgirls have warmed up, thrown down, and celebrated wins for over 100 years. Now it's your turn.
One final timed segment, presented by the Dirt to Snow – Mark Satkiewicz Legacy Fund.
Mark was a Steamboat local, a leader, mentor, and a force in the local cycling community. He was feared on club rides for his relentless speed, respected for his drive to make everyone around him better, and remembered for an infectious smile that rarely seemed to fade, even when he was making everyone else's legs hurt.
His passion went well beyond the bike. Whether at work, in the community, or out on the road, Mark had a way of pushing people to be their best.
And at the end of a hard ride, when everyone was ready to call it a day, Mark would look around with that smile and ask one simple question:
“One more?”
That's what this final segment is all about. One more effort. One more chance to dig deep. One more with Mark.
Segment 5 is short. Around 350 feet, give or take. But by now your legs are loaded, and timing matters more than power. You'll hear it before you see it. Spectators, live music, and the energy of the finish pulling you in.
It's easy to go too early here. Hold it together, stay smooth, then give it everything you've got. One last effort. One more chance to make every second count.
Cross the line and you're in. The finish opens into the post-race party. Locally made lunch, cold drinks, hay bales to rest your butt on, and live music rolling as the racing gives way to celebration.
Stick around. You've earned it.
Podium or personal best. Race the clock.
Race your friends. Race yourself.
year one VOLUNTEERS CRUSHED IT!
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