Get ready for an unforgettable desert adventure with the Sarlacc Attack Mountain Bike Races, part of the Adventure Fest at 18 Road in Fruita, CO! These courses combine stunning desert scenery, world-class singletrack, and just the right amount of challenge to kick off your mountain biking season.
The Long Course: 50K
Push your limits on this epic 50K loop that combines The Edge, Sarlacc, and Cicada trails. Ride along dramatic cliffs, tackle exhilarating climbs, and enjoy the flowy descents of the Edge Loop. This is the ultimate early-season endurance test and the perfect excuse to keep training through the winter.
- Bruncher Award: Finish in less than 3 ½ hours (before noon) and earn your brag-worthy Bruncher status!
- Luncher Award: Cross the finish line after noon but within the 8-hour cut-off to snag the Luncher award.
Why ride? Springtime in Fruita offers perfect weather and pristine trails for desert ripping.
The Short Course: 22K
Looking for something shorter but still packed with fun? This 13.8-mile course with nearly 1,000 feet of climbing combines Chutes and Ladders, Frontside, and Western Zippity trails. It’s great for beginners and sprinters alike, offering flowy terrain, short climbs, quick descents, and breathtaking views of the surrounding mesas and buttes.
- One well-stocked aid station at Frontside (7.5 miles) to keep you fueled.
- Expect switchbacks, challenging terrain, and desert beauty on this counterclockwise course.
Adventure Fest Fun
Whether you’re tackling the long course, enjoying the short course, or cheering from the sidelines, the Adventure Fest at 18 Road promises an incredible weekend of races, camaraderie, and springtime fun in Fruita’s famous desert trails. Don't miss your chance to ride!
Download the 2024 Racer Guide
Join us on Saturday for a group gravel ride and women's gravel clinic! There will be beer, hot food and music. See old friends and make new ones! Family, friends, and crew are invited, so bring everyone.
Adventure Fest is a weekend of celebrating everything we love about the outdoors and this includes our community. We hope to see you at the awards ceremonies!
Rock out at the après ride with beer, hot food and music! Brunchers and Lunchers finisher mementos will be given as racers cross the finish line for the Sarlacc Attack. Placer's awards and KOM will be handed out at the awards party at 1:30. Both the men's and women's Pro/Open winners will receive comp entries to next year's race.
Cash Winnings For Long Course - $2,000
New in 2025- cash prizes will be given to the top three male and female finishers in the Pro/Open categories.
- 1st Place M/F - $500
- 2nd Place M/F - $300
- 3rd Place M/F - $200
Customized cowbell awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers of the mountain bike races in the Sport categories. The following age groups will receive awards:
- Under 29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60+
- Single Speed
Customized finisher awards will be awarded to all finishers as they cross the finish line. Awards and mementos will not be mailed after the event.
Take Interstate 70 west to Fruita (exit 19). Turn north onto Cherry Street and take the first right onto Aspen Avenue. Go through the roundabout and continue on Aspen to Maple Street. Take a left on Maple Street and then travel north. The street will turn into 17.5 Road. Take a right on N.3 Road and then a left on 18 Road. Travel approximately 7 miles on 18 Road to the trailhead and look for signs/markers for our 50K MTB race in Colorado.
The Sarlacc Attack 50K is a challenging course that’s packed with uphill grinds, beautiful singletrack, and some grueling hike-a-bike sections. You’ll ride on the edge of cliffs and the edge of your endurance limits throughout this 50K. The Sarlacc Attack is a tough challenge with 3,800′ of climbing and rewarding views, trails and has an overlook way above the starting line area for those that want to take time to enjoy it. This single loop course combines the Edge Loop, Cicada and Sarlacc Trails for an unforgettable racing experience.
This fun 50K course is an early season test of stamina and gives a reason to train through the winter. With the combination of short ups and downs and a big climb up the mesa, this event will definitely test your fitness and you’ll quickly see why it’s one of the best Colorado MTB courses.
Racers will travel 34.8 miles in total and experience a total elevation gain of 4,100’. There are three aid stations throughout the loop course: Coal Gulch (5.7 miles), Sarlacc (17.3 miles), and Mesa (23.8 miles).
Zippity 22K is a fun and exciting loop on the breathtaking singletrack outside Fruita, CO. The course is 13.8 miles and has almost 1000′ of climbing. Riders will enjoy the open desert with short steep climbs and descents with beautiful views of the nearby buttes and mesas.
It will be ridden in a counterclockwise direction and has all kinds of switchbacks and flowy, challenging terrain. There will be one aid station, Frontside, at 7.5 miles
Campsites are reserved for our event and are available to reserve when you register online. Each site has a fire ring, concrete picnic table, 12’ x 12’ tent pad and graveled parking spaces. Vault toilets are within walking distance of the campsites.
There is no water, electricity, or garbage collection service, so come prepared with plenty of water and trash bags. Additionally, campers will need to bring their own firewood. Each individual site is limited to ten people and two vehicles.
The Super 8 in Fruita, CO is this year’s host hotel, so you can acquire discounted rates there. However, most racers will be camping at 18 Road for an easier start to the day for this mountain bike race in Colorado.
Friends and family can join us for a free women's gravel clinic while you race. Led by our expert coach Reese Ruland, the clinic will get you on your bike to hone your handling skills and she will share some tips on how to feel your best on race day. Snacks will be available while you hang out with other women gravel riders in a supportive and inspiring environment. There will be a 50 person limit so register now.
Friends and family can enjoy a free group ride while you are on course. This ride is for all riders (you don't need to be registered for other events), led by expert gravel riders Reese Ruland and George Simpson. Pre-ride a section of the gravel course and an apres ride hangout with food and beer while cheering on the Sarlacc Attack finishers. There will be pace options and the ride will take approximately an hour in length. The Pre-Ride will be available to anyone interested in shaking out their legs the day before the race and meeting other gravel riders. This is a fun and supportive environment whether you are a seasoned rider or this is your first race. There will be a 50 rider limit so register now.
The Dirty Edge Gravel 50K is entirely on non-technical gravel roads. With a fun loop leading into a beautiful out-and-back, you will have just enough rolling hills to keep things interesting and challenging. Racers will travel roughly 50K and experience 2700′ of climbing while enjoying an open desert with short steep climbs and descents, backed by stunning picturesque views of nearby buttes and mesas.
Throughout the course, racers will hit the 16 Road aid station twice at miles 5 and 13, and face a challenge up to the Sarlacc aid station at mile 20 for the out-and-back turnaround. No other gravel race gives you so much support, which makes the Dirty Edge Gravel race one of the best 50K gravel races in Colorado.
The north Fruita Desert is an epic place in the springtime and we’ll help you get the most out of your experience. Get ready for a fun weekend of riding and socializing!
Friday:
5:00 pm-7:00 pm – Packet Pick-Up and Late Registration at Fruita Community Center
Saturday:
7:15 am-8:15 am – Race Day Registration and Packet Pick-Up @ start/finish
8:30 am – Sarlaac Attack 50K start
9:30 am - Zippity 22K start
10:00 am – Women's Gravel Clinic
11:00 am - Group Gravel Ride
12:00 pm - Cut-off for Sarlacc- Bruncher award
12:30 pm – Cut-off for Sarlacc MTB Aid Station
1:00 pm - Sarlacc Attack awards ceremony
1:30 pm – Cut-off for Sarlacc Attack- Mesa Aid Station
3:30 pm – Cut-off for Sarlacc Attack- Luncher award
4:30 pm – Cut-off for Sarlacc Attack unofficial finishes
7:00 pm - Trivia/Movie @ start/finish
Sunday:
7:00 am - 8:15 am – Race Day Registration and Packet Pick-Up at start/finish
8:30 am – Fruita Trail Half Start
9:00 am - The Dirty Edge Gravel Start
11:30 am – Half Marathon & The Dirty Edge Gravel Awards/Raffle – Finish Line
Course Records
Sarlacc Attack
Male: 2021 Brian Smith 2:32:02
Female: 2021 Nicole Tittensor 3:11:12
Are Dogs Allowed?
We love dogs! Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome at the Start/Finish and aid stations. Unfortunately, we cannot allow dogs on course with any racers.
What Supplies Are Offered at the Aid Stations?
At the aid stations, racers will receive gels, sports drink, water, skittles, and potato chips. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDS will not be provided. And to reduce waste, cups will not be provided at the aid stations.
Radio contact will be available at all aid stations with a certified EMT, and each station will be stocked with a WFR-standard medical kit containing all necessary medical materials to nurse any bumps, cuts, bruises, and/or blisters.
Three aid stations will be provided for the Sarlacc Attack 50K race.
Can I Go Off Trail at any Point?
Racers must stay on the designated course at all times. Any racer that goes off the designated course (i.e., shortcutting) will result in disqualification.
All singletrack is designated as No Passing Zones (let’s help keep singletrack single). There will be opportunities to pass that won’t harm the trails, so please be patient and wait for those areas.
Cryptobiotic soil is the foundation of desert plant life. This dark, knobby crust is made up of many different living organisms and plays a vital role in maintaining the desert eco-system. However, this soil is extremely fragile and can take decades to grow. Even a footstep can damage the crust for decades, having lasting impacts on the desert environment. Please on stay the trail!
Do Racers Need to Wear Bibs?
Racers must display their race numbers at all times.
How Long Do Racers Have to Finish?
There will be a 3.5-hour finish for the Brunchers, a 7-hour cut-off for Lunchers.
What Happens if I Need to Drop Out?
Everyone is different and sometimes not all racers will be able to finish. Please be self-aware and acknowledge your body’s needs, as you will most likely be the first to know if you can finish or not. There are a number of ways to cut out sections of the course to get yourself back to the Finish area and racers can always take a break for however long you need within the cut-offs. Our staff can provide transportation to the finish line, if necessary, when vehicles are available. This is not an event where we will leave you hanging. Be sure to tell a race official when you drop out; our team will be out on the course until every racer is accounted for.
What Weather Should I Expect?
Weather in the Fruita Desert can vary. The averages for May are a low of 48 degrees and a high of 79 degrees Fahrenheit. You can typically expect highs of between 70-80 degrees with very little chance of rain in Fruita during this time of year.
What About Unforeseeable Circumstances?
In the case of unforeseeable circumstances due to weather or other extenuating circumstances that prevents the safe continuation of the race, race officials may end the race at any given time without a refund of unused portions. This rule will be implemented in the most extreme cases for the safety of the racers or officials.
I Lost Something at the Event! Is There a Lost & Found?
Items left at aid stations and lost & found items will be available at the awards ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday.
Can I Transfer or Cancel My Registration?
There will be no entry transfers. If you regrettably need to cancel your registration, please use UltraSignup. Cancellations will result in a credit that will be applied as a registration payment toward any Gemini Adventures event within one year’s time, minus a 15% fee. To cancel your registration, simply login to your account, go to “Registration History,” select “Edit” for the Fruita Sarlacc Attack 50K, and select “Cancel Registration.”
What’s our Refund Policy?
- 30 days or more prior to the event: 85% credit of registration fee (excluding UltraSignup fees).
- Less than 30 days prior to the event: No refunds or credit given.
Credits may be applied to any future Gemini Adventures race and will be valid for 12 months.
Registered racers may also switch between distances. No refunds or credit will be given for dropping down in distance. If you want to step up your distance, the added current pricing of the longer distance will be charged (excluding UltraSignup fees).
