Low temperatures in Colorado forced the Colorado State Patrol and Iron Horse Bicycle Classic officials to cancel the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race and tour to Silverton Saturday for the first time in 37 years.
“While we are all greatly disappointed, the forecast temperature for Silverton today (Saturday May 24th) is 39 degrees◦ at 2:00p.m. but it will feel like 19◦ degrees. “We can not have 2,500 cyclists and their friends in Silverton with those weather conditions. Hypothermia in these conditions is a high risk,” said Gaige Sippy.
Organizers said they could not simply postpone the race until Monday, when weather was expected to improve because their permit to close the road with the Colorado State Patrol was for 8 am to 1 pm Saturday May 24th only.
“This permit is issued by the CSP after much discussion on the safety plans,” race organizers said in a statement released Saturday. “It is a significant process and one that cannot simply be moved to a different day and/or time.”
Other logistical issues preventing postponment were the availability of 300+ volunteers, emergency support and officials from the United States Cycling Federation.
“The countless details cannot be simply moved to occur on a different day. It is a logistical Impossibility that would jeopardize the safety of all involved,” event organizers said.
