Co2uT Gravel (p/b Team Evergreen) Opens Pre-Registration to Women-Only May 10th

May 8, 2020

New gravel race aims to have the highest female participation rate in a gravel event yet.

EVERGREEN, COLO. May 8, 2020 — Desert Gravel and Team Evergreen will be opening pre-registration to women on May 10th, for their inaugural  Co2uT gravel race, (scheduled in October). This unique event showcases all the Grand Valley has to offer (on and off-road) from Fruita, across the border of UT and back. And it’s aiming for a 50/50 gender field split of its 1,000 participants with some creative incentives to attract more women racers. This would give the Co2uT the highest percentage of female participants in a US gravel event to date.

The first example of these “creative incentives” mentioned above, will come into play on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10th). A women’s-only pre-registration will open at 8 am / MST. The first 100 women to register, will receive a Co2uT “Gravel-Girl Promo.” This will include a 50% credit towards registration (for the same distance or shorter) to give to a sister, girlfriend, bestie, partner, daughter, niece, mother, grandmother etc.

“We’re reserving a spot for 200 female riders (which is 20% of our 1,000 rider limit). That’s a pretty good start towards our 50/50 goal, with more incentives to come, once general registration opens in June,” said Event Director, Morgan Murri. As a father of two daughters, a seasoned USA cycling coach and a long-time endurance racer, Murri is deeply invested in the cause to bring more women to gravel racing, cycling and outdoor sports in general. Inspired by his older daughter, Murri founded a girl-focused charity, GECKO (Giving Every Child Knowledge of the Outdoors) to reconnect kids with the wild and considers this event to be a natural extension.

Taking advantage of all the terrain the Bookcliffs provide, the Co2uT gravel race offers five different course options, named after the dinosaurs that once roamed the area. Courses range from the 30-mile “Fruitaden” up to the 185-mile ‘Allosaurus’ / a.k.a. “The BIG Monster”. Whichever “monster” participants choose, the folks at Desert Gravel are doing all they can to make this event a success for everyone. When COVID-19 coping allows, they’ll be offering camps (including a women-specific one), and recon rides.

On the virtual side, they’re offering complimentary training plans, coaching opportunities, and video tutorials / virtual tours. The combination is what Murri calls “a well-rounded gravel-education.” “With the current situation (COVID-19), we might not be able to lead our group rides now, but we can still be a trusted resource in the gravel community,” said Murri. Whether you’ve raced and placed in the Dirty Kanza, you’re simply ‘gravel-curious’, or you’re coming from a different cycling discipline / sport, we’re here to help you reach your goals.”

As mentioned above, pre-registration will open May 10th, 8 am/MST, with general registration for officially opening Monday, June 1st. In true Team Evergreen fashion, the proceeds from the event will go to local non-profits within the host community. For more information visit www.desertgravel.com.

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Media contact: Katie Macarelli / Thorpe Marketing – katie@thorpemarketing.com

About Co2uT: The Co2uT chemical equation can be broken down as follows: Co=Colorado, 2=to, uT=Utah. This kick-ass gravel race will take you from Colorado to Utah and back. Morgan Murri, a long-time regional local, designed each route to offer mind-blowing, gravel-loving terrain, quad-busting hills, breathtaking views, and of course, EPIC FUN.  www.desertgravel.com

About Team Evergreen: They are the oldest and largest cycling club in Colorado. They produce the Beti Bike Bash, The Triple Bypass, the Bob Cook Memorial/Mt. Evans Hill Climb, and host numerous rides and events throughout the year. Their mission is to build the cycling community by expanding rider experiences, hosting compelling events, and channeling thoughtful philanthropic impact.  As a non-profit, they’ve donated nearly $3M to local charitable and cycling advocacy organizations. www.teamevergreen.org