SBT GRVL was co-founded in 2019 by former professional cyclist Amy Charity and built its identity fast around Steamboat Springs' 'champagne gravel' — smooth, fast-rolling dirt roads through Routt County ranchland that ride noticeably differently from the rockier, more technical gravel most other marquee races offer. It rode the gravel wave at exactly the right time and surged in popularity immediately following its first edition. The approachable courses, ski resort infrastructure, and general desirability of a place like Steamboat Springs all lend it to a family-friendly, vacation-esque atmosphere.
Its rapid growth also created real friction with the rural residents and ranchers whose roads the race uses — tension that came to a head after the 2023 edition and pushed organizers through format changes (moving off certain roads, adding a second day in Hayden, then reversing course again).
The 2026 edition marked a return to the original single-day, downtown Steamboat format that built the race's reputation in the first place. It's independently produced, which has let it maintain its own identity and course philosophy, built around a genuine festival atmosphere on Yampa Street and a full list of activities to do off the bike.
Lottery-based, capped at 2,750 total participants (2,000 riders + 750 racers). For the 2026 race, registration opened October 14–31, 2025, with entrants notified of selection status November 5, 2025.