By Breanne Nalder Harward, MS, RDN — When it comes to optimizing endurance performance, specifically for cyclists, nutrition is as important as time in the saddle. While carbohydrates and hydration often steal the spotlight, fruits and vegetables provide a wide range of micronutrients and phytonutrients that directly support energy production, recovery, and overall health. Choosing the right types of produce at the right times can improve energy metabolism, reduce oxidative stress, and support gut comfort during long rides. The key (and the challenge) is understanding how to make strategic choices when it comes to fruits and vegetables, with a special focus on fiber, micronutrient density, and timing.
Veggies are important for cyclists for micronutrients and fiber. Food: roasted brussel sprouts, carrots, cabbage, and onions with candied peppered pecans. Food and photo by Dave Iltis
Micronutrient Powerhouses
Athletes have long been advised to prioritize fruits and vegetables due to their high content of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Adding these items to your grocery list can be incredibly beneficial for everyone:
Bananas – A staple in many cyclists’ pockets, bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin B6. Potassium is crucial for muscle contraction and fluid balance, while B6 supports energy metabolism. So not only are bananas easily digestible carbohydrates, but they also bring natural electrolytes and help the body increase energy production.
Beets – Beets are high in dietary nitrates, which naturally increase vasodilation. Consuming red beet juice or eating a roasted red beet before a ride may enhance stamina and reduce perceived exertion by improving blood flow and oxygen utilization. Essentially, beets help your muscles get more oxygen, faster.
Sweet Potatoes – Rich in complex carbohydrates and beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A), sweet potatoes help replenish glycogen stores and support immune function—critical for athletes training at high volumes. They are a great “carb load” food the night before or morning of a big ride, just give enough time to digest them (see the fiber section of this article).
Greens – Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are loaded with iron, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants. Iron supports red blood cell production and oxygen transport—key for endurance capacity. Calcium and magnesium are the electrolytes that we don’t talk about as much as sodium and potassium but play crucial roles in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, keeping the body firing on all systems. Try to incorporate greens into as many meals, snacks, and smoothies as possible (again, being mindful of timing and fiber content).
Berries – Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are packed with polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, which reduce inflammation and oxidative damage induced by prolonged aerobic activity. Essentially, it can never hurt to add berries to any meal or have as a snack that acts like a sweet treat at any time of day.
Citrus Fruits – Oranges, grapefruits, and mandarins provide vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports immune health and helps reduce post-exercise muscle soreness. Their high-water content also supports hydration. So don’t be shy to add citrus to the recovery routine!
Understanding Fiber: Soluble vs. Insoluble
Fiber is an essential part of a balanced diet, but not all fiber is created equal—especially when it comes to athletic performance. There are two main types:
Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance in the digestive tract. It slows gastric emptying and helps regulate blood glucose levels. Sources include:
Oats
Apples
Bananas
Carrots
Beans
Benefit for cyclists: Soluble fiber supports gut health and satiety during training periods, particularly on rest days or post-ride meals.
Insoluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool and promotes intestinal motility. It does not dissolve in water and moves through the gut largely intact. Sources include:
Whole grains (e.g., bran)
Leafy greens
Celery
Skins of fruits and vegetables
Timing Matters
While fiber is crucial for overall health, consuming high-fiber foods too close to a ride can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, including bloating, gas, cramping, or the dreaded “pit stop.” Insoluble fiber can lead to GI distress if consumed too close to exercise. For cyclists, this is particularly problematic during long or high-intensity rides. If GI distress is common, consider eliminating these foods 12-24 hours before and stick with the simple and easily digested carbohydrates.
Pre-Ride Nutrition (1–3 Hours Before Exercise):
Minimize high-fiber fruits and vegetables to avoid GI issues. Opt for low-fiber fruit like bananas and peeled apples or at least blend fruits into a smoothie or juice. Cook all vegetables, because they are easier to digest than raw, and have white rice or refined grains if part of a larger meal.
During Exercise:
Avoid fiber altogether. Stick to easily digestible carbohydrate sources like sports drinks, and energy gels, and real food should be things like bananas and rice-based bars.
Post-Ride Recovery:
This is a great time to reintroduce high-fiber fruits and vegetables to aid in glycogen replenishment, reduce inflammation, and support digestive health. Combine carbohydrates with a lean protein and healthy fats for optimal recovery. Did someone say burrito bowl with avocado, protein of choice, and a side salad with all the color one can put on a plate? Yum!
In Conclusion
Fruits and vegetables are a cornerstone of any endurance athlete’s diet, but their impact goes far beyond general health. For cyclists, strategic selection and timing of produce, particularly regarding fiber content, can play a critical role in performance, recovery, and gut comfort. By emphasizing nutrient-dense, low-fiber options before and during rides, and loading up on a variety of colorful, fiber-rich produce post-exercise and on rest days, cyclists can harness the full power of fruits and veggies in their training plans.
One of the largest and longest running Gran Fondos in the Western US, cyclists of all ages and abilities converge in North Logan, Utah for a fun day of riding and racing.
NORTH LOGAN, Utah — Nearly 1,400 cyclists will ride or race from North Logan, Utah, on 4 different courses throughout Cache Valley in Northern Utah and Southern Idaho on Saturday July 12th.
A USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Series Qualifier, the Utah-Cache Gran Fondo gives racers two options of either 76 or 104 miles to get their ticket’s punched to compete in the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championship on Sept 14th in Frederick, MD. (https://www.granfondonationalseries.com/gran-fondo-national-championship) Both distances will net 25% of the distance participants an invitation to the Gran Fondo National Series in either 2025 or 2026, giving the ability to compete either year.
The one-day race/ride begins in the cool early-morning hours at Green Canyon High School in North Logan, with a short closed-course controlled start behind pilot cars and local law enforcement to get all riders out of the city safely. After the race categories are released, recreational riders roll-out to ride distances of their choice of either 35, 50, 75 or 100-miles in concentric circles around the beautiful scenic back roads of northeastern Utah and southeastern Idaho. The fastest racers will reach the finish line back at Green Canyon around mid-afternoon.
Scenes from the Cache Gran Fondo. Photos courtesy Cache Gran Fondo
As in past years, the podium is full with riders from U19 to 70+ in both Men’s and Women’s Categories, presenting the top racers from over 26 different states, and as many as 8 different countries. Race categories are broken out in 5-year increments, giving more racers the opportunity to compete against those of similar age and ability, and resulting in more invitations to compete at Nationals. Non-racers are also eligible for fun prizes as well, with recognition going to riders who travelled the furthest, oldest and youngest riders, (7 years old to 78), most courteous, best jersey, and each state has a raffle awarding one rider from each state a fun prize from our prize board.
“We’re looking forward to another fun and fantastic day of racing and riding through one of the United States’ most beautiful cycling communities,” said Troy Oldham, who has been Cache Gran Fondo’s founder and race director for the past 14 years. “We want thank all our cyclists, event staff, sponsors and volunteers for their continued support to make the event more than just an average bike race.”
Scenes from the Cache Gran Fondo. Photos courtesy Cache Gran Fondo
If the course scenery doesn’t excite cyclists to join us in Cache Valley this year, maybe the attention to detail will. “When we first set out to design the event, we wanted three things; 1) to create the perfect training ride for local racers registered for LOTOJA (Logan to Jackson in September), 2) an event that celebrates healthy and happy lifestyles, and 3) to give every cyclist the thrill of being in a Big Ride (the Italian translation of ‘gran fondo’).
All cyclists, regardless of ability or experience will be treated to healthy breakfast items provided by Intermountain Health’s Logan Regional Hospital, and all the support stations are full of nutrition and hydration options from local grocery store Lee’s Marketplace, as well as local stores along the way. Local safety and law enforcement is provided by Cache County Sheriff’s Office, the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Group, and our volunteers who place over 300 directional signs to keep the riders on the right courses.
Scenes from the Cache Gran Fondo. Photos courtesy Cache Gran Fondo
As the cyclist complete their chosen course, they are met by volunteers and given a blingy custom finisher’s medal, a cooling towel by Utah Bicycle Law, and a meal card to have lunch on us at their choice of four different local restaurant booths. Riders are also encouraged to check the prize board to see if they won a prize, grab a Pepsi or Gatorade from the Pepsi Trailer, check their bike into our Bike Valet hosted by the Cache Valley Mountain Bike Team, or stand under our cooling misting tent or ice bath presented by Intermountain Sports Medicine trainers. We even offer showers to all riders who want them in the Green Canyon High locker rooms so the athletes can clean up before eating or returning home.
The Cache Gran Fondo in beautiful Cache Valley offers something for every cyclist weather they are training for a big stage race like LOTOJA, riding in their 1st or 100th Century, looking for a fun ride with friends and family, or even that first organized bike event experience. We even allow e-bikes on our non-competitive courses, and every year have dozens of e-bike participants who ride in their first organized event. We created the Cache Gran Fondo to celebrate cycling in Utah and hope you join us on July 12th for one of the best rides in the West. For more information or to register, visit www.cachegranfondo.com
How Mathieu van der Poel orchestrated a perfect stage finale to claim his second Tour de France stage victory and the maillot jaune
BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, France (6 July 2025) — The rain fell steadily on Lauwin-Planque as 182 riders rolled out for stage 2 of the 2025 Tour de France, but nothing could dampen the spirits of the Alpecin-Deceuninck squad. Fresh off Jasper Philipsen’s commanding victory the day before, the Belgian team was riding a wave of confidence that would carry them to even greater heights by the time the peloton reached the windswept coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
What unfolded over the subsequent 185 kilometers was a masterclass in tactical racing, explosive power, and the kind of opportunistic brilliance that defines cycling’s greatest champions. At the center of it all was Mathieu van der Poel, the Flying Dutchman whose versatility and raw speed continue to confound the sport’s conventional wisdom about specialization.
The Early Break: Calculated Risks in Treacherous Conditions
The day began with the familiar rhythm of breakaway formation, as Yevgeniy Fedorov of XDS-Astana surged clear in the opening kilometer. He was quickly joined by Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X), Brent Van Moer (Lotto), and Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R), forming a quartet that would define the narrative of the stage’s first half.
For Armirail, the opportunity to showcase his team’s colors at the front held special significance beyond mere publicity. “It’s nice to show the jersey at the front since the team is half from the north,” he explained afterward. “And above all, I preferred to get through this stage in the breakaway because it started raining and that’s always a way to avoid crashes. But we still need to turn this into a result, going all the way and winning a stage or taking the polka dot jersey.”
The French rider’s tactical reasoning reveals the calculated nature of early breakaway participation. In wet conditions, positioning at the front offers a significant safety advantage, reducing the risk of being caught behind crashes that inevitably occur when nervous pelotons navigate slick roads. The quartet’s early aggression paid immediate dividends as they avoided the pile-up at kilometer 44 that brought down both the Norwegian and Kazakh national champions.
Despite this momentary disruption, the breakaway reformed efficiently, building their advantage to 3’05” by kilometer 45. This gap represented the sweet spot for breakaway success—large enough to discourage immediate pursuit, yet small enough to avoid triggering panic in the peloton. The watchful eyes of Intermarché-Wanty and Alpecin-Deceuninck directeurs sportifs, however, ensured this freedom would be temporary.
The Intermediate Sprint: A Preview of Explosive Power
As the race progressed toward the Category 4 Côte de Cavon-Saint-Martin, Leknessund’s victory in the KOM sprint demonstrated the Norwegian’s climbing pedigree. But it was the intermediate sprint that provided the first real glimpse of the explosive power that would define the stage’s conclusion.
Jonathan Milan’s remarkable display of speed—hitting 80 km/h to narrowly edge Tim Merlier, Biniam Girmay, and Jasper Philipsen in the bunch sprint—served as both a technical marvel and a tactical statement. While Fedorov collected the 20 points available at the front, Milan’s acceleration revealed the kind of raw power that the peloton’s top sprinters possessed, foreshadowing the intensity that would characterize the finale.
The tactical significance of this moment cannot be overstated. By kilometer 133, with 52 kilometers remaining, the breakaway was absorbed. The peloton’s acceleration in the final 90 kilometers had systematically eroded the gap, demonstrating the collective power of teams committed to a bunch finish. This timing was crucial—early enough to allow for tactical positioning, late enough to prevent further breakaway attempts.
The Finale: Tactical Chess at High Speed
The approach to the final climbs transformed the stage from a controlled pursuit into a tactical chess match played at 50 km/h. Wout van Aert’s pace-setting at the bottom of the Côte du Haut Pichot was textbook positioning—aggressive enough to string out the peloton, controlled enough to keep his team leader, Jonas Vingegaard, in contention.
When Tim Wellens unleashed his acceleration, the peloton’s immediate explosion revealed the razor-thin margins that separate the Tour’s elite from the rest. This wasn’t gradual selection—it was surgical precision, instantly creating the small group that would contest the stage victory.
The Côte d’Outreau provided the stage’s most tactically complex sequence. Jhonatan Narváez’s pace-setting for UAE Team Emirates-XRG served multiple purposes: positioning Pogačar optimally, increasing the tempo to discourage attacks, and forcing other teams to commit their resources early. When Kevin Vauquelin attacked at the summit, he triggered a sequence of moves that would define the stage’s conclusion.
“On the first hill in the finale, I had to move up in the peloton, and that’s when I realised that my legs were feeling good and that I had a chance to make my move,” Vauquelin explained. “So then I thought that there might be some marking between the favourites and that I would take advantage of that. I attacked several times, I tried hard and maybe a little too hard. When I was with Matteo Jorgenson, I really thought there was a chance because he’s very strong, but he didn’t cooperate, he played his team tactics.”
Vauquelin’s tactical analysis reveals the complexity of modern Tour racing. His recognition that the favorites might mark each other rather than pursue immediately demonstrates sophisticated race reading. His frustration with Jorgenson’s non-cooperation illustrates the collision between individual ambition and team tactics that defines professional cycling.
“I have a few regrets because I would have liked to cross the line first, but it means that my legs are good. I’m feeling upbeat every day and I enjoy every moment. With these legs and the positioning I had today, I can be hopeful, for example on the Rouen stage. The white jersey isn’t exactly a goal, I mainly want to try and win a stage, but if I can ride on the roads of my region [Normandy] in this jersey, that would be exceptional. The important thing for me is to manage to stay in this form for the first ten days.”
Van der Poel’s Masterclass: Patience and Explosive Power
Throughout the chaos of the finale, one rider remained conspicuously calm: Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutch champion’s tactical approach represented evolution in his racing philosophy—the controlled aggression of a mature champion rather than the explosive unpredictability of his younger self.
Van der Poel’s positioning throughout the final climbs was textbook tactical racing. He covered the dangerous moves without expending unnecessary energy, remained patient when others panicked, and positioned himself perfectly for the sprint that his experience told him was inevitable. When the moment arrived, his acceleration was devastating in its simplicity—no elaborate lead-out, no tactical complexity, just pure explosive power that left even Tadej Pogačar struggling to respond.
The victory marked a remarkable parallel to 2021, when van der Poel won stage 2 at Mûr-de-Bretagne to claim his first yellow jersey. This repetition wasn’t coincidence—it reflected the Dutchman’s ability to peak for specific objectives and execute under pressure.
Van der Poel’s Elation: “It Was About Time!”
The emotional weight of the victory was evident in van der Poel’s post-race reflections. “It was super difficult, the finale was harder than I thought. But I was really motivated. Finally, four years after my first win, it was about time I took a second one! It’s also the second time I’m rewarded with the yellow jersey as well so I guess it was worth the wait!”
His tactical preparation had been meticulous, revealing the professional approach that has elevated his Tour performances. “The team told me to study the last 500 metres. We had a video of the finish and I watched it a few times. I already had in mind what I wanted to do if it came down to a sprint but when you see who comes 2nd [Tadej Pogačar] and 3rd [Jonas Vingegaard], that says enough about how hard it was.”
The Dutchman’s respect for his competition was palpable in his assessment of the finale’s difficulty. “Of course, people put me as a favourite but when you see which riders were at the front on the climbs, I think I did a really good job… I didn’t dare to raise my hands before the finish line but it’s an incredible moment.”
Van der Poel’s tactical analysis revealed how the stage had evolved differently than expected. “They predicted headwind on the final climb so I thought Jasper would have a chance but the climbs were harder than we expected and the pace was super hard. At the top of the second last climb, we were only 8 riders at the front.”
The victory’s significance extended beyond personal achievement to team success. “It’s a dream for the team. Everything else that comes now is just a bonus. I hope I can keep the jersey until the time trial, then it will be very hard to keep it. Just winning a stage was the goal for me and I’m very very happy to have achieved it.”
Pogačar’s Honest Assessment: Learning from the Best
For Pogačar, the runner-up finish represented both satisfaction and a valuable learning experience. His post-race analysis revealed the respect van der Poel commands even among cycling’s elite.
“I’d say it was a good day out. It was a hard, long stage. It had a bit of everything – rain, stress, short kicks… I felt good towards the final, and my team did quite fine as well. I’m very happy I’ve taken a strong 2nd place. Mathieu was stronger in the final sprint, so chapeau to him. It’s hard to beat him in the sprint. To be honest I messed up a little bit, because I got a bit scared to sprint against him and I waited too long on his wheel.”
Pogačar’s admission of tactical error demonstrates remarkable self-awareness. His acknowledgment that he “got a bit scared to sprint against” van der Poel reveals the psychological impact of the Dutchman’s reputation. Even riders of Pogačar’s caliber must recalibrate their approach when facing van der Poel’s unique combination of power and unpredictability.
The Slovenian’s acquisition of the polka dot jersey added an unexpected dimension to his day. “I wasn’t expecting to claim the polka dot jersey, but here I am and I will enjoy the day in this jersey tomorrow. I’ve won the Tour de France KOM classification twice in my career, but I have only worn it once over the five Tours I’ve done. It’s going to be my second day ever in the polka dot jersey, and it will be a special feeling.”
His comments about Vingegaard’s performance added another layer of tactical insight: “We could expect Jonas [Vingegaard] to attack after what we saw in the Critérium du Dauphiné, and it’s nice to see him do it. He made us suffer.”
Philipsen’s Generous Perspective: Team Success Over Individual Glory
The stage’s result meant that Jasper Philipsen, despite finishing 31 seconds behind van der Poel, could hand over the yellow jersey to his teammate with genuine satisfaction. His post-race comments revealed the collaborative spirit that has become Alpecin-Deceuninck’s greatest asset.
“I wasn’t too far away from keeping the Yellow Jersey. I gave it a try, but the last few climbs turned out to be harder than I expected. Anyway, it isn’t bad at all to lose the jersey to Mathieu [Van der Poel]. I’m super happy for him. We at Alpecin-Deceuninck are having a super good start. My teammates are doing an amazing job to support Mathieu and myself. We have already had two amazing days, and we are looking forward to keeping it going. Tomorrow’s stage is a very good chance for another win indeed.”
Philipsen’s generous perspective reflects sophisticated team dynamics. Rather than viewing van der Poel’s success as a threat to his own ambitions, he recognized it as part of a broader narrative of collective success. This collaborative approach, rare in the intensely individual world of professional cycling, positioned the team perfectly for the challenges ahead.
Tactical Analysis: The Perfect Storm
Van der Poel’s victory resulted from the convergence of several tactical factors. First, the timing of the breakaway’s capture left insufficient distance for further attacks but enough for tactical positioning. Second, the sequence of climbs provided natural selection points without being severe enough to eliminate the pure sprinters entirely. Third, the weather conditions favored riders comfortable with technical descents and wet road surfaces.
Most crucially, van der Poel’s tactical patience allowed him to conserve energy while others exhausted themselves in ultimately futile attacks. His positioning throughout the finale—always present but never leading—demonstrated the kind of tactical maturity that distinguishes champions from contenders.
The stage’s conclusion also revealed the evolution of modern Tour tactics. Rather than the traditional pattern of early breakaway, gradual pursuit, and bunch sprint, stage 2 featured multiple micro-selections that created a finale contested by a small group of elite riders. This pattern reflects the increasing sophistication of modern racing, where tactical positioning and explosive power matter more than pure sustained speed.
Looking Forward: Momentum and Expectations
As the Tour de France continues its journey through northern France, van der Poel’s victory serves as a reminder of cycling’s enduring capacity for surprise. In an era increasingly dominated by scientific training methods and marginal gains, the Dutchman’s raw talent and tactical intelligence represent something more elemental—the pure joy of competition and the pursuit of perfection in motion.
For Vauquelin, despite the disappointment of coming so close to victory, the performance offered genuine promise for the stages ahead. His honest assessment of his form and tactical awareness suggests a rider ready to challenge for victories in the Tour’s opening week.
The white jersey currently adorning his shoulders may not be his primary objective, but it serves as a symbol of cycling’s eternal renewal—the emergence of new talents ready to challenge the established order. As the peloton prepares for the flatter roads toward Dunkirk, the stage is set for another chapter in what promises to be a memorable Tour de France.
Van der Poel’s victory in Boulogne-sur-Mer was more than just a stage win; it was a statement of intent, a demonstration of tactical brilliance, and a reminder that in cycling, as in life, the most beautiful victories often come to those who combine patience with the courage to seize the moment when it arrives.
By the Numbers
2: MVDP AND ALPECIN’S MAGIC NUMBER
Mathieu Van der Poel claimed his 2nd Tour victory in this 2nd stage. He had already won on a stage 2, in 2021. It’s also the 2nd consecutive victory for the Alpecin-Deceuninck team, the Dutchman succeeding Jasper Philipsen. The last team to win the first two stages was Quick Step – Alpha Vinyl in 2022 (Yves Lampaert then Fabio Jakobsen).
1,470: VAN DER POEL IS BACK
By winning in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Mathieu Van der Poel ended a 1,470-day victory drought. The Dutchman hadn’t won on the Tour since his first victory, achieved on June 27, 2021, between Perros-Guirec and Mûr-de-Bretagne.
16: POGACAR BOUNCES BACK
Tadej Pogacar was ranked 18th in the general classification yesterday, something that never happened before! The Slovenian had never been worst than 17th (stage 1 in 2020). He gained 16 positions today to move up to second.
2,534: FRANCE WITH THE WHITE JERSEY
Fourth overall, Kévin Vauquelin leads the young rider classification and takes his first white jersey. He is the first Frenchman to do so since Pierre Latour, who won this classification on July 29, 2018, 2,534 days ago!
1: GROUPAMA-FDJ IS LEADING!
Groupama-FDJ takes the lead in the team classification for the first time in its history, after 29 participations! It’s also the first time a French team is leading this classification since AG2R La Mondiale’s victory in 2014.
5: VAN DER POEL VS POGACAR
This is the 5th 1-2 from Mathieu Van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar, following stage 5 of Tirreno-Adriatico 2021, stage 2 of the Tour de France 2021, the Tour of Flanders 2023 and Paris-Roubaix 2025. It’s also the second time that Van der Poel-Pogacar-Vingegaard secured a podium finish, a month after it happened on stage 1 of the Critérium du Dauphiné 2025.
20: PHILIPSEN STILL IN GREEN
Although he lost his Yellow Jersey, Jasper Philipsen retained the lead in the points classification and won his 20th green jersey as best sprinter. He equaled Wout van Aert, the active rider with the most green jerseys. The record belongs to Peter Sagan with 130.
7: VAN DER POEL KEEPS THE DREAM GOING
Mathieu Van der Poel took the lead in the general classification, earning his 7th yellow jersey. The previous six back to the 2021 edition, where he led from stage 2 to 7.
168: THE NETHERLANDS STILL WINNING
Mathieu Van der Poel claimed the Netherlands’ 168th Tour victory. It’s the fifth consecutive edition with at least one Dutchman winning a stage. MVDP also earned the country’s 82nd Yellow Jersey.
5: A NEW WINNER IN BOULOGNE-SUR-MER
While Lauwin-Planque was a new destination for the Tour de France, Boulogne-sur-Mer was hosting a finish for the 5th time. The first was 76 years ago, in 1949, with Belgian Norbert Callens at the top. A compatriot of Mathieu Van der Poel, Jean-Paul van Poppel, then won in 1994, before the German Erik Zabel (2001) and the Slovak Peter Sagan (2012).
Following the third annual Over the Hill Gravel Grinder held in Horseshoe Bend, ID on Saturday, June 14, 2025, the Lost River Cycle Club made a donation of $8,200 to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Idaho chapter. The donation comes from registration fees and donations from participants in this year’s event.
(From left to right, Alix Neva, Executive Director Alzheimer’s Association, Dave Fotsch, event director, Emma Taylor, Manager of Development, Alzheimer’s Association. Photo credit: Dave Fotsch)
As with previous years, the cycle club donates proceeds after expenses to the Alzheimer’s Association annual Longest Day fundraiser, this year dedicating the ride to long-time local cyclist Gene Pori, who passed away in April with Alzheimer’s.
LILLE, France (5 July 2025) – A masterclass in sprint train execution sees Jasper Philipsen add yellow to his palmarès as the wind wreaks havoc on the Tour’s opening day
The cobblestones of northern France have always been treacherous territory for Grand Tour contenders, but few could have predicted just how dramatically the 2025 Tour de France would explode into life on its very first day. What began as a seemingly straightforward sprinter’s stage around Lille Métropole transformed into a tactical masterpiece that saw Jasper Philipsen claim not just his tenth Tour stage victory, but his first-ever yellow jersey, while several General Classification hopefuls found themselves nursing significant time losses before the race had barely begun.
As the peloton rolled out from Vauban’s Citadel for the 184.9-kilometer loop, the mild elevation profile of just 1,150 meters and three categorized climbs suggested a routine day for the sprinters. The reality proved far more complex, with crosswinds and aggressive racing creating a chess match of positioning that would ultimately separate the tactically astute from the caught-out.
The opening salvos came immediately, as tradition dictates. Mattéo Vercher of Total Energies, clearly relishing his role as the Tour’s first attacker, launched himself clear as soon as the flag dropped in earnest. His bold move attracted quality company in the form of Jonas Rutsch (Intermarché-Wanty), Matis Le Berre (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), and Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis).
The quintet established a maximum advantage of 2 minutes and 25 seconds, enough to contest the day’s opening King of the Mountains points at the Côte de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. Thomas, the experienced track specialist turned road racer, showed his tactical nous to claim the polka dots—a move that was clearly part of Cofidis’s strategic planning.
“I’m really happy, because that’s what we had decided in the team briefing. I was free to break away,” Thomas would later explain. “Once I took the first point, I needed a second to secure the polka dot jersey, and it all came down to Mont Cassel.”
The writing was already on the wall as Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) and Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Deceuninck) began the chase behind.
The peloton’s nervousness was palpable from the early kilometers, and rightfully so. Northern France’s crosswinds are legendary for their ability to split fields, and several teams had clearly marked this stage as potentially decisive. As the pace ramped up past the 50-kilometer mark, the first casualties began to emerge.
Filippo Ganna and Stefan Bissegger, two of the sport’s premier time trialists, found themselves on the wrong end of crashes that would ultimately force both to abandon.
The break was inevitably reeled in before the first intermediate sprint at kilometer 87.5, where Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) demonstrated his growing confidence by taking maximum points ahead of Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). This sprint would prove prophetic, showcasing the key protagonists who would later contest the stage victory.
Vercher’s second attack alongside Thomas briefly rekindled hopes of a successful breakaway, but their crash on the descent of Mont Cassel at kilometer 139.7 epitomized the day’s aggressive nature. The incident, which saw both riders hit the deck hard, demonstrated the fine margins that separate success from disaster in professional cycling.
For Thomas, the crash was particularly significant as it occurred during his bid to secure the polka dot jersey. “It’s a place I know well because we often ride there during the 4 Jours de Dunkerque,” he reflected. “And yet I attacked too early, Matteo came back and we had to sprint. On the cobbles, you always sprint sitting down, but when I threw the bike forward, I lost my balance, my front wheel came off and we fell. I didn’t even know if I had crossed the line first!”
The Cofidis rider was quick to take responsibility for the incident. “It was entirely my fault, so I went to apologise to him and luckily he’s fine. I’m a bit sore and I’ll be aching for two or three days, but nothing too serious.”
“Then there was an incident on Mont Cassel,” Vercher reflected. “I don’t blame him because that’s cycling, he made me fall but it could easily have been the other way round. The most important thing is that we can both start again tomorrow, because we could easily have broken something. In any case, I’m happy to start the Tour in this frame of mind, it will bring positive energy to the team.”
As the duo hit the deck, the peloton was already fracturing behind them under the relentless pressure of crosswinds.
Soudal Quick-Step, masters of Belgian classics racing, were the first to turn the screw with 77 kilometers remaining. Their acceleration immediately put riders on the back foot, with the Yates twins (Adam and Simon) among those initially distanced, though both managed to regain contact. Less fortunate was Lenny Martinez, who would struggle throughout the day, and the already-battered duo of Bissegger and Ganna, whose Tour dreams ended in the team cars.
The situation settled momentarily, but Visma-Lease a Bike had other plans. With Jonas Vingegaard’s tactical nous driving their strategy, the Dutch team delivered the killer blow with 20 kilometers remaining. Their precisely-timed acceleration created the definitive split of the day, one that would prove costly for several marquee names.
The Decisive Split
When Visma-Lease a Bike hit the front with such venom, the peloton exploded like a fragmentation grenade. Remco Evenepoel, the young Belgian sensation from Soudal Quick-Step, found himself on the wrong side of the split alongside Primož Roglič and Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). Also caught out were Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), and surprisingly, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike).
The 39-second gap that opened would prove insurmountable, despite frantic chasing from the second group. For Biniam Girmay, who found himself in the front group, the tactical awareness that kept him positioned correctly would prove crucial to his stage podium.
“A lot of guys were super nervous about the wind from the beginning of the stage,” Girmay observed. “I was sure the bunch was going to split at some point. I tried to find a good spot for myself in case something happened, and I managed to do it when the real split happened.”
Alpecin’s Masterclass
While chaos reigned behind, Alpecin-Deceuninck were executing their sprint preparation with clinical precision. The Belgian team’s strength in depth showed as they took control of the front group, with Mathieu van der Poel and Kaden Groves forming a formidable lead-out train for their designated finisher.
Van der Poel, the former world champion, demonstrated his tactical intelligence by launching Groves at the perfect moment. The Australian’s acceleration was timed to perfection, creating the platform for Philipsen to unleash his devastating finishing kick.
The Sprint Supreme
As the barriers of Lille approached, Philipsen found himself in the position every sprinter dreams of: clear road ahead, perfect timing, and the legs to deliver. His acceleration was simply devastating, opening a gap that his rivals couldn’t close despite their best efforts.
05/07/2025 – Tour de France 2025 – Étape 1 – Lille Métropole / Lille Métropole (184,9 km) – Jasper PHILLIPSEN (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK)
“It’s really amazing, I will never forget this tenth victory in the Tour,” Philipsen beamed. “It was an incredible team performance. It was nervous all day, we had to be in the front and then it really opened up in the final 15 kilometres. We used our strength and we finished it off. I knew I had really good legs and the fans in the final kilometres gave me goosebumps.”
Biniam Girmay, who had matched Philipsen blow for blow throughout the 2024 Tour, found himself in the familiar position of runner-up. However, the Eritrean’s tactical positioning had been compromised by the earlier echelon splits, leaving him isolated in the crucial final kilometers.
“Unfortunately, I had to do everything by myself and spend a lot of energy because I didn’t have any teammates with me – and I missed them,” Girmay explained. “I’m sort of happy with my second place, but also a bit pissed. It is not nice to miss such a good opportunity to wear the Yellow jersey. The white jersey is a good consolation prize, especially in my last year competing for it – but I have to admit that, in my mind, the best jersey in the Tour de France is the green one.”
Despite the disappointment, Girmay’s second place was nonetheless a statement of intent. “In any case, I’m super happy with my shape as I was able to feel comfortable from start to finish on the stage. I feel tired now, but there is another good chance for me tomorrow. I came here to win stages, and I’ll try to land one as quickly as possible.”
Soren Waerenskjold completed the podium, a result that validated the Norwegian’s growing reputation as a genuine sprint contender at the highest level.
The Yellow Jersey Emotion
For Philipsen, the significance of claiming his first yellow jersey was overwhelming. The Belgian had established himself as one of the Tour’s most consistent stage winners, but the maillot jaune had always eluded him. As he crossed the line with arms raised, the emotion was unmistakable.
“We had a great opportunity today and I’m so glad we took it,” Philipsen reflected. “I’ve dreamed about the Maillot Jaune. I had the green jersey two years ago and now to have the yellow jersey hanging in my house, it’s gonna be amazing. I’m gonna enjoy it with the team because we all deserve it. Mathieu [Van der Poel] got the jersey in 2021 and it’s amazing for the team to repeat this success. Also, it was my first big chance to take the yellow jersey and I’m so happy to have made it.”
The victory marked his tenth Tour stage win, placing him in increasingly exclusive company. More importantly, it demonstrated his evolution from a pure sprinter to a complete cyclist capable of surviving the brutal tactical warfare that defines modern Grand Tour racing.
The team aspect of the victory was not lost on the Belgian champion. “There’s always pressure in the Tour. The competition is really high. We had to be 100% focused. The support from the guys around me, their experience, their composure, it gives me confidence and I’m happy to do the final kilometres with them. It’s a real team effort and I’m glad to finish it off. Everything needs to go well. Now the pressure is off and we’ll try to go for more.”
Thomas Claims the Polka Dots
Despite the crash that marred his day, Benjamin Thomas’s strategic aggression paid dividends as he secured the King of the Mountains jersey—a first in his career. The significance of the achievement wasn’t lost on the Cofidis rider.
“It’s my first climber’s jersey, in any race, so I’m really happy,” Thomas beamed. “And of course, the one in the Tour is legendary. We’ll see tomorrow if it’s worth trying to break away, but I’d like to keep it.”
The crash may have been painful, but Thomas’s tactical execution in the early break demonstrated the kind of opportunistic racing that makes the Tour de France so compelling. His willingness to take responsibility for the incident with Vercher also showcased the sporting values that define professional cycling at its best.
Tactical Ramifications
The day’s events have already reshaped the Tour’s strategic landscape. With Evenepoel, Roglič, and Lipowitz now 39 seconds adrift, their teams face the stark reality of having to claw back time on stages where opportunities may be limited.
For Vingegaard and Pogačar, both of whom navigated the day’s chaos successfully, the early advantage provides a crucial buffer. Their presence in the front group demonstrated the tactical awareness that separates true Grand Tour contenders from mere stage hunters.
The Road Ahead
As the Tour heads south toward more mountainous terrain, the lessons of Lille will reverberate through the entire peloton. The early assertion of dominance by teams like Visma-Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Deceuninck has established a clear hierarchy, while the caught-out riders face the daunting task of recovery.
For Philipsen, the immediate challenge is clear: how long can he hold the yellow jersey? History suggests that pure sprinters rarely retain the overall lead once the mountains arrive, but his tactical maturity and the strength of his team provide genuine hope for an extended stay in yellow.
The 2025 Tour de France has announced itself emphatically, serving notice that this will be a race where tactical awareness and positioning prove just as important as pure physical ability. In the wind-swept roads around Lille, Jasper Philipsen has claimed his crown, but the real battle for supremacy has only just begun.
By the Numbers
10: PHILIPSEN HIGHER IN HISTORY BOOKS
Jasper Philipsen becomes the 36th rider to raise his arms for the 10th time in the Tour de France. He equals the Dutch riders Gerrie Knetemann, Jan Raas and Joop Zoetemelk, the Belgian rider Walter Godefroot, the Luxembourger rider Charly Gaul and the French riders Henri Pelissier, Maurice Archambaud and Antonin Magne.
1771: FINALLY A SPRINTER IN YELLOW
Wearing the Yellow Jersey was “a dream” for Jasper Philipsen. He is the first sprinter to do so since Alexander Kristoff, 1,771 days ago. The Norwegian opened the 2020 Tour de France by winning in Nice. His compatriot Soren Waerenskjold almost succeeded him, finishing third today. Since Kristoff’s last victory on August 29, 2020, Norway has finished nine stages in the top three.
7: BELGIUM, A SAFE BET
Jasper Philipsen extends Belgium’s streak of winning at least one stage since 2019 (7th consecutive edition). This is Belgium’s 491st victory, earning its 457th Yellow Jersey. The last one was Wout Van Aert during the Tour 2022, stage 5. That was already in the Nord department, between Lille Métropole and Arenberg!
90: THOMAS AFTER COSNEFROY
Benjamin Thomas is the first French rider to take the polka dot jersey since Benoit Cosnefroy in 2020, 90 stages ago. France had dominated the mountains classification for most of this Tour, thanks to Fabien Grellier (stage 1) and then Cosnefroy (stages 2 to 16). The Cofidis team had not held the polka dot jersey since Simon Geschke’s performance in 2022 (stages 9 to 17).
2: GIRMAY STILL MAKING HISTORY
Robbie Hunter was the only African rider to wear the white jersey in the Tour, in 2001. The South African is joined in this regard by Biniam Girmay, who leads the young riders’ classification after finishing 2nd today.
75: WAERENSKJOLD THE FASTEST
At 75.69 km/h, Soren Waerenskjold reached the highest speed of the final sprint in Lille. The Norwegian was even faster than Jasper Philipsen (71.46 km/h), without beating him on the finish line!
27: FAST CLIMBERS
Today’s three climbs, each of category 4, were all completed at 27 km/h! Benjamin Thomas climbed the Côte de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette at 27.78 km/h, then the Côte de Cassel at 27.27 km/h. Jonas Vingegaard finished the job in the Mont Noir at 27.23 km/h. It’s the first time the Danish is the first rider in a category 4 climb!
115: BAD LUCK FOR GANNA AND ITALY
Filippo Ganna will not finish his second Tour de France. The six-time Italian time trial champion withdrew after 115 kilometers, suffering a crash at kilometer 52. This is the second time in a row that an Italian opens the list of retirements, after Michele Gazzoli during stage 1 last year.
1: FIRST TIME FOR ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
This is the first time that the Alpecin-Deceuninck team achieved the combo stage 1 – Yellow Jersey. This has already happened one time in a Grand Tour, during the Giro d’Italia 2022 (Mathieu Van der Poel). The team also achieved its 12th Tour de France victory: 2 with Van der Poel and Merlier in 2021, 10 with Philipsen since 2022.
5449: ALWAYS MORE!
49 of the 184 riders in the peloton this morning were starting their first Tour de France. There are now 5,449 cyclists to have participated in the race since its first edition in July 1903.
3: PHILIPSEN VS GIRMAY
This is the third time that Jasper Philipsen and Biniam Girmay finished 1st and 2nd in a Tour stage. Last year, the Eritrean won ahead of the Belgian in Colombey-les-deux-Églises (stage 8). Philipsen took his revenge by beating Girmay in Saint-Amand-Montrond (stage 10). The two men are also the last two winners of the green jersey, in 2023 for Philipsen and 2024 for Girmay.
Stage 1 Results
Lille Métropole > Lille Métropole (184.9km)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4:24:33
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) s.t.
Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) s.t.
Selected finishers:
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) +39″
Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +39″
Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +39″
General Classification
After Stage 1
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 4:24:23
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) +6″
Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) +10″
Jersey Holders
Yellow Jersey (Overall Leader): Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Green Jersey (Points Classification): Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains): Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis)
White Jersey (Best Young Rider): Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty)
It’s been a busy few months for SCOTT athletes! While Cameron Jones’ win at Unbound may have been the most popular, both Robin Gemperle and Brennan Wertz have each had some respectable wins.
Robin Gemperle is an ultra-distance racer hailing from Switzerland. He competed in his first Unbound XL this year and finished in third. You can learn more in his film Quiet Miles.
Robin Gemperle – Unbound XL 2025 – Photo courtesy of SCOTT SportsRobin Gemperle – Unbound XL 2025 – Photo courtesy of SCOTT SportsRobin Gemperle – Unbound XL 2025 – Photo courtesy of SCOTT Sports
Shortly after that, Robin made his way to Canada for the start of the Tour Divide. From the gun, Robin had a significant lead and ended up beating the Tour Divide record by almost 24 hours.
While Brennan Wertz may be racing on gravel like Robin, their speeds could not be more polar opposite. Brennan took the win at SBT GRVL amongst a stacked field.
Brennen Wertz – SBT GRVL 2025. Photo courtesy of SCOTT SportsBrennen Wertz – SBT GRVL 2025. Photo courtesy of SCOTT SportsBrennen Wertz – SBT GRVL 2025. Photo courtesy of SCOTT Sports
By Dave Campbell – The 112th edition of the Tour de France begins July 5 in Lille and concludes July 27 on the Champs-Élysées. The men’s finish this year will be unique and perhaps favor spring classics specialists over sprinters as it will visit Montmartre and ascend the highest point in Paris, Rue Lepic three times.
The Tour de France Femmes begins in Brittany on July 26 and runs through August 3 over nine stages and 1165 kilometers. The final two stages are in the Alps with the finish at the ski resort at Châtel et Portes du Soleil. As we eagerly anticipate these events, let’s test your knowledge of cycling’s greatest race!
Q1. An astounding twelve riders have won the Tour de France on their debut in the great race, the most recent being Tadej Pogačar in 2020. Can you name the other eleven? Hint: There were more riders in the early years of the race!
Q2. Isaac Del Toro recently became the first ever Mexican to wear the Maglia Rosa in the Giro d’Italia and recorded the best Mexican finish in the Italian Grand Tour by finishing second in Rome. He will surely make his Tour debut in the coming years and hope to make history there as well. What is the best Mexican finish in the Tour de France?
Q3. The women’s Tour, in its current incarnation (Tour de France Femmes), will be in only its fourth edition. Who has won the most stages so far?
Q4. Who has worn the yellow leader’s jersey for the most days in the Tour de France Femmes?
Q5. Many think the sprinters will not survive to the finish on the Champs-Élysées this year, but rather a lone attacker of small group will contest the finale. Looking back, when was the last time the final stage was not won in a sprint, and who was the attacking rider who won?
OGDEN, Utah (July 3, 2025) — With direct input from Tadej Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates—XRG over two seasons, we’re pleased to introduce the SES 4.5 PRO—a wheel that has already amassed 25+ victories this season. It is designed for cyclists seeking the ultimate wheelset, where low weight, aerodynamics, and rolling efficiency meet.
Progress at the highest level is incremental and iterative, and ENVE has redefined the benchmark SES4.5 to deliver more speed and less weight. Winning everything from the Tour de France to World Championships and Ronde van Vlaanderen, Tadej elevated the SES 4.5 to be the most dominant wheel in the pro peloton, conquering cobbled classics, steep mountain summits, and the most grueling terrain with unparalleled speed. He prioritized aerodynamic supremacy over sheer weight savings, trusting the SES 4.5’s class-leading efficiency to deliver results. However, he and UAE Team Emirates envisioned something even more ambitious—a wheel that preserves the SES 4.5’s aero advantages while achievingthe featherweight precision of elite climbing wheels.
Photo courtesy of ENVE Composites
The SES 4.5 PRO was created after over a year of meticulous hub development, carbon laminate refinement, and manufacturing breakthroughs.
SES 4.5 PRO HIGHLIGHTS
New rim laminate using higher modulus, lower areal weight carbon fiber
5 mm inner-rim width meets ETRTO recommendation for 28 mm tires
Rim Depth Front/Rear: 49/55
Innerdrive PRO Hub
ENVE PRO Ceramic Bearings
Lightweight rim graphics
Wheelset weight: 1295 grams (including valves and tape)
Wheelset price: $3750, 4499€
Tadej Pogačar. Photo courtesy of ENVE CompositesTadej Pogačar. Photo courtesy of ENVE Composites
ENVE PRO LINE
PRO in the name means it is a product developed in direct collaboration with the world’s top racers and represents the pinnacle of innovation—engineered and built for race-winning performance. The SES 4.5PRO is the second product in our road line to receive the designation after the SES Aero PRO One-Piece Handlebar.
SES 4.5 PRO CONSTRUCTION
The new rim design saves roughly 50 grams per rim over the SES 4.5. This is where the weight savings come from.
Reduced rim depth
Narrower overall rim width
By removing material from under the Wide Hookless Bead™, pinch-flat and impact performance are preserved
A small hook is created by eliminating material from below the Wide Hookless Bead™ (critical tubeless dimensions are preserved with new channel manufacturing technique)
Low rolling resistance is preserved by achievinginner-rim width of 5 mm at widest point of channel
New materials allow for thinner sidewalls and channel
AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE
The foundation of the Smart ENVE System (SES) philosophy is the concept of Real-World Fast™. A performance philosophy that goes back to 2009 when we partnered with leading aerodynamicist, Simon Smart. That means chasing maximum speed, but not at the cost of important performance attributes, such as weight, durability, and stability. The SES 4.5 PRO meets these requirements by preserving the SES4.5’s patented shape and therefore its best-in- class aerodynamics and handling characteristics. Simply put, after nearly 10 years, the SES 4.5 shape continues to punch above its depth. That’s how ENVE came to be the wheel partner of UAE Team Emirates. Unbeknownst to ENVE, UAE had purchased the leading wheels on the market and independently tested them in the wind tunnel and on the road. The rest is history.
INNERDRIVE GOES PRO
At the core of the SES 4.5 PRO wheel is the Innerdrive PRO Hubset, which brings ENVE’s proven driver technology to an ultralight straight-pull hub shell. After benchmarking the lightest hubs on the market for weight, stiffness, and durability, we refined Innerdrive for lightweight performance while maintaining the system’s reliability. At just 281 grams for the hubset (rear 194 grams,front 87 grams), the Innerdrive PRO goes head-to-head with the lightest hubs out there without sacrificing the stiffness required by the world’s best.
Utilizing the same Innerdrive technology featured in the Premium Straight-Pull hubs that have been raced in the World Tour for their second season, the Innerdrive PRO Hubset receives the very hop-up kitdeveloped for our professional teams. This includes a light-action ratchet spring for drag reduction and a 40-tooth count ratchet. Like the Premium Innerdrive Hub, the Innerdrive PRO Hub uses the same spoke alignment feature to reduce spoke twisting.
PRO CERAMIC BEARINGS
Bearing drag is influenced by numerous factors, including the bearing seals, ball bearings, races, and carrier. Other factors such as manufacturing consistency, tolerance, grease content and viscosity play rolesas well. To control each of these variables, we worked with a leading bearing vendor to create what we believe to be the best ceramic wheel bearing available. ENVE’s new PRO Ceramic Bearings feature hardened stainless-steel races that won’t rust, grade 5 ceramic balls, non-contact seals on the interior-facing bearing for drag reduction, and low-contact seals on the outboard bearing faces to keep out debris.The ENVE Pro Ceramic Bearing solution is one that feels fast in-hand and promises reliability in the long run.
SES 4.5 PRO vs. SES 4.5 vs. SES 6.7
IN-HOUSE MANUFACTURING
We pride ourselves on making the highest performing products on the market in our Ogden, Utah, USA facility. The SES 4.5 PRO is no exception. It was designed, developed, and manufactured in our state-of-the-art composite facility, and proven on the roads of Europe.
“There comes a time when a man must hide. Must slip away from the human world and its clutching, insane, insatiable demands.” —Edward Abbey, “Coda: Cape Solitude” in Abbey’s Road: Take the Other
By Don Scheese — In the pre-dawn light I could hear, from the cozy warmth of my sleeping bag inside the tent, the soft hoots of great horned owls from the rim of the gorge. Donning layers of clothing in the 40-degree chill, I slowly emerged from the cocoon of the bag and tent. Looking west I saw the lovely light of sunrise softly illuminating the peaks of the fire-scarred Jemez Mountains. Below twisted the river, a silvery blue, still lying in the cold morning shadows. The sky was clear and cloudless and there was barely a breath of wind. It was going to be another good day.
I was camped on the rim of the Rio Grande gorge on the Caja del Rio, about 10 miles from the trailhead, on a section known as Chino Mesa, worlds away from the tourist trap referred to in some circles as “Santa Fake.” The Caja del Rio, Spanish for “box of the river,” is a plateau around 100,000 acres in size lying west by southwest of the capital of New Mexico. It is bounded on the west by the canyon itself, on the south by the Cochiti Indian Reservation, on the east by the city of Santa Fe, and on the north by the reservation of the San Ildefonso tribe. Its elevation ranges from 7300 feet above sea level at its highest points to a low of 5400’ along the river.
View from camp. Bikepacking New Mexico’s Caja del Rio. Photo by Don Scheese
The terrain is rocky, full of lava-strewn igneous chunks the result of volcanic activity over a million years ago. Atop this volcanic soil grow blue grama and sacaton grasses, sagebrush, prickly pear, staghorn cholla, banana yucca, and pinyon-juniper forest. The only reliable water sources are the river far below and scattered wells dug by ranchers to keep their cattle alive.
For thousands of years indigenous peoples lived on and visited this plateau, evidenced by scattered remains of habitation sites and petroglyphs carved onto the faces of the basalt rocks. The nearby Puebloan tribes still consider this land sacred and part of their homeland. In Euroamerican times the Caja was sliced by the El Camino Real, or the “Royal Road,” the connecting route from Mexico City to Santa Fe, a 1600-mile supply road dating back to the 1600s following Spanish conquest and colonization of the territory. Centuries of grazing and over-grazing by Spanish and then Anglo-American ranchers followed. Today the Caja is managed as a unit of the Santa Fe National Forest, and ranching remains a main use. More recently, however, recreation is flourishing, with hiking, biking, and horseback riding growing in popularity as the Caja becomes better known. Unfortunately, abuses like illegal dumping and target shooting have been longstanding practices as well.
The trailhead. Bikepacking New Mexico’s Caja del Rio. Photo by Don Scheese
I’d started my bikepacking trip the day before around noon from HQ Well, a main trailhead on the Caja. Carrying around 30 pounds on my trusty steel Niner RLT, including 6 liters of water, I anticipated a challenging but not overly taxing adventure. There are no steep long climbs on the plateau, the main challenges being the occasionally rutted, sandy, rocky stretches across rolling terrain interrupted by shallow arroyo crossings. The first six miles took me through a P-J forest with spur roads leading to and around nearby summits like Twin Hills, Ortiz Mountain, and Montoso Peak, all modest rises in the topography. On the northeast horizon soared the snow-capped Sangre de Christos, representing the southernmost reaches of the Rocky Mountains.
Montoso Peak. Bikepacking New Mexico’s Caja del Rio. Photo by Don Scheese
I managed to maintain my momentum grinding down to lower gears on the short punchy rises, while enjoying the freewheeling if short descents and the not-frequent-enough stretches of champagne gravel, always on the lookout for the best line amidst the ruts, sand traps, and soft spots of the road’s crest.
At mile six I turned off the main artery onto a spur road heading due north, across Chino Mesa. Here the road surface worsened to deeper ruts and softer crests, slowing me down even further. No matter: I had plenty of time to reach my intended destination of a camp on the edge of the gorge, silently chanting my mantra, “It’s not how far you travel, it’s how much you enjoy the ride and the experience.” I came to several chunky sections across more arroyos, and ever the cautious older solo rider, chose to hike-a-bike these sections—why risk a cracked rim, popped spoke, and/or broken bones for the cheap short thrill of bombing across the rocks? Gradually the gradient decreased, and I could cruise leisurely on a long flat plateau extending to the edge of the gorge, a nice finish to the day’s ride.
A typical road. Bikepacking New Mexico’s Caja del Rio. Photo by Don Scheese
At road’s end, I stopped, stunned by both the views and the silence. I had not met a single vehicle or another person since leaving the trailhead. Now the only sounds were the wind through the trees and the occasional chirp of a bird. I thought: this is exactly why I came here, why I took the time and effort to reach this point.
To the west lay the burnt-over country of the Jemez Mountains, in the foreground glimpses of the city of Los Alamos, home to the national laboratory where the atomic bomb was developed. Along the western edge of the escarpment was White Rock Canyon, named for the soft volcanic tuff in which Ancestral Puebloans carved out cavates, or cave dwellings, in nearby Bandelier National Monument. Immediately below, 1000 feet below, lay the Rio Grande, its waters backed up by Cochiti Dam some ten miles downstream. There was some evidence of civilization, admittedly…but given the quietude, I experienced the illusion, if not the total reality, of wild country.
A fire ring with a pile of readily placed firewood lay nearby. There was enough space for me to set up my 1-person tent, small kitchen, and Helinox chair to take in the surrounding views, sheltered by scattered junipers. It was a good site.
For the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening I did nothing but take in the views and contemplate the eternal question: Why was I here? Truthfully, I was in something of a funk—the recent unexpected death of a beloved family member, toxic politics, the totalitarian and oligarchical directions this country is headed towards, had had me in a melancholy mood for days if not weeks. So, I came here, like Abbey, to escape….to discover my own Cape Solitude….
“Each time I come here; I wonder why I ever go back. Every time I go anywhere out in the desert or mountains, I wonder why I should return. Someday I won’t.” (Abbey, “Cape Solitude”)
The Caja is not wilderness per se, but it is wild country. Granted, there are obvious signs of civilization. There are numerous roads (disqualifying the area for wilderness designation). A towering power line transects the northern part of the plateau. There are scattered cattle tanks, corrals, and wells strung about the landscape. A far greater threat to the area’s wildness is the plan to build yet another power line, from Los Alamos across the river to Santa Fe. Proposed by the Los Alamos National Lab (LANL), it would extend for 14 miles and connect to the existing power grid; the LANL claims it needs an additional power supply for its operations. As part of the power line a new highway, connecting the west side of the river to the eastern side, is also being proposed, which would require the highest bridge in New Mexico to be built. Because the project runs across federal lands, an environmental impact statement is required, to be conducted by the U.S. Forest Service. Both the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and a group recently formed to protect the area from such further incursions, the Caja del Rio Coalition, have vehemently opposed this new project, along with some one hundred organizations and individuals.
Members of the New Mexico Congressional delegation drew up legislation to declare the Caja a national monument, but, for whatever reasons, the bill was never signed into law in the waning days of the Biden administration. As a result, the Caja remains a severely threatened landscape.
Such thoughts were not helpful in easing me out of my funk….
“All my life a loner, an outsider, a barbarian from the steppes, the wolf on the snow-covered hill looking down at the lights of the village, I think I’ve never been accepted by my fellow men, fellow women, never been a bona fide member of the club. And looking back at the human race, feeling I never belonged, my first thought, right now, is—thanks God. Or Whatever.” (Abbey, “Cape Solitude”)
Occasional sips of whiskey helped to improve my attitude the rest of the afternoon. After all, I thought, I’m not here to solve the world’s problems, I’m here to escape them, If only momentarily. And to be reminded of the virtues and benefits of the Simple Life and (as the saying goes) Getting Back to Nature.
Does the Caja del Rio deserve further protection as a national monument? An interesting question. The Antiquities Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Teddy Roosevelt back in 1906, gives the president sole authority “to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States to be national monuments….” Roosevelt then wasted no time the next three years of his presidency by setting aside 18 new national monuments. Many of them, like Montezuma Castle in Arizona, Chaco Canyon, and Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico, were clearly preserved for their archeological and historic value. Others, like Devils Tower in Wyoming, Petrified Forest in Arizona, and Muir Woods in California, had obvious scientific—i.e., geological or ecological—value. Since Roosevelt’s time, many other presidents have created more national monuments, often in the last hours of their administration, much to the delight of environmental organizations, and much to the anger of some local residents opposed to “locking up” valuable natural resources like timber, minerals, and grazing rights. The continuing brouhaha over Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah epitomizes the conflict over preservation versus exploitation. Two states—Alaska and Wyoming—have recently passed laws prohibiting the creation of national monuments unless they are enacted by Congress, not the President.
To get back to the question at hand: does the Caja del Rio deserve to be set aside as a national monument? It has some archaeological value given the evidence of ancient residences and rock art but compared to the spectacular ruins of Chaco and other Ancestral Puebloan sites set aside as national monuments, clearly does not measure up to the standards established by the Antiquities Act. As for “scientific value,” the volcanic landscape of the Caja possesses some geologic value, but it’s hard to make the case that it is as visually impressive as national monuments like Devil’s Tower, Petrified Forest, or Mount Olympus (now Olympic National Forest).
The gorge of the Rio Grande on the western edge of the plateau does, I would argue, represent sublime scenery, but the Antiquities Act does not specifically mention aesthetic values of nature as a criterion for preservation. The gorge itself is an example of geologic value, which I think renders the Caja at least worthy of consideration as a national monument. Maybe the best case for stronger preservation than simply national forest land lies in the idea of the Caja as an island of solitude and serenity within close proximity to a metropolitan area of well over 1 million people (if you include Albuquerque, just 30 miles south). Solitude and serenity, though not explicitly stated as criteria for national monument status in the Antiquities Act, should be included as such. After all, wild lands comprise only about 4-5% of the total US land mass.
National monument or not, the Caja represents a local retreat from the stresses and tribulations of what Abbey called “syphilization.” It is said that Time heals all wounds. So does solitude in nature, if only temporarily. So, I spent the rest of the twilight taking in the sensory pleasures of the natural world. Like the passing of time, the seamless transition from dusk to darkness…the ephemeral beauty of a spectacular sunset… the phenomenon of alpenglow on the distant peaks of the Sangre de Christos… the appearance of the first star…the lights of Los Alamos glowing across the canyon like the embers of a dying campfire…the incessant insistent calls of a couple of common poorwills…the appearance of the Big Dipper, standing on its handle, in the dark night sky….
Don Scheese, Bikepacking New Mexico’s Caja del Rio. Photo by Don Scheese
The ride back was uneventful. I returned to the vehicle, refreshed and ready to face the human world, and its myriad problems, once again.
“As any honest magician knows, true magic inheres in the ordinary, the commonplace, the everyday, the mystery of the obvious. Only petty minds and trivial souls yearn for supernatural events, incapable of perceiving that everything—everything!—within and around them is pure miracle.” (Abbey, “Cape Solitude”)
The Audi Denver Littleton Twilight Criterium transforms downtown streets into Colorado’s premier after-dark battleground this August
On August 2, Downtown Littleton becomes the epicenter of Colorado cycling as the Audi Denver Littleton Twilight Criterium returns for its 12th edition. What started as a local race has evolved into one of the state’s marquee cycling events, drawing national-level talent to a tight 0.8-mile circuit through historic downtown streets.
The event’s signature twilight-to-darkness progression creates pure cycling theater. Racing begins in afternoon sunshine, building intensity as the lights come on and elite men’s and women’s fields take center stage for primetime showdowns under the glow.
Scenes from the Women’s Pro race at the 2024 Littleton Twilight Criterium. Photo courtesy of Littleton Twilight Criterium
“This event has grown into one of the premier criteriums in Colorado,” says Alexandra Vander Pol, Littleton’s event manager. “It’s everything you want in a crit: fast laps, full crowds, and a festival atmosphere that celebrates cycling at every level.”
The technical 0.8-mile course demands complete focus, with quick turns and demanding corners where gaps open and pelotons splinter. Spectators line the barriers just feet from the action, creating an electric race-day atmosphere.
Scenes from the Men’s Pro race at the 2024 Littleton Twilight Criterium. Photo courtesy of Littleton Twilight Criterium
Racing for Everyone
Beyond the elite spotlight, the event offers a full day of racing spanning juniors to masters categories. New for 2025 is the Unified Ride, an adaptive and inclusive wave focused on accessibility and community participation. Fan favorites like the Family Cruiser Ride and skills zones for young riders return, transforming the event into a true cycling celebration.
Festival Meets Racing
The Twilight Criterium extends beyond pure racing into a community celebration. This year debuts the Littleton Arts Festival, featuring local artists, music, food trucks, and beer tents alongside the cycling action. With thousands of fans expected to line the barriers, it creates one of the highest-energy cycling environments in the region.
Audi Denver’s continued title sponsorship elevates the event’s production and racer experience. “The Twilight Criterium is a perfect expression of precision, power, and performance,” says Steve Powers, VP of Operations for McDonald Automotive. “It’s one of the few events where world-class racing meets a true festival experience.”
When the lights come on August 2, Downtown Littleton proves that some of cycling’s best theater happens right in our backyard.
All 21 Stages of Tour de France July 5-27 Live Across Peacock with Select Coverage on NBC
Peacock to Stream Daily Tour de France Pre-Race Shows. Production Elements Include Interactive Stage Maps, GPS Race Tracking, & More
THEMOVE, Live Post-Race Show Hosted by Lance Armstrong Offering Incisive Perspective on Tour de France and Cycling on Peacock Following Each Stage
STAMFORD, Connecticut (June 30, 2025) – In the United States, NBC Sports will present three weeks of full live coverage of the 112th Tour de France streaming on Peacock beginning this Saturday, July 5, and concluding with the final stage on Sunday, July 27. NBC will also broadcast live and encore coverage of select stages.
13/07/2024 – Tour de France 2024 – Étape 14 – Pau / Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet (151,9 km) – POGACAR Tadej (UAE TEAM EMIRATES), Col du Tiourmalet. Photo Billy Ceusters/ASO
This year’s Grand Départ takes place from Lille-Nord de France, and the 2025 Tour de France marks this first time since 2020 that all 21 stages will occur domestically within France.
Daily live coverage of the Tour de France, featuring all 21 stages, begins this Saturday, July 5, at 6:30 a.m. ET on Peacock with Stage 1 beginning and ending in Lille Métropole. After finishing in Nice last year due to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 2025 Tour de France will once again conclude in the French capital in Paris’ Champs-Élysées with the final stage on Sunday, July 27 at 9:30 a.m. ET on Peacock.
NBC will present live coverage of Stage 1 (Saturday, July 5) and Stage 20 (Saturday, July 26) at 8 a.m. ET, as well as encore coverage of Stage 15 (Sunday, July 20), the penultimate Stage 20 (Saturday, July 26), and the final Stage 21 (Sunday, July 27) at 2 p.m. ET.
Tour de France 2025 Course:
Tour de France 2025 – Route Map.
Coverage throughout each day of the 21-stage event begins with the Tour de France Pre-Race Show on Peacock, followed by live race coverage.
Peacock will stream live start-to-finish coverage of every stage of the 2025 Tour de France, as well as full-stage replays, highlights, stage recaps, rider interviews, and more.
To sign-up and watch every minute of live action from the 2025 Tour de France, click here.
Following each stage, NBC Sports NOW will stream one-hour Daily Recaps, featuring highlights and daily special episodes of Tour de France: Beyond the Podium, providing analysis of the day’s stage and looking ahead to the next day’s live coverage on Peacock.
2025 Tour de France
The 2025 Tour de France will cover a total distance of approximately 2,075 miles, beginning in Lille and finishing 22 days later in Paris.
Expected yellow jersey frontrunners in this year’s field include three-time and defending champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) of Slovenia and two-time champion Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) of Denmark. Pogačar (2024, 2021, 2020) and Vingegaard (2023, 2022) have combined to win the past five Tour de France titles. Contenders are also expected to include Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) of Belgium, Primož Roglič (Red Bull BORA – hansgrohe) of Slovenia, and João Almeida(UAE Team Emirates XRG) of Portugal, among others.
Green jersey contenders expected to compete include Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) of Belgium, who has won nine individual stages since 2022, 2024 green jersey winner Biniam Girmay (Intermarché–Wanty) of Eritrea, and nine-time Tour de France stage winner Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) of Belgium.
Americans expected to participate in this year’s Tour de France include Matteo Jorgenson, who has won back-to-back Paris-Nice titles, and Sepp Kuss of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, and Neilson Powless of EF Education-EasyPost, who recently won the GP Gippingen in Switzerland.
Commentators
NBC Sports’ cycling play-by-play caller Phil Liggett, universally known as the ‘voice of cycling,’ will cover his 53rd Tour de France alongside analyst Bob Roll. Liggett and Roll will be on-site at each stage, along with reporters Steve Porino and former professional cyclist Christian Vande Velde.
Paul Burmeister will host daily pre-race and post-race studio coverage alongside analysts Brent Bookwalter and Tejay van Garderen.
Production Highlights
NBC Sports will integrate several features into its coverage of this year’s Tour de France:
‘Team Radio’ Audio: NBC Sports will present select ‘Team Radio’ audio, playing clips of the communication between team directors and riders throughout the race
NBC Sports will utilize a cutting edge “Virtual” graphics Telestrator, which debuted throughout the 2019 Tour de France and produces augmented reality cyclist graphics for the commentators to move and analyze
Interactive maps that track rider locations in real time along the route and highlight the stage terrain profile
Vande Velde will have a camera focused on him as he reports to offer real-time updates on race situations, while traveling aboard a motorcycle on the course
Real-time data of course gradients and the riders’ speeds
NBC Sports’ coverage will include real-time speeds of both the leaders and the peloton, and additional maps that show more detailed versions of the finishes and each mountain climb.
Coverage will also utilize several production enhancements and updated graphic elements, including a pointer feature to easily identify and focus on one rider in the peloton, and exclusive profiles on teams and riders.
THEMOVE on Peacock
THEMOVE, a post-race show offering an incisive perspective on the Tour de France and cycling hosted by Lance Armstrong and George Hincapie, will be available live on Peacock following each stage of the 112th Tour de France.
NBC Sports Cycling Social Media
Fans can keep up with the Tour de France through NBC Sports’ social media platforms throughout the race, including, interviews, video clips, up-to-date news reports and stories from around the cycling world via @NBCSCycling on X and the NBC Sports CyclingFacebook page. In addition, fans can visit NBCSports.com/cycling for a live stream schedule, stage maps, results, routes and more.
NBC Sports’ 2025 Tour de France Schedule
(subject to change, all times ET)***All live coverage on NBC is also available on the NBC Sports app:
Yasmin, a cycling fan from Denmark, created this overview and watch guide to the 2025 Tour de France, complete with a watch score. Follow her on Twitter (X) – @CyclingYazz or Instagram at @cycling.yazz
A brief overview and watch score for each stage of the 2025 Tour de France. Art by Yasmin @cyclingyazz
She also created this list of stage start times (France time). In the United States, watch live on Peacock and on NBC (stages 1 and 20 only).
2025 Tour de France stage times by Yasmin, @cyclingyazz
Starting on July 1, people riding bicycles in New Mexico will be able to ride through stop signs without coming to a full stop, and stop at red traffic lights and continue even if the light hasn’t turned green — as long as it’s safe to do so.
New Mexico is implementing the Idaho Stop Law starting July 1, 2025. This photo features the Albuquerque car wash from Breaking Bad. Photo by Mark Phillips
That’s according to a new state law Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed on March 21.
Senate Bill 73 changes New Mexico’s traffic law to allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs, and to treat red traffic lights as stop signs and proceed if there are no other cars, cyclists or pedestrians.
While it may seem counterintuitive to people who don’t use bicycles, this is already common practice among bicycle riders in New Mexico because a cyclist wants to carry their momentum on the bike, said Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, who carried the bill, during a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Doing this gets the cyclist out of the blind spot of motorists who have stopped at an intersection, Sedillo Lopez told the committee.
Eric Biedermann, a board member at-large of nonprofit advocacy organization BikeABQ, told the committee being able to treat a stop sign as a yield sign and a traffic light as a stop sign enhances cyclist safety because it reduces their exposure to cars, increases their visibility to cars and reduces the risk of being “right hooked” if a car doesn’t see them or a “left cross” from oncoming traffic.
“There are a number of ways in which being able to proceed through an intersection with a head start before the cars move really enhances cyclist safety,” Biedermann told the committee. He was also speaking on behalf of Bike Santa Fe and Velo Cruces.
The so-called “Idaho stop” — taking its name from the first U.S. state to ease traffic laws for cyclists — resulted in a 14.5% reduction in cyclist injuries a year after the state of Idaho enacted a similar law in 1982, according to a review of Idaho Office of Highway Safety data.
In New Mexico, between 2019 and 2023, 1,457 cyclists had crashes, according to the University of New Mexico Geospatial and Population Studies Center. Of those, 39 were killed, 115 were seriously injured and 694 were able to walk away.
Lynn Pickard, a retired New Mexico Court of Appeals judge and member of Santa Fe Seniors on Bikes, told the committee data show that as many as half of collisions between cars and bikes happen within intersections.
“So anything we can do to get cyclists into and out of the intersections quickly — leaving of course, for us, to determine our own safety if there are other cars there or pedestrians there — would be really helpful for us,” she said.
Source New Mexico is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Goldberg for questions: info@sourcenm.com.
MOAB, Utah – Bureau of Land Management officials are considering the use of Class 1 (pedal assist) e-bikes on designated mountain bike trails within the Moab Field Office. They are inviting input from the public. The 30-day public comment period will begin today, June 30, and end July 30. Comments may be submitted on ePlanning by clicking the green Participate Now button.
Currently, Class 1 e-bikes are only permitted on 1.4 miles of trail, out of 216 miles of mountain bike trails managed by the field office. Otherwise, e-bikes are only authorized on routes designated for motorized use, such as the Slickrock National Recreation Trail.
E-biker and mountain biker on the Slickrock Trail in Moab, UT
The intent of the environmental assessment is to determine what, if any, impacts allowing Class 1 e-bike use would have on existing designated mountain bike trails and other resources.
The most useful comments present new information relevant to the analysis, suggest additional reasonable alternatives, and/or question the accuracy of the existing alternatives and analysis.
Alternatives and additional information on the potential addition of e-bike usage on mountain bike trails within the Moab Field Office are available on the e-Planning website.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee withdraws a plan that could have auctioned more than a million acres.
by Angus M. Thuermer Jr., WyoFile.com (June 28, 2025) — Utah Sen. Mike Lee withdrew his land-sale provision from the Senate reconciliation budget bill Saturday evening.
“I was unable to secure clear, enforceable safeguards to guarantee that these lands would be sold only to American families – not to China, not to Blackrock, and not to any foreign interest,” Lee posted on X. “For that reason, I’ve made the decision to withdraw the federal land sales provision from the bill.”
Wyoming’s public lands, like the BLM-managed Hole-in-the-Wall (a favorite hiding place for the infamous Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch Gang) are safe … for now. BLM Photo, (CC BY 2.0 Deed; Attribution 2.0 Generic)
The Republican had sought to require the sale of Bureau of Land Management property — owned by all Americans — to help Western communities resolve affordable housing worries. Critics said existing laws allow such sales and that the measure violated a core western value — public access to public land.
“Total faceplant.” —Land Tawney
More than one million acres of public land were at stake. The provision required the government to auction the property rapidly and with curtailed public involvement.
Conservationists, hunters and anglers and outdoor recreation businesses erupted in virtual applause after Lee conceded. Opposition across the West stirred thousands to rally in support of continued ownership of and access to their publicly owned property.
“Public lands are the cornerstone of our conservation legacy,” Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited said in a statement heralding the provision’s demise.
Others were less reserved.
“Total faceplant,” wrote Land Tawney, co-chair of American Hunters & Anglers.
“He rewrote his scheme multiple times,” Tawney said of Lee. “And tonight? He yanked his own language from the bill,” Tawney wrote in a statement.
A coalition of outdoor businesses that claims to be part of a $1.2 trillion recreation economy said the budget reconciliation process “was the wrong vehicle for deciding the fate of America’s public lands.
“Selling off public lands in this way was not just out of touch with public sentiment,” the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable coalition said, “it could have impacted businesses, jobs, public health, and the many rural communities that depend on access to outdoor recreation for economic development and quality of life.”
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
