Gravel Biking Competition, SBT GRVL: Brennan Wertz Secures Victory Wearing National Champion Colors; Melisa Rollins Adds High-Altitude Triumph to Her Accolades
SBT GRVL 2026: A Safer and More Community-Friendly Race
In the picturesque town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the SBT GRVL event returned for another year, boasting significant changes aimed at addressing past concerns about community disruption and safety.
The 2026 edition of the race, held on June 28, adopted a one-day format, with riders capped at 2,750, an increase from the 1,800 participants in the previous year. The event was entirely centred around downtown Steamboat Springs, avoiding towns such as Hayden, Oak Creek, Yampa, and Phippsburg, and eliminating two-way cycling traffic on roads to improve safety.
The changes received unanimous approval from Routt County Commissioners, reflecting strong local support after previous controversies. The organisers prioritised a plan that is "the safest gravel race in the country" and emphasised working closely with local officials and stakeholders to balance economic benefits with community impact.
Among the notable changes, the number of port-a-johns along the course was increased to 87 for better rider and community convenience. Additionally, there were no 'shakeout' rides in 2026 to reduce road use before race day.
In the men's race, a group of six riders, including previous SBT winner Keegan Swenson, Pete Stetina, Brennan Wertz, Cobe Freeburn, Alexey Vermeulen, and Torbjørn Røed, formed during the race. Wertz, wearing his stars and stripes jersey, launched the race-winning move, finishing seven seconds ahead of Swenson and Freeburn. Vermeulen and then Stetina rounded out the top five finishers.
Alex Howes was an aggressor in the men's race, attacking twice but getting brought back both times. Røed dropped off 55 miles into the race, leaving a lead group of five.
In the women's race, Karolina Migon, who won the Unbound race, was part of an early chase group. Emily Newsom launched an attack and opened up a 15-second gap. However, Melisa Rollins went on an attack during the third lap, dropping Emma Grant from the group. Rollins, riding for Liv Racing Collective, went on to win the race, finishing ahead of Lauren De Crescenzo by 2 seconds.
The women's race saw a lead group of four towards the end: Rollins, Lauren De Crescenzo, Lauren Stephens, and Sarah Lange. Haley Smith dropped off during the third lap, leaving the final four. Paige Onweller also dropped off, leaving Rollins, De Crescenzo, Stephens, and Lange to fight it out for the top spots. In the end, Rollins clinched the victory, with Lauren Stephens finishing in third place, about 30 seconds behind Rollins.
These changes in the SBT GRVL event were made in response to complaints about the race’s impact on rural roads, public safety, and local residents in past years. The organisers sought to create a safer and more community-friendly race, and it appears their efforts have paid off.
[1] Local News Article 1 [2] Local News Article 2 [3] Local News Article 3 [4] Local News Article 4
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