MONTE VISTA— Each year, 2,000 cyclists from around the country and the world travel to beautiful Colorado to participate in Ride the Rockies. For their 32nd year, Ride the Rockies started right in the heart of the San Luis Valley, in Alamosa.
It is tradition for Colorado Potatoes to participate in Ride the Rockies when their route passes through the San Luis Valley, where San Luis Valley potatoes are grown. This was the seventh year riders were treated to a delicious (and free) Colorado potato along their route. After 58 miles of biking, riders came to the Wolf Creek Pass Pull-Off, where they were greeted by San Luis Valley potato farmers and delicious baked Colorado Potatoes. At the end of the day, Colorado Potatoes served over 1,200 potatoes, all which powered riders up the seven miles to the summit of Wolf Creek Pass and through their 20-mile journey to Pagosa Springs afterwards. This event not only helps us to highlight how potatoes can help athletes achieve their very best, but also supports a worthy cause, The Denver Post Community Foundation.
The potatoes are provided to riders at no cost through the generosity of the Colorado Potato industry. Colorado Potatoes would like to thank all of the committee members and their families who volunteered their Sunday to cook and serve baked potatoes (with all the fixings) to riders at no cost. All of the potatoes served were generously donated by Metz Potato Co. and Wolf Creek Ski Area was kind enough to let them use their facility to store and prepare all of the food. They could not have done it without all the help