A mountain bike race unlike any before in Colorado Springs heads into its fifth year with an eye, as ever, toward the future.

Starting June 7, the three-day Pikes Peak APEX aims to draw closer to 200 riders, up from last year’s 162, said organizer Micah Rice. For the event boasting big mileage and elevation over three rugged courses, increased registration was the hope in the move up the calendar.

Previously in September, “one of the things we constantly heard was it was too hard an event too late in the season,” Rice said.

The date isn’t the only change the APEX has seen since 2020.

Amid pandemic complications that year, the APEX launched with a stated mission “to create a world-class event that drives economic impact to the area” and cement “Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region as an internationally recognized endurance sports destination.” That remains the mission of the race, which has gone from four days to three.

The originally announced $50,000 prize purse has been $25,000 in recent years, split between 10 men and 10 women — a draw for the “pros and joes” the APEX has tried to entice. Ridership, though, remains short of Rice’s goal of closer to 300.

Compared with past mountain bike races around town, the event has come with unprecedented financial backing from local and national sponsors, along with an annual $75,000 from the city’s Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART) fund.

The fund is meant “to support special events that attract visitors to the city and to the Pikes Peak region.” Rice recognized that fund’s support in the decision to return day two of the APEX to highly-regarded singletrack around Cañon City, where the event toured in 2022. This year also returns stages in Palmer Park and North Cheyenne Cañon in the Springs.

“The focus is to try to keep everyone staying here in town,” Rice said, “but if we want to zip down to Cañon City, I think the riders enjoy doing something different like that.”

Doing something different around the Springs has been a challenge for Rice, who has spent his career organizing prestigious cycling events nationwide.

“There are some great trails here,” he said, “but a lot of those trails you’re not allowed to put events on, you’re not allowed to race on.”

Red Rock Canyon, Stratton and Blodgett open spaces and parts of Ute Valley and Austin Bluffs Open Space around Pulpit Rock are among city properties barring events like the APEX, which requires trail closures to operate. Those are properties paid for by the city’s voter-approved Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) program that bans “any exclusive license or permit … until approval is given by a majority vote of the electors.”

The APEX isn’t about to ask for any such vote, Rice said. He called himself “respectful” of those rules and others regarding conservation easements.

As TOPS Manager Lonna Thelen explained to The Gazette: “The purpose of the TOPS ordinance includes conservation of natural and visual resources, preservation of fragile ecosystems, natural areas and scenic vistas while balancing passive recreational opportunities in our open spaces to the public.”

While sounding in support of that, “our goal is really connectivity,” Rice said. “We want to be able to create these really cool loops that are awesome experiences, and it’s sometimes really hard to do that if you hit a dead end.”

He’s eyed one loop featuring Lake Moraine Trail but fallen short of clearance from Colorado Springs Utilities, which protects waters on Pikes Peak’s South Slope. Talks have also involved the Air Force Academy.

“And the Forest Service, they’re pretty careful in what we can use,” Rice said. “There’s definitely some trails I would love to use up on Pikes Peak that they’ve said no to as well.”

Attempts have been “frustrating,” he said. “But again, we understand why some of these rules exist and all we can do is continue to work with land managers to try to link things up.”

The APEX continues to position itself as a steward. Over its four years, the race reports more than $25,000 in donations toward trail projects, including toward the creation of the Sweetwater Canyon trails that have hosted racers in North Cheyenne Cañon.

That park’s main road will be closed for the race the Sunday morning of June 9. That Friday, Palmer Park will be closed until 5 p.m.