TransRockies History
In 2002, the first TransRockies Challenge mountain bike race rolled out of Fernie, BC bound for Canmore, Alberta nearly 600km and seven riding days away. Roughly 100 pioneers rode out into the unknown in North America’s original multi-day epic mountain bike race. At the time, they couldn’t know that the TransRockies would change the face of mountain biking in North America, spawning a host of multi-day epic imitators and attracting thousands of competitors from all around the World.
The TransRockies Challenge was adapted from the TransAlp Challenge which was launched in Europe in 1998 and became a phenomenon in Mountain Bike stage racing. The format needed to be heavily adapted for North American conditions, with remote tent camps and providing services for all participants in remote locations.
In 2006, TransRockies changed the northern terminus of its route, setting a new course through British Columbia’s Kootenay Rockies, finishing in Panorama. In 2007 the direction was switched to start in Panorama and finish in Fernie, which was used as the primary course through 2009. The TransRockies mountain bike race returned to its origins in 2010 with a brand new route in Fernie and Kananaskis Country finishing back in Canmore. From 2011 through 2013 the event maintained its Fernie to Canmore alignment, with increased focus on more community based singletrack. Major flooding in 2013 forced the relocation of several stages to Crownsest Pass with a transfer back to Alberta for the final two stages.
In 2014 the event was re-launched with a new name and a new format: Singletrack 6. Singletrack 6 was focussed on showcasing the networks of singletrack mountain biking trails in Western Canada. The first Singletrack 6 started in West Bragg Creek, just outside of Calgary, and finished in Revelstoke, BC. Singletrack 6 has operated annually from 2014-2021.
In 2019, the TransRockies Classic returned with the original format for a one-time engagement - running from Panorama to Fernie. While several riders chose to tackle the event with gravel bikes - some stages were still mountain bike mandatory. However, this event allowed us to rediscover the spectacular terrain and consider what an amazing gravel route could be created here!
In 2022 the TransRockies Gravel Royale made it’s debut with a stunning and challenging 4-day route from Panorama to Fernie.
In 2023 the TransRockies Gravel Royale was cancelled due to multiple forest fires, area closures and evacuation alerts along it’s route.
