Riders in the Citizens Tour of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic race the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train through the Animas Valley.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald file
Robert Hays hooks a humongous rainbow trout during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Cruiser Criterium on Sunday afternoon on Main Avenue. Herald File Photo
Joe Leder, front, and friends rode as characters from Super Mario Bros., during the 2013 Durango Cyclery Cruzer Crit downtown. The event was part of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Durango Herald file photo
Vendor tents line Main Avenue during racing 2012 action in downtown Durango, bringing additional retail opportunities to racers, spectators and visitors on Iron Horse weekend. Durango Herald file photo
Peter Schertz rides his “Uni-Hog” during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Cruiser Criterium during a past years race on East Second Avenue. Durango Herald file photo
Racers in the Citizen’s Tour of the 2014 43rd annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic race north on Main Avenue after the start of the abbreviated race that ended at Durango Mountain Resort Saturday. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
A rider in the 2015 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour throws a fist in the air as he is passed by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad along U.S. 550 North Saturday morning in the race to Silverton. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Cyclists shadows are seen along US 550 during a past years Citizens Tour of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Neck and neck heading to Silverton. A cyclist keeps pace with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train along US 550 during a past years Citizens Tour of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Bicycle riders showed up in 2012 filling the hotels and restaurants for the 2012 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic on Saturday.JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald file photo
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic race fans from left, Margaret Pulley, Sebastian Gibson, Shelby Creasha, and Heather Benton, cheer on riders in 2014 as they make their way up the hill towards the finish line at Durango Mountain Resort on Saturday morning.JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald file photo
The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour departs with the train in 2009 Durango Herald file photo
Edie Erwin, 8, cheers on her brother, Owen Erwin, 5, who raced in one of the 2015 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Sprite Kids Races on Sunday in downtown Durango. With Edie are Aaron Blue, left, and Catherine Rathbone. Edie and Owen are the children of Jill and Dan Erwin. Durango Herald file photo
“I finished last!” exclaimed Isabelle Morgan, 7, to her parents after riding in the 2015 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Sprite Kids Race on Sunday in downtown Durango. Isabelle is the daughter of Chris and Kristy Morgan of Santa Fe. In back cheering Isabelle on is Steven King. Durango Herald file photo
Tiari Harris of Tulsa, OK crosses the tracks at Hermosa just in the nick of time as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad approaches Saturday morning during the running of the 2012 41st annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. This was Harris’s first ever Iron Horse. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Cyclists blur with speed as they head down Camino del Rio this morning during the start of a past years Citizens Tour of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Miranda Sheely, left, and her mom, Dana Sheely, right, of Frisco, meander down Main Avenue during a past years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Cruiser Criterium. Durango Herald file photo
Facing the competitor. Marvin Garcia of Gallup, NM takes a picture of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad engine as it backs into place before the start of a past years Citizens Tour of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Stephen Campbell, center, of Houston, Tex., and Lauren Wimmer, right, of Norman, Okla., and other staff members from Camp Kivu in Durango cheer on riders as they approach the finish line during during a past years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic on Saturday afternoon in Silverton. Durango Herald file photo
Peace before the race. A lone cyclist warms up along Main Ave in the early morning hours before the start of a past years Citizens Tour of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.
Riders in the 2012 41st annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic warm up in early morning light along College Avenue prior to the start of the McDonalds Citizens Tour. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Neck and neck heading to Silverton. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train crosses Main Ave as riders keep pace during the start of a past years Citizens Tour of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Tom Mayer, left, and his brother, Jim Mayer, right, who were the inspiration for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, and Ed Zink, chairman of the event’s organizing committee, center, take part in a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the 2011 40th running of the race on Saturday in Silverton. Durango Herald file photo
Riders in the 2007 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour head down Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Fans cheer on riders in the 2007 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour on the way to Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Riders in the 2007 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour head down Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Before the start of the 2009 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour riders pose in front of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Fans cheer on riders in the 2007 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour on the way to Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Cyclists and canines gather before the start of the 2009 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
Fans cheer on riders in the 2007 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour on the way to Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
A rider warms up before the start of 2007 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald file photo
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train passes riders in the 2005 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Durango Herald file photo
Riders get ready before the start of the start of the 2005 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Durango Herald file photo
Riders chat before the start of the start of the 2005 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Durango Herald file photo
Riders take off at the start of the 2005 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Durango Herald file photo
Fans cheer on riders in the 2006 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour on the way to Silverton. Durango Herald file photo
Flats are always an issue like what this rider had in the 2006 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour on the way to Silverton. Durango Herald file photo
Fans cheer on riders in the 2006 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour on the way to Silverton. Durango Herald file photo
Riders take off at the start of the 2006 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Durango Herald file photo
Rider take off at the start of the start of the 2004 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Durango Herald file photo
This 2004 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour rider takes advantage of a aid station. Durango Herald file photo
A Durango Police Department cruiser leads the start of the 2004 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic citizens tour. Durango Herald file photo
Riders on the McDonald’s Citizens Tour race the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train through the Animas Valley Saturday during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour race through Durango Saturday during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
The shadow of a rider spreads across the pavement during the McDonald’s Citizens Tour. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Fans cheer on riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Tammy Fugate, right of Houston, Texas, is congratulated by friend Sandra Hernandez, of Katy, Texas, after finishing the Quarter Horse to Purgatory race at Purgatory Resort on Saturday during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders race the train through the Animas Valley during the McDonald’s Citizens Tour. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders race the train through the Animas Valley during the McDonald’s Citizens Tour. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders race the train through the Animas Valley during the McDonald’s Citizens Tour. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour to Silverton race northbound on U.S. 550 through the Animas Valley on Saturday as part of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour to Silverton race northbound on U.S. 550 through the Animas Valley on Saturday as part of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour to Silverton head northbound on U.S. 550 through the Animas Valley on Saturday as part of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour race along Camino del Rio in Durango. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour race the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train through the Animas Valley Saturday during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Fans cheer on riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour race the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train through Durango Saturday during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Fans cheer on riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Riders in the McDonald’s Citizens Tour race the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train through Durango Saturday during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
The uniqueness, reputation and history of the
The network’s health and fitness program, Fit Nation, is featuring the 44-year-old annual bike race up U.S. Highway 550 from Durango to Silverton in its latest episode, which will air on CNN this weekend.
The Memorial Day weekend ride is an intense feat even for the pros, who try to beat the train’s 3.5-hour time as it chugs along the Animas River gorge. This year, the Iron Horse drew 2,500 bicyclists from 43 states and six countries.
Fit Nation spotlights the race’s inception in the late 1960s, which began as a bet between two brothers, as well as the endurance it takes to make it through a mountainous 50 miles, from the mouths of bicyclists who have done it.
The Iron Horse episode of Fit Nation will air three times Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Sunday between 3 and 4 p.m.
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