Another Iron Horse Bicycle Classic came to a close Sunday with three events at Chapman Hill, including the Strada La Plata, Chapman Hill Cycling Festival and the Morehart Murphy Subaru Mountain Bike Race.

About 2,300 participants signed up for events this year.

A total of five events were held this year at Chapman Hill with zero events in downtown Durango.

The Durango Herald attempted to contact IHBC Director Ian Burnett on Sunday for comment about this weekend’s activities, but he did not immediately respond.

Gary Bischoff, 17, said he preferred the way this year’s event was set up.

“It’s kind of nice. I mean, it brings some new people in and disperses people from downtown,” Bischoff said. “Chapman Hill is still close enough.”

Bischoff is no stranger to the IHBC; he has competed in the cross country race and volunteered to help with the road races. But on Sunday, he was paying his respects to other participants as a spectator. He said the event is special to Durango because it is a true hometown event.

“It’s really cool to see a mix of new people and those who’ve been doing it for years competing in the competition,” Bischoff said.

However, he said he’d like to see more unique events like the Tailwind Dual Slalom in the future.

Participant Jared Wolf didn’t care where the events were or what was offered. He just wanted to ride.

“I just love being able to come out here and shred and test my speed,” Wolf said.

This was Wolf’s second year racing in the IHBC. He competed in the 19-34 Morehart Murphy Subaru MTB Race. The event is significant, he said, because it is a way to bring the cycling community together to celebrate each other’s talents in different events.

“You have some of the best riders in the town out here competing,” he said.

Spectators Andrea White and Joan Benson of Park City, Utah, said they missed the downtown events this year. Benson has been competing in the classic for around 30 years, she said.

Benson remembers the Cruiser Crit event and the Mountain Bike Race through Steamworks Brewing Co.

“They’d go through the bar and up a ramp,” Benson said. “It was insane.”

Participants used to ride through the front window of the brewery and go past the bar before heading out the back patio where there would be a ramp they’d ride down. Spectators would often hand participants beer as they rode through the restaurant.

An article published in 2021 in the Herald reported the IHBC moved away from the event that year because of public health guidelines brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Benson and White said the event is still just as great despite the changes.

When asked if there was anything she’d like to see done differently for next year, Benson joked “there’s too many fast people,” and gave credit to the talent that was out on the road Saturday. She said having transportation from Silverton again was a major benefit.

According to her, the IHBC stopped offering the service during the pandemic for social distancing reasons.

Both White and Benson competed in the Coca-Cola Road Race on Saturday. White competed in the 55-plus division while Benson was in the 65-plus division.

“The event is just such a special festival feeling,” White said. “Everybody’s just having a good time.”

Benson said one of her favorite things is the support riders receive from fans cheering for them as they ride up U.S. Highway 550.

In addition, she and White always celebrate by going out to eat in Silverton to refuel. This year, the group chose to eat at the Handlebar Saloon.

“This place is just amazing,” Benson said, “and to ride over those two mountain passes is just incredible.”

tbrown@durangoherald.com