Tour of the Moon: Where Cycling History, Hollywood, and the American West Converge
Gary Robinson | Avid Cyclist
There are bike rides, and then there are experiences that transcend the act of pedaling. The Tour of the Moon, held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Grand Junction, Colorado, belongs firmly in the second category. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Colorado National Monument — with its towering red rock monoliths, sheer-walled canyons, and sweeping panoramic vistas — this is a ride that stays with you long after your legs have recovered.
Managed by The Ride Collective, a portfolio of professionally produced cycling events in Colorado and New Mexico, the Tour of the Moon has earned its place as one of the premier road cycling events in the western United States. It was recently ranked #7 in USA Today’s 10Best Road Cycling Events in the country . Registration is capped at 2,200 participants, and a portion of every registration fee supports One Riverfront and Bicycle Colorado, two organizations doing vital work for the cycling community and the Colorado River corridor.
This is not just a great ride. It is a ride through the living history of American cycling.
The Lunar Landscape: What to Expect on Course
The Tour of the Moon offers two route options to accommodate a wide range of riders:
| Route | Distance | Description |
| Classic Loop | 41 miles | Monument traverse + return via Redlands country roads |
| Metric Century | 64 miles | Monument traverse + extended loop through Fruita farm country |
Both routes begin and end at the Grand Junction Convention Center in downtown Grand Junction. The ride launches directly into the Colorado National Monument along the iconic Rim Rock Drive, a 23-mile scenic road that travels between the park’s east entrance in Grand Junction and its west entrance in Fruita . The route rises to an elevation of 6,640 feet, featuring steep climbs carved into sandstone walls, winding canyon rims, and views that have stopped cyclists in their tracks for decades.
The ride is structured with a two-wave police-escorted start system to ensure smooth rider flow through the Monument’s winding roads. The first wave departs at 7:15 AM for more experienced riders, and the second at 7:45 AM for those who prefer a more relaxed pace. All riders must be on course by 7:45 AM .
A note on safety: The Colorado National Monument contains three tunnels bored through solid rock that are completely unlit. The National Park Service requires all cyclists — whether participating in an organized event or riding independently — to carry a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red rear light visible from 200 feet. Staff will check for both a bib and lights at the east entrance to the Monument .
The course is supported by one water stop and four fully stocked aid stations offering hydration, fresh fruit, and both salty and sweet snacks. SAG vehicles rove the course, and Colorado State Patrol and medical personnel are on hand throughout the day.
Born from the Coors Classic: A Stage Race Like No Other
To understand why the Tour of the Moon carries such weight in the cycling world, you have to go back to the 1980s and the golden era of American stage racing.
The Coors International Bicycle Classic (1980–1988) was the crown jewel of American cycling. It evolved from the Red Zinger Bicycle Classic, which began in 1975 when Celestial Seasonings co-founders Mo Siegel and John and Wyck Hay launched a race to promote their new herbal tea. By the time Coors Brewing Company took over sponsorship in 1980, the race had grown into a two-week, multi-state spectacle that was listed as the fourth largest bike race in the world, behind only the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España .
The Coors Classic launched the careers of some of the greatest cyclists in American history. Greg LeMond won it twice (1981 and 1985). Davis Phinney, Ron Kiefel, and Andy Hampsten were perennial contenders. Bernard Hinault, the legendary “Badger,” chose the Coors Classic as the stage race in which he would end his storied career, winning the 1986 edition in a final act of competitive brilliance .
It was during this era that the Colorado National Monument stage earned its now-legendary name. The landscape was so otherworldly — so unlike anything else on the American racing calendar — that it was dubbed the “Tour of the Moon.” The stage name captured something that words alone could barely convey: the sensation of riding through a landscape that looks like it belongs on another planet.
The 1986 Tour of the Moon stage carried particular historical significance. On August 15, 1986, the Grand Junction post office issued a special one-day-only “Tour of the Moon” hand cancellation stamp, a tribute organized by the local philatelist society. More remarkably, that stage was the 100th stage since the race began as the Red Zinger in 1975 — a milestone that underscored just how central the Coors Classic had become to American cycling culture .
Connor Ratte, the owner of The Ride Collective, spoke about the event’s origins in a recent interview with Avid Cyclist:
“It originates from the 1980s Coors Classic, which was one of the biggest pro cycling events that came through Colorado. That attracted world-class cyclists from around the world to compete in a professional stage race across Colorado. Tour of the Moon originated from that because they chose a very similar route for one of their stages, and they dubbed it Tour of the Moon because the landscape of Colorado National Monument reminded them of a lunar-esque landscape.” — Connor Ratte, Owner, The Ride Collective
American Flyers: When Hollywood Came to the Monument
The Tour of the Moon’s cultural footprint extends well beyond the racing world. In 1985, Warner Bros. released American Flyers, a sports drama directed by John Badham and written by Steve Tesich — the same screenwriter who penned the Academy Award-winning cycling classic Breaking Away . Starring a young Kevin Costner alongside David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, and Alexandra Paul, the film follows two brothers competing in a grueling three-stage race called the “Hell of the West.”
Much of the race footage in American Flyers was drawn directly from the Coors Classic. Two stages in the film’s fictional race — the Morgul-Bismarck circuit race in Boulder and the “Tour of the Moon” at Colorado National Monument — were actual legendary Coors Classic stages . The Monument’s otherworldly landscape became the backdrop for some of the film’s most dramatic sequences, including a harrowing descent in which a character suffers a cerebral aneurysm while racing at speed on the canyon roads.
The film also featured a cameo by cycling legend Eddy Merckx, and prominently showcased the real-life 7-Eleven cycling team — the first American team to compete in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia . The cycling apparel in the film was designed and supplied by ShaverSport, a Colorado-based company founded by Bob Shaver, whose story is told in our own feature on the true origins of the Copper Triangle.
In 2025, Grand Junction celebrated the 40th anniversary of American Flyers with special screenings at the Grand Junction Convention Center — timed to coincide with the Tour of the Moon weekend. The event raised approximately $30,000 for Bicycle Colorado, the Davis Phinney Foundation, and the Grand Valley Streets Alliance . Davis Phinney himself attended, along with Bob Shaver and other figures from the film and racing worlds. As Felix Wong recounted in his Avid Cyclist recap of the event, the evening was a powerful reminder of how cycling, cinema, and community can intersect in meaningful ways.
Connor Ratte reflected on what this legacy means for today’s riders:
“For people in their 50s and 60s who remember watching the Coors Classic and then saw American Flyers come out — it’s cool to be able to ride that just the way you’d ride the Alpe d’Huez. You’re riding where the race, the movie, all that history is. It’s cool if you’re a history buff or just love stuff like that to say, ‘I did it too.'” — Connor Ratte, Owner, The Ride Collective
The Ride Collective: Stewards of a Legacy
The Tour of the Moon is produced by Colorado Cycling Events LLC under the banner of The Ride Collective, a portfolio of eight professionally produced bicycle events in Colorado and New Mexico. The organization has a long lineage: the events were originally produced under the name Rol Massif, then acquired by Outside Interactive, and ultimately returned to the hands of veteran event directors — the same people who had been running the events for years — under the Ride Collective name .
Connor Ratte took ownership of The Ride Collective in November 2025, bringing with him a background in event management from his time with Gemini Adventures. For Ratte, this is not a short-term venture.
“For me, this is a rest-of-my-career kind of thing. I’ll have these events for the next 20, 30-plus years. The goal coming in is to figure out what people like and don’t like, find your own voice and style of events, and make changes over time without coming in and just changing everything.” — Connor Ratte, Owner, The Ride Collective
Ratte’s philosophy for the Tour of the Moon is rooted in the belief that the ride’s greatest asset is its scenery — and that the event format should serve that scenery, not compete with it.
“There’s a reason why our events are rides and not races. You want to cultivate the experience of wanting to enjoy where you are. 99% of our crowd is from out of county and out of town. For people who come out and make it a weekend, make it a destination event — especially if it’s their first time doing it or they only do it once a year — you want to create that environment where people really get to enjoy the scenery. That’s really what it’s all about.” — Connor Ratte, Owner, The Ride Collective
When asked which event in the Ride Collective portfolio stands out for pure scenic impact, Ratte did not hesitate:
“From a pure bike route perspective and pure scenery perspective, Tour of the Moon probably takes the cake. When I was riding it recently, I got the most photos from that of any of the four courses.” — Connor Ratte, Owner, The Ride Collective
Make It a Weekend
The Tour of the Moon is designed to be a full destination experience, not just a Saturday morning ride. The weekend begins with a Friday evening packet pickup and bike expo at the Grand Junction Convention Center, where riders can collect their gear, browse exhibitors, and soak in the pre-ride atmosphere.
After the ride on Saturday, the celebration continues with a post-ride festival featuring a catered lunch, a beer garden, live entertainment, and an expo. Extra post-ride meal tickets for friends and family are available for purchase at the event or during online registration .
Grand Junction itself is a welcoming basecamp with much to offer beyond the Monument. The city sits at the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers, and Riverbend Park offers easy riverside trails perfect for a mellow recovery walk. Downtown Grand Junction’s Main Street is lined with local restaurants, galleries, and outdoor murals. And just a short drive east, the town of Palisade — recently named the best small town in the West — offers Colorado’s premier wine country, with September being the peak of harvest season .
For those who want to extend the adventure, the Tour de Vineyards takes place the following weekend, September 19, 2026, winding through the vineyards and orchards of Palisade. Together, the two events make for an unforgettable week on the Western Slope.
Your Avid Cyclist Member Discount
The Ride Collective is known for keeping its events as affordable as possible — the organization has raised prices only once in the last four years, and by just five dollars. As Connor Ratte explained:
“We very rarely offer discounts to our events because we try to keep them as low as possible. But we really enjoy working with organizations like Avid Cyclist and giving advantages to being a member of a group like yours. Across all four events, we’re offering a 10% discount code for Avid Cyclist members. It’s one of the few ways you can get a discount into our events.” — Connor Ratte, Owner, The Ride Collective
To claim your 10% discount:
1.Join or log in to your Avid Cyclist membership at just $9.95 per year.
2.Access your exclusive Ride Collective promo code in your member benefits.
3.Register for the Tour of the Moon and apply your code at checkout.
Avid Cyclist membership also unlocks discounts on other events, partner businesses, and products — making it one of the best investments a cycling enthusiast can make.
Key Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Date | Saturday, September 12, 2026 |
| Location | Grand Junction Convention Center, 159 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
| Start Times | 7:15 AM (Wave 1) / 7:45 AM (Wave 2) |
| Route Options | 41-mile Classic Loop / 64-mile Metric Century |
| Max Elevation | 6,640 feet |
| Registration Cap | 2,200 participants |
| Event Organizer | The Ride Collective (Colorado Cycling Events LLC) |
| Registration | bikereg.com/tourofthemoon |
| Avid Cyclist Discount | 10% off for members — get your code here |
| Beneficiaries | One Riverfront & Bicycle Colorado |
Why You Should Ride the Tour of the Moon
Some rides are defined by their difficulty. Others by their community. The Tour of the Moon is defined by something rarer: a sense of place so profound that it has inspired professional cyclists, Hollywood filmmakers, and recreational riders alike for more than four decades. When you roll out of the Grand Junction Convention Center on the morning of September 12 and begin your climb into the Colorado National Monument, you are not just riding a bike. You are tracing the same roads where Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault once battled for supremacy, where Kevin Costner and his film crew captured the drama of the American West on celluloid, and where thousands of cyclists have found something they were not expecting: a landscape that makes the world feel very large and very beautiful.
Whether you are a history-loving roadie who grew up watching the Coors Classic, a film buff who has worn out your VHS copy of American Flyers, or simply a cyclist looking for one of the most scenic rides in the country, the Tour of the Moon belongs on your calendar.
Register today — and become an Avid Cyclist member to claim your 10% discount before spots fill up.
