[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8214-8215]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IRON HORSE BICYCLE CLASSIC

 Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, today I recognize the Iron Horse 
Bicycle Classic in which bicyclists race the steam-powered Durango & 
Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton. May 28, 2011 
will mark the 40th anniversary of this race which is an institution in 
my home State of Colorado.
  This year's race has attracted some 2,500 racers from 44 States and 5 
countries and 3,500 riders participating in all of the weekend's many 
cycling related events.
  This race is the third oldest continuously sanctioned bike race in 
the United States and probably the most grueling of them all. The Iron 
Horse Classic is a 50-mile race that takes riders over two beautiful 
mountain passes

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in Colorado's awe inspiring San Juan Mountains. The race course tops 
out at 10,860 feet and has a vertical climb of some 6,600 feet for 
every racer.
  The race is one that many professional bike racers compete in at some 
point in their career with many Olympians, National and World Champions 
riding in the race over the decades.
  Organized for decades by cycling legend Ed Zink of Durango, the Iron 
Horse Classic is a tremendous asset to all of southwest Colorado. The 
race's economic impact on our economy is around $2 million each year 
and it has donated around $500,000 to local causes over the years.
  As I am sure you can imagine, this is a grueling event for which all 
riders put in many long months of training.
  I am proud to recognize all the riders, staff, volunteers and 
community members from southwest Colorado who have made the Iron Horse 
Classic into a premier Colorado cycling event on this its 40th 
anniversary.

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