August 31 - September 4, 2022

DAY 1: STAGE 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

GALENA & HARRIMAN TRAIL ADVENTURE DAY

Stage 1 starts at historic Galena Lodge. In the first 15 miles, you will climb and descend flowy singletrack, including everything from smooth, bermed turns to sections of embedded rocks and roots, stream crossings, chunky gravel, and tight trees. After about mile 16, you will cross Highway 75 and hit the Harriman Trail, which is a non-motorized gravel and dirt path, one of the gems of our valley. While you’ll be relieved to be on less technical terrain, don’t underestimate the unexpected obstacles, like thick piles of gravel, rain ruts, squirrels dashing across the trail, and other trail users like horses and hikers. After about 10 miles southbound down the Harriman, you’ll turn around near Phantom Hill to begin the long, gradual climb back to the finish at Galena Lodge. 

DAY 2: STAGE 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

DOLLARHIDE SUMMIT TIME TRIAL

Stage 2 departs from Limelight Hotel Plaza with an approximately 20-mile neutral rollout starting at 8:30 AM. ​Once you arrive at the base of Dollarhide, we will line up for the individual time trial climb in order of arrival from the casual ride starting at Limelight (remember you must complete the 20 mile casual ride from Limelight). This is a staggered start spaced 30 seconds apart.

​​

There is a 4.5-mile uphill individual time trial, with timing finish at the summit, followed by a neutral ride down the hill and back to town. The neutral ride back to town is not timed, but is required. You must pedal back to Ketchum and complete the stage to be officially scored. The finish of the Stage is at Limelight Plaza.

DAY 3: OPTIONAL RIDE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

#JOINTHERUSCH RIDE - OPTIONAL FUN RIDE

Cruise the Tater Tot 20 course in a friendly, untimed ride to keep your legs loose for Sunday's big finish. This half-gravel, half-pavement ride is the perfect way to recover, socialize, take in the scenery, and #JoinTheRusch.

DAY 4: STAGE 3

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

BAKED POTATO

You'll start at Festival Meadows in Sun Valley, where you'll start with all the Baked Potato folks in a neutral rollout. Flat to rolling pavement will give way to the biggest climb of the day: Trail Creek Summit. Dropping into the Big Lost River Basin, you’ll loop through Wildhorse Canyon, where washboard gravel gets your attention, before you head toward Copper Basin, a lovely valley of sagebrush and willow-rimmed creeks hemmed in by the great White Knob and Pioneer mountain ranges, the most beautiful and challenging part of the course. All of the areas you ride through today are the historical land of the Shoshone-Bannock people. With the Copper Basin loop completed, all riders except those competing in the Para-Cycling category will reverse tracks and head back via an adventurous five-mile diversion Rebecca dubbed El Diablito. A ripping 2,000-foot descent from Trail Creek Summit returns you to civilization in Sun Valley where your tribe awaits with warm hugs and cold drinks during Rebecca's Private Idaho Festival Day at the final Festival Meadows finish arch. You must complete the entire course within the cutoff times to be scored for The Queen’s Stage Race.

​

NOTE FOR PARA-CYCLISTS: Para-cyclists will not turn left to do El Diablito due to the rough, narrow trail. They will continue straight over Trail Creek to the finish and will complete the same mileage, instead of taking the five mile El Diablito diversion from the main course. The course split will be clearly marked with flaggers and signage.

​

AID STATIONS:
Aid Station 1 (Trail Creek Aid Station): Top of Trail Creek Climb in the trail hiking/activity parking area
Aid Station 2 (Wild Horse Aid Station): West side of the Wild Horse Creek and 135 split
Aid Station 3 (Copper Basin Aid Station): At the split of 135 and 138 in Copper Basin

​

Giddy Up!