FoCo Fondo Presented by Fat Tire Turns It Up to 11

May 14, 2026

Fort Collins’ beloved gravel event returns July 16–19, 2026 with a new costumed relay fundraiser, expanded para athlete inclusion, and nearly double the controlled intersections — all for Year 11.

FORT COLLINS, Colorado (May 14, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ — FoCo Fondo Presented by Fat Tire is back July 16–19, 2026, and for its 11th year, the organizers at Bike Sports are doing what any self-respecting decade old gravel event would do: they’re turning it up one more notch. Presented by Fat Tire, a New Belgium Brewing brand and title partner since 2022, FoCo Fondo returns to Fort Collins, Colorado — with the biggest and most inclusive event in its history, experienced by over 2000 riders and their friends, family, and fans.

A gravel ride, a gravel race, rooted in the insanity of a fondo and the levity of the Fort Collins community, FoCo Fondo is “not yer grandaddy’s fondo.” It’s foot-out, flat-out, dirt-and-gravel adventure in the open range of Colorado — ride it, race it, or something in-between.

Year 11: These Go to Eleven, it’s one louder.

Most events celebrating a milestone would stop at 10. FoCo Fondo is not most events. In a subtle nod to Spinal Tap, Year 11 is the one that goes a little bit louder, a little bit further, and a little bit more “Why not?” The theme will make its presence felt across the weekend — for those paying attention.

Saturday, July 18: Expo, Costume Relay & Community Celebration

Saturday at New Belgium Brewing anchors the weekend with the two-day Bike & Outdoor Lifestyle Expo. Local artists, community organizations, and cycling and Colorado outdoor brands fill the expo floor. Live local music, special New Belgium Brewery tours, beer service from the Liquid Center, food trucks, packet pickup, and shakeout rides round out the day. The Safe Routes to School 12-mile Family ride also takes place Saturday.

New for 2026: the Friends of FoCo Fondo Costume Relay. Taking place Saturday afternoon, this costumed team relay fundraiser benefits Friends of FoCo Fondo, the event’s associated 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Teams are encouraged to go full creative throttle on costumes, competing on a closed circuit at New Belgium, raising funds for the programs that make FoCo Fondo more than a race — from community clinics, mechanic sessions, scholarship programming, educational sessions, Leadership team and Safe Routes to School donation. The stakes are set at the beginning of June with registration to follow.

“Fort Collins is unique in that it already has a bike culture independent of the more recreational or racing community — with iconic events like Tour de Fat and platinum-level bike infrastructure. The expo offers the opportunity for our locals to access new brands or ideas to expand their cycling experiences, and for our friends coming in for the event to see the true intersectionality of Fort Collins’ bike space.”
— Whitney Allison, FoCo Fondo Organizer

Sunday, July 19: Race Day — Bigger, Safer, Faster

Sunday’s main event features route options of approximately 120, 100, 60, and 30 across Fort Collins’ legendary gravel terrain — obtainable for all, raceable for those who want it, and an adventure worth bragging about at any distance.

A major safety and rider experience upgrade arrives in 2026: nearly double the controlled intersections compared to prior years. Previous iterations included road controls for the first and last 8-miles of each route. More controlled intersections means riders can focus on the ride.

The 120-mile Triple Dog Dare premiere event will be livestreamed on YouTube (youtube.com/@bikesportsco) and shown at the venue, bringing the elite racing action to fans near and far, with hosts Holy Spirit of Gravel and voice-for-radio Ishmael Johnson. The coveted bolo tie cutoff returns, rewarding riders who push the pace on the premiere route.

A $15,000 prize purse is distributed across men’s, women’s, and non-binary/gender expansive overall elite podiums (separate starts), with additional podiums for age group, para, and single speed categories, across Sunday’s distances. FoCo Fondo has offered equal and inclusive prize categories since its earliest years — because the finish line should feel the same for everyone.

Post-ride, the finish festival delivers music from local legend DJ TwoScoops, a post-ride Fat Tire, a post-ride meal from Lickskillet Catering, and the full embrace of the FoCo Fondo community.

Friends of FoCo Fondo: Para Athletes, Scholarships & More

Friends of FoCo Fondo, the event’s associated volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, expands its reach in 2026 with the addition of para athletes in its now 30-athlete scholarship program. The Friends scholarship initiative — which supports historically underrepresented riders including BIPOC, non-binary/gender expansive, and now para athletes — provides access to registration, housing, educational calls, and virtual and in-person community building who might not otherwise have a path to the start line. This year, the total scholarship recipients will break 100 riders in its short 6-year history.

The Friends of FoCo Fondo Leadership Program puts compensated local leaders from each of those communities at the center of the program’s culture, ensuring the people who most benefit from expanded access are also the ones shaping it.

Year-round programming continues beyond race weekend, including free community training rides, educational sessions, low-cost skill clinics, Safe Routes to School donations, and cross community connection like the winter film fest, relay, and fall gala. Programming runs January through November.

“We want to keep growing FoCo Fondo with a diverse participation base for the right reasons. Our event, who it benefits, who shows up, and how it feels, is all made better by having people of all types participating.”
— Zack Allison, FoCo Fondo Founder

About FoCo Fondo

FoCo Fondo is a Bike Sports production founded in 2016 by Zack and Whitney Allison and their crew of co-conspirators in Fort Collins, Colorado. There’s no corporate backing, no offices — just a passionate team throwing one big, badass bike party every July. #doityouwont

Event Dates: July 16–19, 2026

Location: New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO

Registration: bikereg.com/foco-fondo

Website: focofondo.com

Nonprofit: friendsoffocofondo.com

Contact: focofondo@gmail.com

Instagram: @focofondo

YouTube: youtube.com/@bikesportsco