Party on wheels
City rolling out parade, Sepp film and 'exciting announcement' Sept. 26

The only thing Durango loves more than a parade? A bike parade. And next Fri., Sept. 26, locals will get a chance to partake in a party on wheels during a special event featuring the world premiere of “GC Kuss,” a film on local cycling-man-of-the-hour Sepp Kuss, as well as an “exciting announcement” from the City of Durango. (Spoiler alert: this may or may not have something to do with the 2030 Union Cyclist International Mountain Bike World Championship.)

“Nothing embodies the spirit of the Durango cycling community like a bike parade. Bring your bike, bring your helmet, bring your Devo jersey to be autographed, and wrap yourself in the magic that this experience,” Devo Communications Director Aleks Gajdeczka said.

The parade will be followed by a Q&A with Kuss, food and drinks, the aforementioned “exciting announcement” (more on that in a minute) and, of course, the film.

For those who may need a refresher, Kuss, a Durango Devo prodigy who was born and raised in Durango, won the 2023 Vuelta a España in spectacular underdog fashion. The film, directed by Charlie Howard, follows Kuss’ journey from Devo kid to world-renowned Grand Tour champion. For those not up on the cycling lingo, “GC” was a hashtag used by fans during Kuss’ unexpected rise in the Vuelta, from super-domestique to general classification (“GC”) leader.

“This film at its core is a love letter to Durango. It’s not just about Sepp’s incredible journey, it’s about the spirit of this place; a heritage carried through trails, friends and community that shaped who he is,” filmmaker Howard said. “That spirit is at the heart of the film, and there’s nowhere else this premiere could happen but here.”

The event will be held at Buckley Park from 3-9 p.m., with Kuss hosting an autograph session from 3-4:30 p.m. Then, Kuss and other local cycling dignitaries will lead the slow roll down Main Avenue starting at 5 or 5:30 p.m. (start times varied in press releases, but folks are asked to start lining up at 4:45 p.m.) The parade will head south down Main from Buckley, turn up 5th Street and return to Buckley Park via East 2nd Avenue.

Due to limited space, tickets are required for the film, which starts at dusk (about 7:30 p.m.) Ticketholders may arrive as early as 3 p.m. to secure their prime viewing spots (low-back chairs and blankets are advised.)

“This is going to be a memorable evening for the whole community. Sepp is a world-class example of sportsmanship, passion and a genuine love of cycling – everything Durango Devo aims to foster,” Devo Executive Director Nate Greason said.

As for the “exciting announcement,” Gaige Sippy, who organized Durango Cycling Championship LLC to bring the world championship back to Durango, said the event could bring up to 30,000 spectators to the community with another 50 million watching on TV and social media from afar.

Of course, the first-ever MTB world championships were held in Durango back in 1990, helping to spur the development of the town’s cycling legacy and organizations like Devo and Durango Trails, which oversees more than 300 miles of trails in and around town.

In addition to the inaugural world championships, Durango is no stranger to hosting cycling events on a large scale, including the U.S. Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championship, the Singlespeed World Championships and the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, which is the second-longest-running cycling event in the United States. Local cyclists have represented Team USA in every Olympics since 1996.

The organizing committee hopes that bringing the 2030 world championship to Durango will further solidify the city as an international cycling destination. Sippy said if Durango is chosen to host the world championship, it will also host the Union Cyclist International Mountain Bike World Cup in 2029 and another national or international caliber event in 2028. The world championship is a five-day competition with 800 competitors from 55 different nations.

“Durango is very much woven into the fabric of the world championship of mountain bike racing, and to come back 40 years later would be amazing,” he said. “Bringing the world championship back would reestablish and enhance Durango as a premier cycling community, not only in the United States, but across the world.”

Durango City Council approved partnering with Durango Cycling Championship in August to act as the fiscal sponsor to bring the world championship to Durango. Other organizations involved include USA Cycling, Purgatory Resort, Durango Trails, Durango Devo, Fort Lewis College and others.

“Hosting the 2030 Mountain Bike World Championship would be a great opportunity that honors our city’s legacy while driving our future,” City Manager José Madrigal said. “Hosting an event of this magnitude will be great for our local businesses and tourism and allow us to showcase our ongoing investments in public amenities. The potential millions in economic activity will leave a lasting positive impact on Durango’s infrastructure and livability.”

The City’s Prosperity Office said the economic impact from similar world championships held in Fayetteville, Ark., and Rock Hill, S.C., brought in direct spending close to $30 million and tax revenue between $1 million - $2 million.

To buy tickets for the film, go to: tinyurl.com/t7pxrftc. Proceeds will go to Devo. Volunteers are also needed to help pull this off (and will receive free entry to the film). To sign up, go to: tinyurl.com/4sz5vehe.