Race a steam train over two 10,000-foot passes from Durango to Silverton
The competitive Iron Horse road race covers 47 miles point to point from Durango to Silverton with about 5,700 feet of climbing. Coal Bank Pass reaches 10,640 feet and Molas Pass reaches 10,910 feet, making altitude-aware pacing and disciplined fueling central to the day. It is distinct from the 50-mile noncompetitive Citizen Tour.
For the experienced rider training seven to eleven hours a week, this twelve-week plan balances sustained climbing, altitude-aware pacing, group positioning, descending confidence, and disciplined fueling with deliberate recovery so fitness rises without carrying avoidable fatigue into Iron Horse Bicycle Classic.
INSIDE THE MASTERS 50+ PLAN — 7–11 HR/WK
Includes zone-tailored structured rides for your devices, built-in strength with video walkthroughs, heat protocols for when your race calls for them, peloton skills workouts, nutrition and hydration guidance, and recovery-first Masters 50+ structuring.
The Complete Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Guide — the training, the tactics, the gear and race day, explained simply and clearly: what to do, when to do it, and why it works.
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Hey, I'm Matti. I spent 11 years at TrainingPeaks, where they trusted me to teach coaches how to coach at TrainingPeaks University. I raced Amateur Elite with Rio Grande Cycling Team and podiumed my age group at Unbound 200 in 2026. I have a degree in biology and exercise physiology from St. Olaf. I'm also a middle-aged dad of three, so I know training doesn't happen in a vacuum. I help gravel riders get stupidly fast without becoming the person who brings a food scale to a party