CMU’s bid to expand the annual Maverick Classic bike race saw approval from Fruita on Feb. 4.

Rick Taggart, Executive Director of Marketing and Student Recruitment, met with Fruita residents to propose a fourth stage of the race for the open-class which would take place in Fruita April 18.

“This year, what we have wanted to build around the collegiate race was a very good open class race,” Taggart said.

The open division, wherein non-collegiate cyclists compete each year, has previously included a Fruita time trial, Grand Junction criterium and Palisade road race. The Fruita expansion will make the open division a four-stage race in which competitors’ cumulative times are tracked throughout the weekend.

Scott Mercier, Director of Cycling, said that this new stage will be a criterium, a race that is usually less than a mile and takes place on closed streets.

Multi-stage races, while appealing to competitive cyclists, can be a risky investment, Mercier said.

“We don’t know if we’ll be successful or not,” Mercier said, “But we’re hoping it will bring people in and make it a successful race.”

chrisclark2@mavs.coloradomesa.edu