What you’ll learn
Sam's race setup
Some races become yearly traditions. Others become personal measuring sticks.
For Pactimo athlete Sam Brown (Mountain Pedaler - Dusty Boot p/b Vail Health) (@sambrown.748), Bighorn Gravel has become both.
The 85-mile course packs nearly 11,000 feet of climbing into Colorado’s rugged Front Range terrain, making it one of the state’s toughest gravel events. More importantly for Sam, it’s his home race.
“I want to be able to rip my trails and roads that I know so well and be the fastest one on them. At the end of the day, I don’t care who shows up or what the gaps are, as long as I put my best out there.”
This year’s race ended with a second-place finish, a personal best time, and plenty of lessons that apply well beyond Bighorn.
Knowing every climb, every descent and every corner is certainly an advantage—but it also raises expectations.
Leading into race week, Sam hosted former Fort Lewis College teammate Henry Nelson, sharing local course knowledge and discussing how the race might unfold.
Early on, the predictions proved accurate.
The two riders quickly separated themselves from the field.
As the climbing steepened, Henry launched the decisive move.
Rather than chase beyond his limits, Sam settled into his own pace.
That decision would define the rest of the day.
Thirty miles into the race, Sam found himself alone.
Very alone.
For the remaining 55 miles there would be no group to draft, no riders to measure against—only occasional time splits from aid stations and photographers.
The challenge became managing effort rather than chasing competitors.
With no idea how close the riders behind might be, the only option was to keep pushing while staying within himself.
Long gravel races often become mental contests as much as physical ones.
This year’s Bighorn was the hottest, driest and windiest edition Sam has experienced.
Those conditions changed everything.
Riding alone without the shelter of a group meant constant exposure to the elements, making pacing and energy management even more important.
Henry Nelson would go on to break the course record.
Sam also set a personal best despite feeling like he was losing time during the final miles.
Sometimes the numbers tell a different story than your legs.
While Sam was chasing the podium, teammate Haley Dumke (@itshaleydumke) faced a very different challenge.
Recovering from a lingering hip injury, she started the race knowing she would constantly evaluate how her body responded.
She completed the opening 30 miles—the flowing singletrack section she loves most—before making the difficult decision to stop.
Instead of forcing the issue, Haley rode to the nearest aid station, spent time cheering on fellow racers and then made it back to the finish in time to watch Sam secure second place.
“I felt better than I expected, which was really encouraging,” she said. “But I also knew that pushing too hard right now could set me back. I’m trying to keep the big picture in mind.”
For endurance athletes, knowing when to stop can be just as important as knowing when to push.
Five years ago, Bighorn introduced Sam to gravel racing.
Each season has become another opportunity to measure progress.
This year brought:
"I’m happy to have finally landed on the podium, even if it wasn’t the spot I hoped for. It’s just more fuel on the fire to work toward what’s next.”
Sometimes success isn’t about finishing exactly where you hoped.
It’s about becoming a stronger rider than you were a year ago.
Race-Day Conditions
With Bighorn behind them, Sam and Haley now shift their focus to another Colorado classic: the Firecracker 50.
For Sam, the goal remains simple.
Because every race—whether it ends with a podium or an early exit—offers lessons that make the next one better.
Follow Haley and Sam at @itshaleydumke and @sambrown.748
Learn more about Bighorn Gravel
Photos by @jacestout
