Ben Delaney's 10 favorite rides of 2016

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Here's the deal — I'm spoiled rotten. I get to ride bikes around the world as part of my job. And very much unlike professional riders who are routinely throttling themselves in beautiful places, I can just cruise along at my mediocre pace; I'm a pro writer, not a pro rider. 

Looking back on the year, here are my favorite rides of 2016. There are a few races, a few sportives, and a few humble rides I did with friends. If you get the chance to do any of these next year, I recommend them!

• Best sportives and gran fondos: 14 to consider

Mavic Haute Route Rockies

After a few years of success in Europe, Haute Route brought its seven-day party to Colorado in 2016 for a test event. I snuck in for the fun, and a preview of what will be open to the public in 2017.

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I've lived in Colorado for 13 years now, and I'm embarrassed to say I had not been on half the roads we enjoyed. The Haute Route is a luxury event, with a price tag to go with it. Whether you want to race each day or just enjoy the ride, you are guaranteed a quality, challenging good time, notching up 550 miles and 52,500ft / 16,000m of elevation gain, with a good chunk of that on dirt roads.

I particularly enjoyed the point-to-point-to-point format. Each day was a new adventure in new places, with zero time spent in a car.  

Event website: www.hauteroute.org

Paris-Nice Challenge

De Ronde van Vlaanderen

I love the Tour of Flanders. The start in Brugge's gorgeous square (this will change to Antwerp in 2017), the steep cobbled climbs, the Belgian beer, the rowdy fans — and the fact that you can ride the course yourself the day before — with 16,000 of your closest friends.

Unlike the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, which are downright miserable, as they are out in fields and seldom driven on, the Flanders cobbles are challenging but far more doable. Plus, they usually come in short, punchy segments; it's similar to clearing a technical section on a mountain bike — focus, drill it, recover — if said technical section had a stream of thousands of riders crossing it for hours.

I don't need to ever ride Roubaix again, but I will happily go back to Flanders year after year I can until I can no longer turn the pedals.  

Masters racing with a team

Riding with friends in Flanders

Boulder > Glen Haven > Boulder

Exploring Utah 

Boulder lunch rides

B Strong Cancer Survivorship Ride

Who among us hasn't had a loved one affected by cancer?

This is a neat event because — besides being a fundraiser for cancer research — it's a celebration ride for folks who have beaten cancer. My masters team is sponsored by Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, and we have their 'Love Heals' logo on the backs of our jerseys. We're always proud to fly the RMCC flag, but especially so on this ride. 

Peter Sagan Gran Fondo

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