A race to remember: Tour de Acoma offers challenging routes, eye-pleasing scenery

The Tour de Acoma provides cyclists the opportunity to ride through scenic areas on the Acoma Pueblo that aren’t typically accessible to the public.

One of the most noteworthy views, according to race director Maureen Chavez, comes as cyclists head into the Acoma Valley.

“There’s quite a bit of a drop into the Acoma Valley from an overlook. This drop is about 7% to 8% grade, so the bicyclists have to make their way down this winding road to the very bottom into the Acoma Valley,” she said. “I think that’s probably the portion that is the most hard, but (also) the most talked about in our races.

“Then, of course, just the view of Acoma is always breathtaking once you make it into the valley area, and you’re able to experience the monoliths outside of a car. They (race participants) enjoy that very much.”

Entering its 22nd year, the Tour de Acoma offers 100-, 50- and 25-mile races, with proceeds benefiting the Haak’u Museum, which is located within Sky City Cultural Center.

“What we showcase here is Acoma’s history, culture, tradition — both past, present and future,” Chavez said. “We wanted to create an event that would ultimately provide fundraising opportunities for us to do sponsorship, and then for us to bring people in to cycle through the community.”

The route of the race has changed in recent years. Previously, Tour de Acoma participants were able to ride through the Laguna Pueblo up toward the El Malpais National Monument. However, due to myriad issues that included COVID and roadwork in the area, the event has been limited to the Acoma Pueblo for the past three to four years.

Nonetheless, the race has grown considerably since its inception. In its early years, the Tour de Acoma would attract approximately 200 participants. Last year, Chavez says, that figure reached 670, and the goal is to have more than 700 riders in 2023. The 50-mile race tends to be the most popular option, while the century draws more cyclists who are riding for time.

“I would say the 100-mile (race) is the most competitive,” Chavez said. “The 50 and the 25, I think we get a lot more people who just want to ride, people who want to take their time, enjoy themselves and enjoy the views around them.”

There is a unique prize offering for those who do well in each race.

“Every year we ask an artist or a couple of artists from the Pueblo of Acoma to paint some pottery for us,” Chavez said. “We have been focusing on water jugs. We might be making a change next year, but we’re sticking with water jugs this year. We like to showcase what the artists can do and their talent. We always try to pick out a new artist for every year that we have this event.

“Every piece of pottery, no matter what you get, comes from a different artist every year.”

Even if a prize is not attainable, there’s plenty to enjoy about the Tour de Acoma with its challenging routes and eye-pleasing scenery.

“What we want people to know is that we enjoy having them come out and bicycle through our community, and that we are utilizing the funds that come from this event to maintain our museum and provide the best historical cultural experiences for the community and for our visitors,” Chavez said.