Rio Grande Elite Cycling Seeks Title Sponsor

Last Call for the Rio Grande Elite Cycling Team

For 26 years, the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurants and Patrick McGaughran have stood behind the Rio Grande Elite Cycling Team with a level of commitment and financial support rarely matched in Colorado or anywhere in the country. Their dedication not only sustained one of the longest-running development programs in American cycling but also helped launch the World Tour careers of riders like Tejay van Garderen, Chad Haga, and Mara Abbott. While the Elite team now turns the page in search of a new title sponsor, the Masters and club programs will proudly carry on. Team Director Rees York is committed to building on this incredible foundation and keeping the program moving forward with the support of new and longtime sponsors.

For Immediate Release
Fort Collins, CO — September 19, 2025

Due to the ever changing restaurant market, and the semi retirement of the long standing team benefactor, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurants will not be returning as title sponsor for 2026.  After 26 incredible years of support, Rio Grande’s partnership has helped create one of the longest-standing and most respected development programs in American cycling.

“This is a really special team with a proud history of providing a platform for young riders to prove themselves on the national stage and earn professional contracts.  As one of the most storied programs in U.S. cycling, we’ve earned wild-card invites to some of the biggest races in the country. We’re now looking for a new partner to continue that legacy..” – Rees York, Team Director

While we are sad to see Rio Grande step back, this moment opens a rare opportunity for a new title sponsor to step into a turnkey elite cycling program. The full infrastructure is already in place — riders, staff, support vehicle, trailer, and a race calendar that includes national and international events.

We are currently in discussions with Ari Bikes, who are enthusiastic about supporting the program’s future. However, to maintain the current level of competition and operations, we are actively seeking a new title sponsor — or co-title partner — to join us for the 2026 season.

We’re looking for a partner whose culture and values align with ours. This is a team of high-caliber athletes who not only race hard but are also the kind of people you’d want to grab a beer with after the podium ceremony. Our race calendar spans local, national, and international events — with a primary focus on road racing and a growing interest in gravel.

We are also open to shaping our race calendar and presence around the interests of a new sponsor. If your brand is looking for high-visibility, community-driven, and performance-oriented representation, we’d love to connect.

Our typical racing calendar is noted below for reference:

International

• 1 Multi-Day Stage Race (Tour de Panama, Vuelta a Ecuador, etc)

National – Road

• Redlands Bicycle Classic
• UCI 2.2 Tour of the Gila
• Levi’s Grand Fondo
• U23 & Pro Road National Championships
• Salt Lake Criteriums
• Littleton Twilight Criterium
• Green Mountain Stage Race

National – Gravel

• Steamboat GRVL
• Foco Fondo

Local – Road

• Road
• Frostbite Time Trial
• Maverick Classic Road Race & Criterium
• Boulder Roubaix
• Golden Nugget Criterium
• CSU Cobb Lake Road Race & Oval Criterium
• CU Criterium
• Colorado State Criterium & Road Race Championships
• Boulder Omnium

Local – Gravel

• Bighorn Gravel
• Ned Gravel

If this sounds like an opportunity you’d like to explore, please reach out to:

Rees York
Tayne Andrade
Co-Directors, Rio Grande Elite Cycling

RioGrandeEliteCycling@gmail.com

Even if you’re not in a position to sponsor at the title level, we welcome conversations about partnership at all levels. Let’s keep this legacy alive — and take it to the next level.