The Bob Cook Memorial Blue Sky Hill Climb or Mount Evans Hill Climb is a bicycle race situated on Mount Blue Sky near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Begun in 1962, the race has been held every year since except for three cancellations. In 1981, it was renamed in honor of five-time race winner Bob Cook, who died of cancer at the age of 23. The race is 27.4 miles (44.1 kilometers) in length and ascends .
The race takes place on the highest paved road in the United States, starting at an altitude of 7,540 feet (2,298 meters) and terminating at 14,130 feet (4,306 meters), 130 feet (39 meters) below Mount Blue Sky's summit. Due to the altitude, the event is sometimes marked by inclement weather.
Over the years, the race has attracted significant professional riders. Riders come from all over the United States and in the past the race has had riders from France, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia compete. The age range of the participants is from nine to eighty-five years. The race is also supported by volunteers from the Colorado cycling community who help marshal, drive support, officiate and work the picnic. The event includes categories for all levels of racing and encourages riders of all abilities. Between six hundred and a thousand riders compete each year in a number of categories.
In 2024, the name of the race changed to Blue Sky Hill Climb, reflecting the name change of Mount Evans to Mount Blue Sky. The race did not occur in 2025 due to road construction.
Course records Bob Cook held the course record from 1975–1980. The first three years he held the record he was a junior. The present men's record is held by Tom Danielson, set in 2004 with a time of 1:41:20. The women's course record is held by Jeannie Longo of France at 1:59:19.
Canceled years The race was canceled five times: twice due to snow and once when the race director was in Atlanta at the 1996 Summer Olympics, once for COVID and the fifth for construction.
List of winners Women competed in the race beginning in 1976. The winners of the race are: YearMen's WinnerTimeWomen's WinnerTime1962Stuart Baillie/Adolph Weller2:28New record time1963 Stuart Baillie2:241964 Stuart Baillie2:08:071965 Michael Hiltner 2:09:551966 Stuart Baillie 2:141967Race was held, but no results are available. 1968 Mike Dennis N/A1969 Stan Justice 2:19:231970 Kalman Halasi 2:22:491971 Kalman Halasi 2:14:351972 Bob Poling 2:11:411973 Jack Janelle 2:05:321974 Jack Janelle 2:05:091975 Bob Cook 2:02:551976 Bob Cook 1:57:50 Robin Deily2:44:58 1977 Bob Cook 1:55:43 Race was held, but no results are available. 1978 Bob Cook 1:54:27 Margaret Nettles1:18:44 Race finished at Echo Lake.1979 Race not held (snow). 1980 Bob Cook 1:54:55 Margaret Nettles2:41:10 1981Alexi Grewal 1:57:36 Martha Stafford2:29:54 1982 Don Spence 1:58:12 Jan DeYoung2:28:33 1983 Todd Gogulski 1:53:43 Ann Chernoff2:24:37 1984Alexi Grewal1:47:51 Denise Yamagishi2:23:45 1985Ned Overend1:49:53 Barb Dolan2:15:58 1986Ned Overend1:49:22 Catherine Porter2:22:581987 Todd Gogulski 1:54:07 Vanessa Brines2:26:031988 Tom Resh 1:51:56 Darien Raistrick2:19:461989 Race not held (snow).1990Alexi Grewal 1:46:29 Darien Raistrick2:13:59 1991 Mike Engleman 1:51:41 Darien Raistrick2:23:101992 Mike Engleman 1:45:30 Linda Brenneman2:15;241993 Mike Engleman 1:56:57 Jan Bolland2:32:211994 Mike Engleman 1:50:35 Eve Stephenson2:25:431995 Mike Engleman 1:46:32 Linda Jackson2:13:28 1996 Race not held (organizer at 1996 Olympic Games). Race not held (organizer at 1996 Olympic Games).1997Jonathan Vaughters1:53:54 Mat Anand, a Canadian National Team member was the first across the line, but was relegated to second place for ‘hooking’ Jonathan Vaughters in the final sprint. Julie Hudetz2:18:221998Scott Moninger1:52:16 Jeannie Longo1:59:19 Current Record1999Jonathan Vaughters Emily Robbins2:09:582000Scott Moninger 1:49:42 Kimberly Bruckner2:09:002001Scott Moninger1:46:56 Karen Bockel2:22:152002Scott Moninger1:50:20 Kimberly Bruckner2:05:312003Jonathan Vaughters 1:49:29 Allison Lusby2:09:292004Tom Danielson1:41:20Current Record Ann Trombley2:19:032005Scott Moninger1:52:50 Mara Abbott2:20:102006Scott Moninger1:49:52 Mara Abbott2:11:552007Tom Danielson 1:43:04 Michelle Steiner2:22:042008Kevin Nicol 1:53:21 Jeannie Longo2:10:102009Tom Danielson1:42:09 Jennifer Slawta2:15:582010Peter Stetina1:50:20 Tammy Jacques-Grewal2:15:072011LeRoy Popowski1:57:36 Tammy Jacques-Grewal2:13:242012LeRoy Popowski1:51:02 Tammy Jacques-Grewal2:08:082013Christopher Carr1:57:16 Annie Toth2:19:302014Fortunato Ferrara1:51:22 Mara Abbott2:14:122015Lachlan Morton1:48:05 Mara Abbott2:19:162016Chris Butler1:50:19 Annie Toth2:17:402017Chad Haga1:43:39 Mara Abbott2:16:352018Gregory Daniel1:49:51 Flavia Oliviera 2:16:262019Keegan Swirbul1:43:53 Annie Toth 2:16:052020COVID Cancelation2021Emerson Oronte1:54:08Aimee Vassee2:25:282022Lachlan Morton1:52:22Kyleigh Spearing2:27:322023Erik Levinsohn1:53:18Ashley Frye2:27:052024Ethan Dunham1:54:09Isnaraissa Moir2:24:302025Construction Cancelation2026John Keller1:47:50Michelle Hummel2:25:21
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