Tuesday, February 1, 2011

2011 Colorado Mountain Bike Race Calendar

Updated 4/1/2011

As a service to the local mountain bike racing community, we have put together this calendar of 2011 races. We hope that this helps you in planning for your upcoming season.
(Click the race name to be directed to the race website) There have been some minor changes to race dates recently, and this calendar reflects the most up to date information.

Date Race Location
4/9 Cheyenne Mtn. Explosion (TT) Colorado Springs
4/10
Cheyenne Mtn. Explosion (XC)Colorado Springs
4/23 Voodoo Fire (70 or 35 mi) Pueblo
4/30 Rabbit Valley Ralley (TT) Fruita



5/1 Rabbit Valley Ralley (XC) Fruita
5/6-7 18 Hours of Fruita Fruita
5/7 Front Range 60 (60 or 30 mi) Lakewood
5/7
Battle the Bear (XC)Lakewood
5/7 12 Hours of Mesa Verde Cortez
5/15 Ascent Cycling Race Series (XC) Colorado Springs
5/29 Gunnison Growler (64 or 32 mi) Gunnison



6/1 Ascent Cycling Race Series (XC)
Colorado Springs
6/3-4 24 Hours of E-Rock Castle Rock
6/3-5 Chile Challenge (XC, STXC, SD, DH) Angel Fire, NM
6/4 Teva Mountain Games (XC) Vail
6/8 Ascent Cycling Race Series (XC) Colorado Springs
6/8 Summit Mountain Challenge #1 Frisco
6/11 Winter Park Hill Climb Kick-off (HC) Winter Park
6/12 Beti Bike Bash (XC) Lakewood
6/12 Ridgeline Rampage (Endurance) Castle Rock
6/18 Bailey Hundo (100 mi) Bailey
6/19
Ascent Cycling Race Series (XC)Colorado Springs
6/22 Summit Mountain Challenge #2 Breckenridge
6/24-26 Wildflower Rush (XC, STXC, SD, DH) Crested Butte
6/25 Cross Country Super Loop (XC) Winter Park



7/4 Firecracker 50 (50 mi)
Breckenridge
7/8-10 Full Tilt in Telluride (XC, SD, HC and DH) Telluride
7/9 Valley Point-to-Point (XC) Winter Park
7/10 Winter Park Super-D (SD)
Winter Park
7/13 Summit Mountain Challenge #3 Breckenridge
7/14-17 USAC MTB XC National Championships Sun Valley, ID

(XC, STXC and SD)
7/16 Breckenridge 100 (100, 68 or 32 miles) Breckenridge
7/16 Silver Rush 50 (50 mi) Leadville
7/22-24 Keystone Classic (XC, STXC, SD, DH) Keystone
7/27 Summit Mountain Challenge #4 Breckenridge
7/30 Laramie Enduro (111K/69 mi) Laramie, WY
7/30 CrankworX Colorado (XC) Winter Park
7/31
Crested Butte Alpine Odyssey (100K)
Crested Butte



8/5-7 Blast the Mass (XC, STXC, SD, DH) Snowmass
8/6 Pierre's Hole 100 (100 mi) Alta, WY
8/10 Summit Mountain Challenge #5 Keystone
8/13 Leadville 100 (100 mi) Leadville
8/14-19 Breck Epic MTB Stage Race Breckenridge
8/20
Mary Jane Circuit Race (XC)
Winter Park
8/24 Summit Mountain Challenge #6 Breckenridge
8/27 King of the Rockies -Tipperary Creek (XC) Winter Park



9/2-5 Sol Survivor (XC, STXC, SD, DH) Granby
9/3 Park City Point to Point (80mi) Park City, UT
9/4 Peaceful Valley Cycle Derby (Endurance) Elbert
9/10 12 Hours of Snowmass Snowmass
9/10-11 Fall Classic (Stage Race) Breckenridge
9/17 USAC MTB Marathon National Bend, OR

Championships



10/1-2 24 Hours of Colorado Springs (USAC Colorado Springs

MTB 24 hr National Championships)



This calendar focuses primarily on cross country and endur-
ance mountain biking events in Colorado and neighboring states.



All dates and racing information are subject to change.


XC =Cross country, TT =Time trial, STXC =Short track,
HC = Hill climb, SD =Super D, DH =Downhill

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

2010 Race Results Summary

All in all, 2010 was a very enjoyable and successful year of racing for the Green Mountain Sports racing team. For a team of about 20 racers, we came away with over 150 top ten finishes! This past year was also one of teamwork, growth, camaraderie and "personal bests."

We
closed out 2010 with more than 20 wins and 55 podium placings. Here is a list of Green Mountain Sports racing team podium (top 3) finishes:


Age Group
Category Place
April:


Koppenberg Circuit Race M 35+ (Cat. 4) 2
MSC Rabbit Valley XC W 40-49 (Cat. 2) 2




May:


Front Range 50 M 40-49 (Open) 2
MSC Chalk Creek Stampede M 40-49 (Cat. 1) 2




June:


Winter Park XC Super Loop M 50+ (Sport) 1
Winter Park XC Super Loop W 30-39 (Beginner) 1
Winter Park Hill Climb W 40-49 (Expert) 2
Winter Park XC Super Loop M 40-44 (Expert) 2
Winter Park XC Super Loop M 45-49 (Expert) 2
Niwot Criterium M 35+ (Open) 2
Winter Park XC Super Loop W 40-49 (Beginner) 2
Teva Games W 30-39 (Beginner) 2
MSC Chile Challenge M 30-39 (Cat. 1) 3
Winter Park Hill Climb M 35-39 (Expert) 3
Missouri State MTB XC Championships M 40-49 (Cat. 2) 3




July:


Winter Park Crankworx XC M 40-44 (Expert) 1
Winter Park Valley Point to Point XC M 45-49 (Expert) 1
Winter Park Super-D M 45-49 (Expert) 1
Winter Park Crankworx XC M 45-49 (Expert) 1
Breckenridge 100/ B-32 Race M 50+ (Open) 1
Winter Park Super-D W 30-39 (Sport) 1
Winter Park Valley Point to Point XC M 50+ (Sport) 1
Winter Park Super-D M 50+ (Sport) 1
Winter Park Super-D W 30-39 (Expert) 2
Winter Park Crankworx XC M 50+ (Sport) 2
Salida Omnium Criterium M 35+ (Cat. 4) 2
Winter Park Valley Point to Point XC W 40-49 (Beginner) 2
National Championships MTB/Marathon
M 35-39 (Open) 3
National Championships MTB/XC
M 35-39 (Cat. 1) 3
Winter Park Valley Point to Point XC M 40-44 (Expert) 3
Salida Omnium Overall M 35+ (Cat. 4) 3
Firecracker 50 Co-ed Team (Cat. 2) 3




August:


Winter Park 2010 Series Overall M 40-44 (Expert) 1
Winter Park 2010 Series Overall M 45-49 (Expert) 1
Winter Park 2010 Series Overall M 50+ (Sport) 1
Bannock Street Criterium M 45+ (Open) 1
Winter Park Mary Jane XC M 40-44 (Expert) 1
Winter Park Mary Jane XC M 45-49 (Expert) 1
Winter Park Tipperary/King of the Rockies M 45-49 (Expert) 1
Winter Park Mary Jane XC M 50+ (Sport) 1
Colorado State Championships MTB/XC
M 50+ (Cat. 1) 2
Winter Park 2010 Series Overall M 40-44 (Sport) 3
Winter Park Mary Jane XC W 30-39 (Sport) 3




September:


MSC Fall Classic Stage Race GC M 50+ (Cat. 2) 1
Alpha Cross #1 M 45+ (Open) 1
GMSV Lookout Cross #1 M 45+ (Open) 1
Pisgah MTB Stage Race GC M 40+ (Elite) 2
MSC Fall Classic XC M 50+ (Cat. 1) 2
Steamboat Stage Race Time Trial M 45+ (Open) 2
Steamboat Cross M 35+ (Cat. 4) 2
MSC Winter Park Pursuit XC M 40-49 (Cat. 1) 3
Pikes Peak Velo Cross M 35+ (Open) 3




October:


Aspen Lodge Cyclocross M 45+ (Open) 2
Cross at the River M 45+ (Open) 3




November:


Castle Cross M 45+ (Open) 2
Castle Cross W (Cat. 4) 3

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Cyclocross State Championships

The ACA State Championships for cyclocross took place at Monarch high school in Louisville, on Saturday and Sunday the 4th and 5th of December. Weather conditions were cool, the skies were mostly clear, and the predominantly grass course was dry as a bone. There were a couple of short rises, but for the most part, the course was flat and fast. A total of seven Green Mountain Sports racing team members raced over the weekend with the following results:

Brian Krombein finished in 14th place in the 35+ race.




Craig Hofer finished in 20th place in the 45+race.



Peter Lopez took 27th in the Cat. 3 race and 53rd in the 35+ race.



Pieter Schouten finished in 30th place in the 45+ race.




Ed Tokarski took 40th in the 35+ race.




Mike Schaub finished 49th in the 45+ race and 59th in the 35+/Cat. 4 race.




Blaine Haskell finished 66th in the 35+ race.




Photography:
Most of the great photos on this blog were taken by team photographer Annette Hayden during 2009 and 2010. Her work is truly outstanding! As you all know, she has been following much of the action throughout this season. If you would like to see more of her photographs, please visit her website:

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

November Racing News

GMSV Lookout Cross #2 and Boulder CX #4:
A number of GMSR racers were out racing cross over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend here in Colorado. At Lookout Cross in Golden, we had Craig Hofer finish 7th, Brian Krombein 12th, Blaine Haskell 13th, Tim Miller 14th, Ed Tokarski 14th, Peter Lopez 15th and Pieter Schouten 15th. Then on Sunday, Peter Lopez took 14th at the fourth race in the Boulder CX series, which was held at the Westminster City Park.


Cyclo-X:

Sunday November 21st saw the ACA Colorado Cup series visit the Union Reservoir in Longmont for the Cyclo X cyclocross race. The all weather course at the reservoir had a bit of everything; fast grass, pavement, beachfront, and even a BMX track!


Ed Tokarski finished 14th in the 35+ field while Blaine Haskell finished 12th in the Single Speed competition.


Alpha Cross:
Race number 2 of the Alpha Cross series was on November 20th at the Arapahoe County Community Park in Centennial. The course was billed as a true "Euro style" course that traveled 90% over grass and had great flow. Brain Krombein led home all Green Mountain Sports racing team members with a 10th place finish in the 35+race.




Also racing 35+ was Ed Tokarski, who finished in 19th place.



Racing in the 35+/Cat.4 race were Chris Shamis and Todd Reisinger.


While Craig Hofer competed in the 45+ race.




New Belgium Cup:
Big time cyclocross racing came to the Front Range once again with the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross visiting Fort Collins on November 13th and 14th. The USGP of Cyclocross for 2010 is an 8 race series which travels to Madison, WI, Louisville, KY and Portland, OR in addition to Fort Collins. The USGP races around the country have been drawing the deepest, fastest and strongest fields anywhere in the US.

For the weekend's races, conditions were cold and muddy in Fort Collins, a welcome ? change from the warm and dry conditions earlier this Fall. Competing for the GMS racing team on Saturday were Craig Hofer who finished 15th and Mike Schaub who finished 54th in the 70 racer 45+ field. Ed Tokarski raced in the 60 racer Cat. 2/3 field, finishing in 20th place. Then, on Sunday, three GMSR racers competed in the 57 racer 45+ field with Craig Hofer finishing 17th, Mike Schaub 34th and Pieter Schouten 35th.




Friday, November 12, 2010

Castle Cross

For all those who came out to race, thank you! We certainly hope everyone had a good day of racing at Castle Cross. Race results are posted on the ACA website:



Race Report:
The "Indian Summer" weather conditions on the Front Range continued all the way into November, and the running of the second annual Castle Cross Cyclocross race. The riders' ability to handle mud, snow and cold would have to wait for another weekend as Sunday's setting was sunny, dry, warm . . . and windy.



Race Director Ed Tokarski put on a great show for racers and fans alike. Racers enjoyed the twisty, flowing, undulating 1.5 mile course that snaked its way around the Rhyolite Bike Park. The race surface was smooth hardpack , which did get looser as the day progressed. Portions of the course traveled over the pump track at the park.



The course played into the hands of power riders with good bike handling skills, and called upon each racer's ability to master some short punchy climbs and wide-open wind swept sections.
Portions of the course traveled through desert-like terrain, but it still was definitely Cyclocross racing!



Fans enjoyed the Castle Rock Brewery beer tent, tasty pulled-pork BBQ sandwiches, the expert commentary of race announcer Larry Grossman, and
a number of excellent viewing areas on the course. Spectators cheered the racers on.



Sometimes passionately.



There was excellent competition in all of the racing categories.


One of the highlights was the last race of the day, the Singlespeed competition. The father and son duo of Russ and Brady Kappius battled it out at the front for the entire 45 minute race. At the finish line, dad Russ came around Brady to take the sprint for first place, but not by much!!!

Here, earlier in the race, Brady leads Russ up one of the short hills.


If you would like to find out more about how the day went, check out Mountain Flyer Magazine's coverage of Castle Cross here:




GMS Racing Team:
We had a line-up of 14 Green Mountain Sports racing team members, and some sons and daughters, out competing at Castle Cross. Our team was led home by top-ten finishers:

Craig Hofer, 2nd place, Mens 45+



Marjie Tokarski, 3rd place, Womens Cat. 4



Ed Tokarski, (taking a break from his Race Director's duties) 5th place, Mens Cat. 3



Brian Krombein, 9th place, Mens 35+


Thanks again to all who came out on Sunday. See ya next year!



Photographs:

To view the Mountain Moon Photography shots of the race, visit here:
Mountain Moon Photography Free downloads of all photos from Castle Cross.

Thanks Mountain Moon!!!



Sponsors:
Thanks also go out to Corky from Green Mountain Sports for providing mechanical support at the race!!

Green Mountain Sports Logo

12364 West Alameda Parkway
Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: 303-987-8758


www.greenmountainsports.com

Green Mountain Sports has a long history of supporting the sport of cycling (and cyclocross). They are a full service bike shop located in Lakewood Colorado. The shop specializes in expert repairs and friendly customer service, while carrying the best lines in bikes, clothing, parts and accessories.

Our team relies on Green Mountain Sports for excellent race and recreational bikes, components, maintenance and repairs. The shop also tunes our snowboards and skis, and can do the same for you.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

October Racing News

NACT Weekend:
The North American Cyclocross Trophy (NACT) series visited the Boulder area during the weekend of October 30th and 31st, bringing in a top caliber national field of racers. Saturday's race was the Colorado Cross Classic at the Boulder Reservoir. There were huge fields battling it out on the 2.1 mile loop which traveled over grass, paved paths, roads and sand. We had a group of five racers at Colorado Cross competing in probably one of the most talented and deepest field of racers anywhere in the country.

Then on Sunday, racers came out for the Halloween Boulder Cup cross race at Flatirons Crossing Mall in Broomfield. It was another great day of cross racing which drew huge crowds of racers ranging from first-timers wearing costumes to the nation's best. The venue was held close to the Mall on a 1.8 mile loop with some steep run-ups and tight turns. Huge crowds and a festive atmosphere prevailed.

We had a strong contingent of Green Mountain Sports racing team members out there mixing it up over the weekend including Blaine Haskell, Craig Hofer, Peter Lopez, Chris Phenicie, Mike Schaub, Pieter Schouten, Ed Tokarski and John Wahl.



Boulder CX #3:
The third race of the Boulder Cyclocross series was held on Sunday, October 24th, on the grounds of the Louisville Rec. Center. Weather conditions were cool and dry, which made for fast and dusty racing conditions. There were two long run-up sections and some steep and rutted descents, giving racers a total body work-out on each lap. GMS racing team finishers included Craig Hofer, John Wahl, Ed Tokarski and Peter Lopez.



Blue Sky Cup at Xilinx:
Saturday, October 23rd, was the date for the Blue Sky Velo Colorado Cup cyclocross race at the Xilinx campus in Longmont. The course was a bit shorter than the earlier Cyclocross race held there, but it was well received by the 465 racers out for the day's race. It was a fast, dry and flowing course, which had two steep hills per lap. Besides the high caliber cross racing, the day's festivities included a visit from the Niwot High School marching band, Belgian Waffles and a rock band jamming on the back side of the course. Here's a video of the Open Men's race which also shows some of the other activities of the day:



Green Mountain Sports racing team member finishes included Craig Hofer in 4th in the 45+ race, Chris Phenicie in 10th in Open, Peter Lopez and Blaine Haskell in 22nd and 36th respectively in the 35+ race, and John Wahl in 32nd in the 45+ race.


Aspen Lodge CX:
On Saturday October 17th, the ACA Colorado Cup cyclocross series visited Estes Park for the inaugural running of the Aspen Lodge cross race at the Aspen Lodge Resort and Conference Center. It was a very technical 1.3 mile long course with numerous off camber turns and bumpy surfaces. Racing at an altitude of 9,000 feet also added to the day's challenge. Craig Hofer led the GMS racing team with a hard fought 2nd place finish in the 45+ race.




Chris Phenicie battled it out with the top cross racers in the region to finish 12th in the Open race.



Other team finishes were Peter Lopez in 34th, Blaine Haskell in 35th and Mike Schaub in 37th.



Cross at the River:
The "Cross at the River" CX race took place on that special date, 10/10/10. The race promoters were offering special $10 primes for the 10th place finishers in the various races, as a special way to commemorate the day. They were also offering a unique cyclocross course that closely followed the Arkansas River, down in Buena Vista.

Green Mountain Sports racing team cross racers Craig Hofer, Peter Lopez, Chris Phenicie, Mike Schaub and Ed Tokarski reported back that the course was super fast in spots, the wind was super tough and the racing was great. Team highlights included a 3rd place finish by Craig in the 45+ race and a 6th place finish by Chris in the Open race.




Frisco Cross:
The Cyclocross circuit traveled to the high country during the first weekend of October for the 4th annual "Frisco Cross." Races were held on both Saturday and Sunday in Frisco, Colorado. The two different courses were both tough, with extended portions traveling over wood chips, numerous off-camber turns and the high elevation location of about 8,600 feet.

We had a great showing of racers out at Frisco over the weekend, ready for some Summit County cyclocross.
Racing in the Open category was Chris Phenicie:



While three GMS racing team members mixed it up in the "35+" race; Blaine Haskell, Peter Lopez and Ed Tokarski:



Racing in the 35+/Cat. 4 field was Dan Maduff:



While Tim Miller did the Cat. 4 race:



And, Racing in "45+" were Craig Hofer, Mike Schaub and Pieter Schouten:


Special congratulations go out to top ten finishers Chris Phenicie (7th) and Tim Miller (8th).