Photo Credit: Eszter Horanyi

By Eszter Horanyi

On a race weekend that overlapped with 24-Hours of Moab and the opening of Wolf Creek Ski Resort, many collegiate riders were faced with hard decisions. With the lack of a downhill at the collegiate race hosted by Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, many gravity riders chose to take a pass on the weekend. Those in attendance were treated to a fast and flat short track, a world-class dual slalom and a technical cross country that challenged the skills of all levels of riders.

Showing up in force again was the CU women’s endurance team, fielding Katie Sodergren, Claire Bensard, and a newly upgraded Ashlee Wilson. They were paired up against the ever-strong Fort Lewis women’s team consisting of Lauren Catlin, Sarah Sturm, and Anne Cheeney. With team wins in the conference and at National Championships often resting on the performance of the women, all eyes have been watching the Women’s A races intently all season.

In the ST on Saturday morning, Catlin of FLC put on an impressive display of power by riding away from the rest of the field from the start on the relatively flat course. Sodergren and Jill Behlen of Wyoming chased with Sodergren crossing the line in second. Bensard (CU) finished just behind Sturm (FLC) in 5th and 4th, respectivey.

In the XC the following day, tables were turned for the top two women. Catlin and Sodergren stayed glued on each other’s wheel for 3 of the 4 laps and spectators began to expect a sprint finish. Finally, on the final lap, Sodergren was able to open up a small gap and grow it by riding some of the rock features that most of the other women were forced to dismount for. Sturm finished ahead of Bensard in 3rd and 4th.

By Eszter Horanyi

Photo Credit: Eszter Horanyi

With the collegiate mountain bike season reaching the halfway point, teams vying for a shot at the national title are starting to pull out their fire power. Members of the CU Cycling team descended on Hartman Rocks in Gunnison this weekend for the Conference Championships and showed that while Fort Lewis College may exceed them in numbers this year, the team is not lacking talent or motivation.

Always consistent and fast, the women’s endurance team once again proved that they were a force to be reckoned with. In the short and fast short track, Deidre York, known as one of the best XC descenders, put her skills to use on the bermed descent down Collar Bone Alley, visibly riding the trail faster than any of the other women in the race. Katie Sodergren put in a valiant effort to chase her teammate, closing the gap between the two on the climb each lap but was unable to shut it down by the last lap. Abby MicKey and Claire Bensard finished 4th and 5th. The men also packed a 1-2 punch with Sam Morrison getting the best of teammate Kevin Kane.

Morrison was back at it on Sunday in the XC, out sprinting Gunnison native Dylan Stucki from Fort Lewis College. Brad Berger, newly upgraded from racing his single speed in the B’s and on a geared bike for the first time in a while put in a strong ride to finish 5th. Sodergren and York led the charge for the women again finishing 2nd and 3rd capping off a weekend of impressive rides from the team.

Photo Credit USA Cycling (I think)

Local cyclist, Peter Webber, was recently inducted into the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame. Read on the Daily Camera more about Peter Webber and why he got into the hall.

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"IMBA has sold nearly 30,000 copies of the two books in 60 countries worldwide. They have been adopted as official policy by many land managers, cited in scientific literature, reproduced in myriad websites and manuals, and served as the core curriculum for thousands of trail building classes. It's hard to find a trail boss or public land official who doesn't have these books on their shelf."
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"I think a lot of people don't realize how much volunteer work he's done over the years and continues to do to this day, whether it's for Boulder Mountainbike Alliance, or the racing community, or for Valmont Bike Park, he just gives, gives and gives."

Read the rest at Daily Camera