Cyclo-X Refrigerated

Race report and photos by Shawn Lortie

(Nov. 13^th, 2011) Broomfield Co.-Brutal winds on the Front Range continued to blow on Sunday as hundreds of racers turned out to try new venue at Sienna Lake. The course was designed by Mountain Bike Hall of Famer Pete Webber and included lots of grass, some interesting technical sections such as a couple trips in and out of a drainage ditch, and plenty of twisty turny stuff to keep everyone on their game.

The venue at Sienna Park is a great new location that sits next to a scenic lake with huge views of the Flatirons and the Indian Peaks behind. With plenty of space to work with, and lots of undulating grass terrain, Webber was able to design a course that everybody seemed to enjoy.  “The course was fantastic,” said Team Super Awesome’s Sonya Looney, “There were some great technical sections and a really tough run up.”

From the start, the course dove onto the grass for a couple of banked turns, then onto a service road that quickly took riders down a short, steep, off-camber drop into a ditch. After a short steep up out of the ditch, riders were soon deposited at the bottom of a run up with a barrier. The second half of the course was mostly grass, with a couple of tight turns and a few really fun fast s-turns.  After one more trip into the ditch and some more grass riding, it was through the start/finish for another lap.

In the Women’s Open race, Margell Abel (Tough Girl) took the hole shot, with Karen Hogan (Justins), Kristal Boni (Rapid Racing), and Looney following close behind. Abel led through the first lap, but eventually Hogan would take control and put the pressure on at the front. With Looney out of the lead pack due to an early mishap, and Kat Johnson (The Service Course) running to the pits for a bike, the lead group was quickly down to Hogan, Abel and Boni. “I had a strong start and found myself comfortable in the lead group,” said Looney, “suddenly I was on the ground coming through a corner. By the time I got back on my bike, the lead group was gone and the chase group had passed.”

Eventually Hogan and Boni were able to put a small gap on Abell and the two battled until the end, with both ladies taking turns at the front.  In the end, Boni was able to power away from Hogan with under a half lap to go, taking the win by a mere three seconds, with Abell coming in close behind.

In the Men’s Open race, a group of four, including Pete Webber and Brandon Dwight (Boulder Cycle Sport), Spencer Powlison (Plains to Peaks Racing), and Tim Allen (Feedback Sports), had escaped the pack within a couple of laps. Michael Robson (Moots) dangled half a minute behind.  The battle at the front stayed tight, but eventually Dwight and Powlison got away.  Asked about dealing with to BCS riders at the front, Powlison had this to say, “There weren't a whole lot of team tactics going on, although once Brandon and I got the gap, I made sure to put in a few really hard pulls at the front to make sure Webber wouldn't come back.” Dwight and Powlison stayed together until the last lap when Dwight put down a blistering effort and took the win by eleven seconds. Behind Powlison in second, Webber took the sprint with Allen for the third spot on the podium. 

For full results, see ACA Results