Colin Cares and Pua Mata Fire-Off Victories at the Firecracker 50

By Eddie Clark  

(July 4, 2011) BRECKENRIDGE, Colo.—Despite a lingering snowpack at the higher elevations, Maverick Sports Promotions delivered another excellent fifty mile mountain bike race for the eleventh running of the Firecracker 50.  In actuality, this year’s course included some minor changes that pushed the lap distance out to 27 miles.  At the end of the day, some of the Firecracker 50 veterans noticed the extra 4 miles, and everyone was surprised with the section up Little French where a swath was cut through an existing snow bank. 

Besides a few wet drainage crossings, the course was in great shape and mostly free of mud.  The pleasant weather and sunshine were also a real bonus for racers, fans and race personnel.

Starting at 9:30am, the pro class racers kicked off the Breckenridge 4^th of July parade with a neutral stroll down Main St as vacationers and locals lined the city street and cheered them on.  Once out of town, the long climb up Boreas Pass Rd sorted out the pecking order, and racers quickly muddied their bikes in the mountains above Breckenridge.

Peter Stetina (Tokyo Joes), who finished in 22^nd on GC at the Giro D’Italia this year, put everyone on notice with his aggressive climbing that saw him build a small lead over the chase group containing Colin Cares (Kenda/Felt), Jay Henry (Tokyo Joes), Brian Smith (Alpine Orthopaedics) and Kelly Magelky (Honey Stinger/Trek) at the second aid station.  Unfortunately a flat set Stetina back, and he eventually withdrew which left the door open for Magelky and Cares to battle it out on the last lap. 

With the experience of having won the Firecracker 50 before, Henry rode his pace and slowly started reeling the duo in.  Henry’s effort was enough to catch and pass a fading Magelky for second place, but was just short of catching Cares who claimed his first victory at the Firecracker 50.

Henry noted, “The course changes were minor, but did break up the climbs a little bit so you couldn’t just put it in a gear and motor which made it a little tougher”.

Magelky agreed, “No matter how much you’ve ridden here, it’s always hard.  When you finish your first lap, you just can’t imagine having to go do another lap.”

Even though the race served as part of the USA Cycling Pro Ultra Endurance Tour, it lacked the prestige of being the Marathon National Championship, which the smaller Pro Women’s field may have been attributable to.  Regardless it was a full blown race with some top caliber athletes including none other than Pua Mata (Team Sho-Air), Jennifer Smith (Alpine Orthopaedics), Kelly Boniface (Moots), Jen Gersbach (Honey Stinger/Trek) and Amy Dombroski (Crank Brothers) whom all finished in that respective order except Dombroski who withdrew after the first lap.

“This is number 5 or 6 for me trying to win here, so it’s really nice to actually win it”, said a very happy Pua Mata.  Fresh off an 8^th place at the Marathon World’s, Pua seems to be gaining steam in her preparation for her upcoming first time race in the Leadville 100.

Full Firecracker 50 results are here.

More photos here.