MSC #2, Chalk Creek Stampede - XC Report

Triple Crown purse attracts bevy of top endurance pros.

Race report and images by Eddie Clark

(May 15 and 16, 2010) NATHROP, Colo.—Stop number two for the Mountain States Cup and Triple Crown All Mountain Series was a huge success at the Chalk Creek Stampede. In a return reminiscent of the 90’s NORBA hay-days, Colorado is regaining its prestige on the national mountain bike racing circuit, and the addition of the Triple Crown All Mountain Series to the Chalk Creek Stampede further re-enforced this prominence.

The Triple Crown All Mountain Series consists of 3 races that offer over $35,000 in cash payouts to the top 10 Pro Class racers with awards for each race and the overall series. Racers vie for the Triple Crown by combining their best two out of three results from the Super-D, Short Track, and Cross Country races. Accordingly, this would be the first year for Super-D racing at Chalk Creek.

Super-D racing is known for being downhill-light racing, and typically features a LeMans style start. However, it’s not a rule, and this Super-D race started with 30 second intervals between racers much like a time trial. With little vertical drop to work with, and a questionable uphill finish, it was also super light on the downhill aspect. However those with hardtails were content as noted Doug Hudson of Feedback Sports, “I was stoked to get 3rd place (in 30+ category) on my 20.5lb hardtail”.

After a short break following the Super-D race on Saturday morning, racers got back in the saddle to contest the short track race, which was basically the same double-track course that circled the venue as in previous years. However this year, the double jumps at the base of the mountain cross course were taken out.

The mornings Pro Super D winners Georgia Gould and Jermey Horgan-Kobelski re-affirmed their Triple Crown intentions with back to back victories in their short track races. Men’s racing proved to be a drag race, and most notably U23 National XC Champ, Colin Cares, was a big animator with a late race attack that almost stuck, but eventually left him in third place.

Women’s short track racing saw Georgia Gould set a fierce pace that blew the field apart early on. Katie Compton dropped powerful counter attacks, but Gould matched them and managed to shake Compton in the last couple laps for victory number two.

Also new this year was a bit of singletrack that eliminated the old hike-a-bike part of the cross country course. For newcomers to Chalk Creek, US National Cross Country Champions Heather Irmiger and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, it was a great race with World Cup level competition, which is good considering they depart for more World Cup racing in Europe this week.

“The cross country was by far my favorite event of the weekend - the climbs were short and the views of surrounding fourteeners were unbeatable”, said Irmiger.

About the cross country race: “It’s a race that I love to hate. It is hard. It requires a lot of power and strength of body but also a strong mental will to keep the pedals turning along the infamous "fence line", says Maverick Bikes racer Jen Gersbach. The “fence line” is a notorious section of of false flat across desolate open mountain prairie where gale force headwinds have been known to make grown men cry. Luckily for everyone, the winds were mild and the views were maybe a bit easier to enjoy.

What goes up must come down. Once racers reached the end of the fence line, they were treated to some warp speed singletrack. “The downhill singletrack coupled with a good tailwind was a really fun section pushing it at race pace. All in all, it was a good weekend for me”, said Horgan-Kobelski. Indeed it was considering Jeremy took the victory in all three events of the weekend’s endurance racing.

Georgia Gould also took her third endurance victory for the weekend in the Women’s race. Gould was followed by Compton, Emmett, and Irmiger to respectively round out second through fourth places in the Cross Country race.

For complete results, please visit Mountain States Cup

For additional photos, please visit Photo Cycle

Georgia Gould leads the pro women up the only resemblance of a climb in the short track race.	Cat 1 racers vie for first and second in short track race.	Devon Balet swaps his camera for a megaphone to cheer on the Cat 1 Women during their short track race.
Cat 2 Men's John Brickner has a string of chasers on his heels, on his way to second place.	The pro men at the front of this xc race are not racing for seond place.	Kelli Emmett strings out the pro women after the start of their xc race.
Heather Irmiger keeps it calm, smooth, and fast through the techy downhill section aboard her trusty 29'er.	Jay Henry leads Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Colin Cares across the baren fence line section during the first lap.	Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski hits mach speed across the slightly downhill singletrack leg which benefitted with a generous tailwind.
Whether it's for first or tenth place, it's still a race.	Katie Compton rides in no-man's-land along the dreaded fence line.	The upper downhill section of singletrack had a low hanging tree feature for tall riders to pay particular attention to.
Former National Mtn Bike Champion and current National Masters Cyclocross Champion, Peter Webber, has returned to mtn bike racing after an almost decade long break.	Bonus bike fashion: Matching blue gloves and frame are nice, but the finer touches are the hot pink lightning bolt socks and matching derailler housing AND hot pink brake hose. Custom!