Pikes Peak Supercross 2010

Race Report by Shawn Lortie

Colorado Springs, Colo.  –Another season of Front Range CX has begun, and the good people at Pikes Peak Velo welcomed racers with a few additions to last years course, and a bit of record heat to keep the racing hot. 

With the race venue returning to Bear Creek Park in Colorado Springs, many racers were familiar with the layout of the course, but the organizers threw in a few new twists to keep things exciting. The starting line at the bottom of a short road climb lead into the dirt, where riders negotiated a couple right hand turns, and then a rugged 180 degree left sweeper to the first barrier. Back down the hill on the pavement, back onto the dirt, and into a high-speed right-hander, the course then headed through a new, tight section of “S” turns that forced racers to scrub any speed they may have been carrying.

From there, a few more loose and rough turns took the course up a double barrier section and then out to the backside straightaway.  The left turn dropping down onto the creek path from the straight was fast and loose, taking down many a rider throughout the day.  A climb up from the creek eventually lead into a short sandy run up with a single barrier, and then back down onto the pavement to the starting line and another lap. 

In the Men’s Pro 1,2 race, it was Brady Kappius, Mitch Hoke, and Allen Krughoff separating themselves from the pack within the first lap. Krughoff (Boulder Cycle Sport) suffered a mechanical near the end of the first lap, letting Kappius (Clif Bar) and Hoke work at broadening the gap to the rest of the pack. As Krughoff began to work his way back towards the front, J.J. Clark (CM Cycling) and Joe Saperstein (Trek Bicycle Store) were pushing hard to bring back the leaders.

Lap by lap, Krughoff picked off riders and worked his way back into the third position, bringing Kappius and Hoke to within seconds. With two laps to go Kappius flatted, giving Krughoff a chance to slip by. “I flatted right at the pits,” said Kappius, “It couldn’t get any better than that, but that’s all it took.” Hoke was able to hold off Krughoff, while Kappius ended up in third for the day.

In the Women’s Pro 1,2 race, Kelli Emmett and Amy Dombrowski didn’t take long to get away from the rest of the ladies, and start working their way through the men’s 45+ field.  The two stayed close together for the first two laps. “Amy was really good through the barriers but I felt like I could get a gap on the corners,” said Emmett. “I attacked at a tricky corner, went as hard as I could for a few laps, and then settled into a steady pace.”

As the race wore on, Dombrowski seemed to be bringing Emmett back little by little, but time ran out and Emmett ended up taking the win. Jane Finsterwald (Colorado Bike Law) put in a good effort chasing the two leaders and dealing with a large pack of 45+ men, to finish a strong third for the day.

For full results go to:  ACA Cycling 

Dombrowski and Emmett come through barriers on the first lap.	Michelle Bliss looking very determined in the Women's Pro 1,2 race.	Kristal Boni finished up a strong 5th in the Women's Pro 1, 2 race.
Kelli Emmett working it through the loose left hand sweeper.	Another Blue Sky Velo lady flying through the fields.	Yannick Eckman on the front of a frothing pack of Pro Men.
Barriers, barriers and more barriers...	Doug Johnson takes an alternative approach to the barriers as Joe Sapperstein prefers the classic route.	Michael Schaub back on the bike as John Bliss remounts in the 45+ race.
Joe Sapperstein hammers through the woods along the creek path.	Braden Kappius and Mitch Hoke fly the bridge at the end of the creek path.	Mitch Hoke off the front of the Men's Pro 1,2 race.