Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling at Sol Vista Race #3

Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Takes Over Sol Vista Resort and Granby Ranch

By Eszter Horanyi

Known as one of the best collegiate races on the Rocky Mountain circuit, the Oredigger Classic hosted by the School of Mines did not disappoint in 2011.  Classic fall weather and changing leaves greeted races at Sol Vista Resort, host of the 2009 and 2010 Mountain Bike National Championships. 

Kicking off the weekend was the 5.2 mile XC on which the A Men completed 5 laps.  Howard Grotts of Ft. Lewis College quickly distanced himself from the rest of the field putting down a 25 minute first lap.  He continued to grow his lead and finished nearly 10 minutes ahead of his teammate, Rotem Ishay.  Joe Schneider of the School of Mines was the only rider able to break the FLC stronghold of the top of the standings, placing 5th.  In the Women's A race, Rebecca Gross of the University of Denver took control of the race early beating out Deidre York and Katie Sodergren, both of University of Colorado.  Missing out on collegiate racing as an undergraduate in Alabama, the Oredigger Classic was Gross’ first collegiate race as a graduate student.  Racing as a professional during the summer, Gross was impressed with the collegiate women’s field, stating that ‘there were more women here than I’ve seen racing all summer.’ 

In the afternoon, the gravity racers took to the hill for mountain cross.  After two rounds of racing, the Men’s A final, James Ontiveros of CU found himself outnumbered by three FLC racers.  Taking advantage of a fast start, he rode a clean race and beat the odds, crossing the line ahead of Phil Cowan, Lucas Lamaire, and Austin Chipman.  Coleen Pacurariu of the Air Force Academy took the win on the women's side after a fast start and being the only woman to cleanly jump the three doubles at the bottom of the course.  Brittany Claus of FLC took second and Deidre York of CU took third.

Racing continued on Sunday with short track in the morning.  A short lap consisting of steep switchbacks followed by a fast descent on a set of berm, the course rewarded both fitness and the ability to pilot a bike down a trail with man-made features.  On the women's side, Rebecca Gross again rode away from the field leaving CU and FLC to battle for the remaining places.  After riding comfortably in a group containing two riders from FLC and CU apiece, Katie Sodergren of CU countered a searing attack from Jill Behlens of Univeristy of Wyoming to distance herself from the rest of the field and finish second.  On the men's side, it was FLC domination again.  Howard Grotts and Rotem Ishay immediately broke away from the rest of the field leaving carnage in their wake.  Officials were forced to pull lapped riders with the short course and when the 20 minutes plus two laps were over, there were a mere three riders left on course.

The downhill was contested soon after the short track was completed, taking a winding and sandy course down the mountain.  Several riders described it as ‘riding in a sandbox.’  Full Results can be cound here: https://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?permit=2011-3171

Racing continues next week in Gunnison, CO, hosted by Western State College.