Steamboat Springs CX Rolls in the 2010 Season

Race Report by Shawn Lortie

Steamboat Springs, Colo-The 2010 Cross season has finally arrived with the first race put on by the good folks at Steamboat Velo. With the race venue being quite a trip from the Front Range, the racer numbers were not huge, but this didn’t keep those who did race from giving it everything they had on a killer course. 

As Michael Robson, winner of the 35+ Open Class said, “It’s a total Euro-Style course.  You can really flow through lots of the corners.” Indeed there were plenty of corners to flow through as the course folded back on itself numerous times, sent racers up a short and steep run up, across a tough section of off camber descending, and up and over a good sized hump that had many riders jumping for joy. The backside of the course was a climb up a paved road that eventually dove back into the dirt with a short, super steep climb to really put the hurt on. 

In the SM Pro 1,2 class, Jake Wells, John Cariveau, and Shawn Harshman battled hard for the first few laps.  Eventually, Wells (Hudz/Subaru) and Cariveau (Moots) were able to put some distance between themselves and Harshman (Konig Racing/Harshman Wealth). An epic battle ensued for most of the race as Wells and Cariveau traded time on the front. With a few laps to go, Wells was able to pull away and hold Cariveau off to take the win.

In the SW1,2,3 race, it was Kristal Boni (Blue Sky Velo) from the start. Boni rode a smooth race and took home her first win of the season.  No doubt there will be more to come.  Elizabeth Winfield (Unattached) took the second place spot and Laurel Rathbun (Holowesko-Felt-Garmin) took third for the day. 

With a great venue set at the base of the ski hill, and one of the better courses on the CX circuit, hopefully this race will grow in the future.  With experienced CX racers like Glen Light designing the course, LG back on the Mic, and the folks at Steamboat Velo putting the whole thing together, it’s a winning combination that should not be missed!

A 35+, 45+ Cat 4 racer hoofs it up the run up.	Racers negotiate the barriers at the bottom of the run up.	Elizabeth Winfield gets it done in the SW Pro 1,2 race.
Hammering out the flats on the way back to the finish line.	One of the Steamboat Velo crew towards the front of the pack in the SM Pro 1,2 race.	A tight 180 degree turn led into this off camber descent, another challenging section of this great course.
Getting down and dirty in the SM Pro 1,2 race.	Wells leads Cariveau down the off camber section.	Can you say "flow"?
Brett Billings grabs some air time in the SM Pro 1,2 race.	Cariveau, Harshman, and Wells battle it out.	The battle continues over the triple barrier.