Palmer Park Pro Cycling Classic

September 21st, 2012

Palmer Park Sand Creek Series Race

The next few weekends are busy with local mountain bike racing as we transition from summer into fall. This Sunday is the Pro Cycling Classic in Palmer Park. It was originally scheduled for July 1st but had to be rescheduled because of park closures due to the Waldo Canyon Fire. Pre-registration through Pre-Race.com ends tonight, September 21st. There is also race day registration for an extra fee.

Race distances will be typical cross-country lengths. If I’m reading the course map right, it uses a similar course to the 2 Sand Creek Series races this summer but in reverse. I really like riding and racing in Palmer Park there but think I’ll ride up the Pikes Peak Highway that day instead.

There will be a pizza lunch and the number of pizzas ordered will be based on the pre-registration numbers so Andy would like everyone to pre-register. Donations collected for the pizza lunch will go to Kids on Bikes so take some cash. There will be a kids fun race at 12:15 that is free.

Go to SandCreekSports.com for all the Pro Cycling Classic details.

Next weekend, September 29 & 30, is 24 Hour National Mountain Bike Championships also in Palmer Park. Registration for the 24 Hours of Colorado Springs ends this Sunday.

Then coming up on October 6th is the Ring the Peaks Race. This race is a tough 70ish mile ride around Pikes Peak on Ring the Peak Trail. There’s no entry fee and no support.

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Palmer Park 50 2011

October 7th, 2011

Palmer Park 50 2011

Photo courtesy of About the Shot

The Palmer Park 50 was nearly 3 weeks ago. I raced it as training for the Ring the Peak Race.

Heavy rains a few days before washed out some of the trails on the planned course so the course was shortened to 5 miles which meant 10 laps. The course had a nice mix of fast smooth sections and rocky technical sections. The advantage of doing short laps was being able to take better lines through corners and technical sections as the race went on. The downside of that many laps was by about lap 6 I was zoned out.

There was a decent turn out for a late season race. About half the racers where doing the 50 miler and half doing the 25 mile option. Russell Finsterwald won the 50 miler in 03:42:32 on his 20th birthday. Complete results are here.

I made a stupid mistake early on lap 2 on a smooth gravel section that sent me over the bars. Although I bloodied my knee, mildly bruised a couple ribs and had a couple painful fingers and shoulder, it didn’t affect my riding very much. A couple days later though, I was feeling it plenty.

By lap 9 I was getting some pretty bad cramps whenever I tried putting much power into the pedals. It wasn’t surprising since I hadn’t done any long rides after the Leadville 100.

Sand Creek Sports had moved the start back an hour but wasn’t able to change the cut-off time for starting the final lap. I missed the time to start my 10th lap. I should have been able to make it through another lap but with the way I felt on the 9th one I wasn’t terrible disappointed to not head out again.

Since I signed up for the Clydesdale class and no one else did, I won my category just by riding until I was told to stop.

Sand Creek Sports is planning on putting on the Palmer Park 50 again in 2012 on Sunday, September 16th and will again have a post race Pig Roast.

Below are some great shots of me from About the Shot. You can see the rest of their Palmer Park 50 photos here.

Palmer Park 50 Mile Mountain Bike Race

September 1st, 2011

Mountain Bike Racing in Palmer Park

Update 9/16/11: Didn’t sign up for the Palmer Park 50 by deadline but now want to do it? Email Andy Bohlmann (andy@sandcreeksports.com) TODAY and let him know your name, category, age, and the distance you would like to race – 25 or 50 miles. You won’t get the pig roast but can still race. Race course is likely to have some changes because of the rain the last couple days.

Update 9/7/11: A 25 mile option has been added for those that don’t want to race 50 miles or do it was a team.

Sand Creek Sports is putting on one more mountain bike race this year in Palmer Park. It will be 6 laps of an 8.9 mile course for a little over 50 miles. It will be great final preparation for 24 Hour Mountain Bike Nationals two weeks later on many of the same trails. For me it’ll serve as my final long training ride before the Ring the Peak 100(ish)k race.

Some riders didn’t want to race the complete 50 miles so two person teams have been added. One person to race at a time.

The racing starts at 8 AM and the $45 entry fee includes a pig roast post race. Additional meal tickets can be purchased for $13. Entry deadline is Wednesday September 14th since the pig(s) for the pig roast have to be shipped from Iowa. See the Sand Creek Sports site for entry details.

The course is in the same area as the May race. The course map is here. Below is a great video of the course although I believe there have been some minor changes to the course since the video was created.

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Sand Creek Series Palmer Park Race Photos

May 16th, 2011

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski Racing in Palmer Park

Here are some of my best photos from the Sand Creek Series mountain bike yesterday in Palmer Park. You can find my complete Sand Creek Series Palmer Park photo album here.

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Mountain Biking Position to Avoid

May 15th, 2011

Endo in Palmer Park during Sand Creek Mountain Bike Race

Update: Sand Creek Series Palmer Park mountain bike race photos are now posted.

It can happen to the best mountain bikers but this is a mountain biking position to avoid.

It was a good day of mountain bike racing out at Palmer Park today for the first race in the 2011 Sand Creek Series even though the day started out wet and stayed cloudy and cool all day.

I’m still going through the photos that I took but the one above is definitely the photo of the day. The photo below is the shot just before he crashed. The racer did ride on after a couple minutes but I think he and his bike were a bit beat up.

Palmer Park Sand Creek Mountain Bike Race

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Sand Creek Mountain Bike Series Kicks-off this Weekend

May 11th, 2011

Hell on a Hillside Mountain Bike Race - Sand Creek Series

Photo Courtesy of Sand Creek Sports

The Sand Creek Series of mountain bike races kicks off this Sunday at Palmer Park. It will be a 4 race series this year. Although it was cool seeing the bears last year at Palmer Park, I’m sure the racers would rather not have them on the course.

For the first time, the Sand Creek Series races won’t be sanctioned by NORBA/USA Cycling. This means that no race license is needed. Race insurance is through the same company that the ACA uses. Very few races in Colorado are sanctioned any more so the change isn’t surprising.

Series Schedule

  • Sunday May 15 – Palmer Park
  • Wednesday June 1 – Bear Creek Terrace
  • Wednesday June 8 – Bear Creek Terrace
  • Sunday June 19 – Cheyenne Mountain State Park

See the Sand Creek Sports site for all the details.

Andy had said earlier this year that it was possible that there would also be a race on the ’90s course in Manitou Springs called Hell on a Hillside. The Hell on a Hillside was by far my least favorite Sand Creek Series course. The photo above is me leading out the start on that course in 1996. Andy has decided against putting that race on.

The Pro XCT race that Sand Creek Sports has put on the last couple years has been canceled for this year. It was partly canceled because of budget issues and partly because of a disagreement with USA Cycling.

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Pro XCT CTS International Classic Circuit

July 11th, 2010

Heather Irmiger

Another great day of mountain bike racing at Cheyenne Mountain State Park for the Pro XCT finals. Originally they were calling today’s race for the Pros and short track but changed to calling it a circuit race because the course was too long to be a true short track.

In the Pro women’s race, Georgia Gould, Katie Compton and Willow Koerber opened an early lead. Gould ended up winning and sweeping the 3 days. Compton came in 2nd followed by Willow Koerber. They were also the top 3 in that order for the CTS International Classic overall.

In the Pro men’s race, a group formed with Todd Wells, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Geoff Kabush and Ryan Trebon. Trebon kept trying to open a gap but couldn’t and fell back. Wells took the win followed by Horgan-Kobelski and Kabush. Overall for the CTS International Classic it was 1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, 2. Geoff Kabush and 3. Todd Wells.

Scroll past the results if you’re looking for photos.

Pro Women CTS International Classic Circuit Top 10

1. Georgia Gould
2. Katie Compton
3. Willow Koerber
4. Pua Sawicki
5. Chloe Forsman
6. Mary McConneloug
7. Heather Irmiger
8. Amy Dombroski
9. Allison Mann
10. Krista Park

Pro Men CTS International Classic Circuit Top 10

1. Todd Wells
2. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
3. Geoff Kabush
4. Ryan Trebon
5. Sam Schultz
6. Troy Wells
7. Russell Finsterwald
8. Michael Broderick
9. Brady Kappius
10. Kalan Beisel

Pro Women CTS International Classic Overall Top 10

1. Georgia Gould
2. Katie Compton
3. Willow Koerber
4. Mary McConneloug
5. Heather Irmiger
6. Pua Sawicki
7. Chloe Forsman
8. Amy Dombroski
9. Krista Park
10. Jennifer Smith

Pro Men CTS International Classic Overall Top 10

1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
2. Geoff Kabush
3. Todd Wells
4. Sam Schultz
5. Ryan Trebon
6. Troy Wells
7. Russel Finsterwald
8. Michael Broderick
9. Spencer Paxson
10. Bryan Alders

Pro Women Pro XCT Series Top 3

1. Georgia Gould
2. Willow Koerber
3. Heather Irmiger

Pro Men Pro XCT Series Top 3

1. Todd Wells
2. Geoff Kabush
3. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski

UltraRob

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CTS International Classic Cross Country

July 11th, 2010

Todd Wells and Geoff Kabush

Yesterday was the cross country race of the CTS International Classic. I missed the amateurs and Pro women because I was off doing my own 5.5 hour mountain bike ride. I did go watch the Pro Men race although I didn’t have the energy to go out much on the course like I normally do.

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski took the lead on the first lap although he said he took it a bit cautious on the descent because he hadn’t pre-ridden the course. At the end of the lap 1 descent Geoff Kabush was just behind him with Todd Wells about 18 seconds back.

Horgan-Kobelski was able to open a slightly bigger gap over the next few laps but then Kabush and Wells were able to catch him at the start of the fifth and final lap. On the climb he was able to get a gap on Wells but Kabush hung on his wheel. Kabush took a corner a little too tight and ended up smacking his head on a tree. He was dazed for a bit and let a gap open up.

At the line it was Horgan-Kobelski followed about 20 seconds later by Kabush. Wells was only a couple more seconds back. Sam Schultz came in over 5 minutes later for 4th. The top 3 on GC are Horgan-Kobelski, Kabush and Wells.

Max Plaxton, Friday’s time trial winner, took a header on I believe the 3rd lap. When he got down to the start/finish area he was incoherent. He was pulled from the race and given a time in last place. Since they gave him a time he can still race today if the medics clear him.

In the women’s race, Georgia Gould had another dominant win. She also leads the GC after also winning the time trial Friday night.

Today the racing continues with the amateurs racing another cross country course and the Pros racing a short track. Pro women start at 3 PM and Pro men start at 4 PM.

Pro Men Cross Country Top 10

1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
2. Geoff Kabush
3. Todd Wells
4. Sam Schultz
5. Ryan Trebon
6. Troy Wells
7. Russell Finsterwald
8. Michael Broderick
9. Ben Sonntag
10. Spencer Paxson

Pro Women Cross Country Top 10

1. Georgia Gould
2. Willow Koerber
3. Katie Compton
4. Mary McConneloug
5. Heather Irmiger
6. Pua Sawicki
7. Chloe Forsman
8. Krista Park
9. Amy Dombroski
10 Jennifer Smith

Complete Pro cross country results are here and amateur results are here.

Below are photos from the racing. Thanks to AboutTheShot for some of them. I always have some more CTS International Classic cross country photos and in higher resolution.

UltraRob

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CTS International Classic Time Trial

July 9th, 2010

Kyle Ashton Crashes

Tonight a 4.4 mile time trial kicked off the 3 day CTS International Classic at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. It’s the Pro XTC Series final and the series winner will earn a spot at World Championships. It also has nearly half the UCI ranking points that will help determine the Olympic team in 2012.

Although a little rain fell as women were starting, it didn’t last long and the course didn’t get too wet. Part of the course used the technical Medicine Wheel trail so racers had plenty of challenge without rain.

Max Plaxton won the men’s race. Series leader Todd Wells had bad luck and flatted and couldn’t get his tire to seal. He finished 39th and lost just over 3 minutes to Plaxton. Fortunately for him there are 2 long days of racing left and he only needs to finish 8th overall to win the series.

Georgia Gould won the women’s race. She has a large lead in the series and looks like she’s on form. Of course some bad luck can quickly change things.

Top Pro Men Results

1. Max Plaxton, 17:11
2. Geoff Kabush, 17:20
3. J. Horgan-Kobelski, 17:21
4. Sam Schultz 17:40
5. Russell Finsterwald, 18:04
6. Benjamin Sonntag, 18:08
7. Ryan Trebon, 18:19
8. Brady Kappius, 18:20
9. Troy Wells, 18:26
10. Colin Cares, 18:29

Top Pro Women Results

1. Georgia Gould, 19:14
2. Katie Compton, 19:59
3. Heather Irmiger, 20:19
4. Chloe Forsman, 20:21
5. Mary McConnelough, 20:23
6. Krista Park, 20:31
7. Allison Mann, 20:53
8. Amy Dombroski, 20:54
9. Pua Sawicki, 20:55
10. Amanda Carey, 21:00

Complete Pro Men and Women results are on Pikes Peak Sports. They also have results for the Cat 1 amateur racers and Cat 2/3/Singlespeed.

Below are a few shots from the race. I also have more CTS International Classic Time Trial photos and in higher resolution.

UltraRob

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PRO XCT Mountain Bike Final This Weekend

July 8th, 2010

Adam Craig and Sam Schultz - PRO XCT Cheyenne Mountain State Park 2009

The USA Cycling PRO XCT series makes its final stop this weekend, July 9-11, in Colorado Springs at the Carmichael Training Systems International Classic presented by GT Bicycles. There will be 3 days of racing at Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

This year’s race is not only the PRO XCT final but it’s also part of the Alison Dunlap Junior MTB Series as well. Both Pros and Amateurs will race the 3 day stage race starting with a 4.4 mile time trial on Friday evening which includes the locally infamous Medicine Wheel trail which will certainly favor the most technically adept riders.

The racing continues on Saturday with the 4.9 mile short cross country course. It includes the challenging Cougars Shadow trail that surprised quite a few Pro riders last year with it’s twisting single track laced with boulders sometimes the size of small cars.

Finishing up on Sunday the Amateur riders will race the 8.5 mile long cross country course and the Pros finish on the 1.4 mile short track making for three exciting days of race action just minutes away from downtown Colorado Springs.

The Kids on Bikes kiddies race encompasses sections of the Pros short track course and should be a great time for the events youngest riders.

In the Pro men’s race, the top five riders currently leading the PRO XCT will be racing. At the end of the weekend the men’s series will most likely crown Todd Wells (Specialized) as long as he finishes better than eighth as his lead seems nearly insurmountable. Second through fifth is more complicated and should be great racing with Geoff Kabush (Maxxis/Rocky Mtn), Max Plaxton (Specialized/Sho-Air), Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Trek) and Sam Schultz (Subaru/Trek) all within striking distance of second place. This battle will definitely be the highlight of the PRO XCT finale.

On the Pro women’s side of things for the PRO XCT series it looks like Georgia Gould (LUNA Chix) and Willow Koerber (Subaru/Trek) have virtual locks on first and second place respectively as long as they can finish inside the top ten. Third place will most likely go to Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Trek) as Lene Byberg (Specialized) is racing in Europe and Kelli Emmett (Giant) will probably slip to fourth, as she isn’t competing due to sponsor commitments. Fifth place is where the action is for the women with Amy Dombroski (LUNA Chix) and Aleksandra Mooradian (K.Bedford/Verge/Spin) most likely battling for that spot as 12 points separate them. However, if Pau Sawicki (MATA) decides to make the trip to Colorado Springs then there could be a three-way battle for fifth place. Katie Compton (Planet Bike) with a great ride could rocket up the leaders board and possible contend for fifth place as well. It will be an exciting three days of racing.

Nearly half of the UCI points awarded in the US this year will be from these 3 days of racing. UCI points are used for qualifying for the Olympics. Also the Pro XCT series Men and Women winners get an automatic 2010 World Championship spot.

It’s not just for racers though. The start and finish for all races winds through the Bicycle Expo and Pro Team parking areas. It allows spectators to keep an eye on the exciting racing action while they’re checking out the latest bicycle equipment and Pro set ups. The racing will be fueled by a guaranteed $10,000 Pro cash prize purse. Anchoring the Expo are GT Bicycles, Kenda Tire and Specialized Bicycles and there will be on food concessions on site as well.

Schedule

  • July 8 Number pick up at Carmichael Training Systems Hwy
    24 & 21st St from 5-9 PM
  • July 9 Stage 1: Encantadas Time Trial using the very technical Medicine Wheel trail
  • July 10 Stage 2: Cross Country for everyone (same course as in 2009)
  • July 11 Stage 3: Amateur Cross Country (different course than July 10 but using the same S/F line). Pro Men and Pro WomenShort Track Cross Country per UCI MTB Criterium rules.

Race details are located here.

Volunteers Needed

The race could use more volunteers for course marshaling. Email Allen Beauchamp or call him at 719-351-3205 if you can help out on either of the 3 days.

Long time fast mountain bike racer, Jurgen Bergeron is in charge of directing traffic going in and out of the race area. Part of the road is used for the course so there’s only one lane for traffic. This would be a great volunteer position for people that like to talk to people coming and going. Give him a call at 321-8590 if you want to help with that.

UltraRob
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