Photos!!!
Eszter and I rode backwards on the course, from Bolam Pass to Salt Creek, and took some photos along the way. Some are going to Mountain Flyer, but here are some B-sides. If you can identify any of the riders I couldn't, please post up.
Jesse was so fast, we saw him but a lot sooner than we expected. Didn't get a photo.
Jerry Oliver in second.
Jefe right behind.
Matt Schiff, looking calm and confident. Not carrying a SPOT.
Neil Beltchenko from Crested Butte.
Paul Spencer heading down after Section Point.
Max Morris grunting it out.
They say half the battle is just getting to the start line. Max proved this, suffering broken/bruised ribs from a bikepath crash in Tucson, a broken derailleur on Engineer Mtn, a taco'd wheel from a collision on the Durango bikepath (!!!), and a big night out on the town. His pre-CTR adventures have the makings of a very good short story.
It's high flower season in the high country.
Race organizer Stefan Griebel with his awesome climbing helmet. So far so good with him on his (pre-race) injured achilles.
AK/Iditarod superhero Pete Basigner.
Author of a very sweet CO MTB guidebook, Dan Hickstein, stoked from the Blackhawk DH.
Unknown rider, dropping down Blackhawk.
Mammatus clouds looking slightly ominous, but the pass was clear of rain and thunder all afternoon.
Heading down through the flowers, unknown rider.
?
? #2
Triple Crown rider Eric Foster, confidently walking over the pass.
Unknown but highly stoked racer. ?#3
?#4
Velorution Cycles (start line this year) owner Joey Ernst, feeling the high altitude buzz. He lives here but was knocked out by the amazing view waiting for him at the top.
Joey making the first switchback look easy.
Danny Powers in front.
Todd Johnson and...
Pete Schuster, I believe.
Those two, heading down.
Tree that was hit by lightning
that day by the storm parked on Indian Ridge. Another big hunk of the tree was blown 30 feet away, towards the trail.
And finally, Dax Massey carrying some kind of baguette or other large bread product on outside of his pack.
