Back in the Saddle 2021 Colorado High School Cycling League Returns to Racing

Individual Time Trial - Crystal and Yampa Region Race #1 Report

The Colorado League teams were thrilled to get back in the saddle as in-person racing returned this fall. Individual Time Trails occurred on August 28th and 29th at two separate venues. The Crystal (South) region started its season with 348 competitors at the Colorado Mountain College Leadville campus. During the same weekend, the Yampa (North) teams raced at the Frisco Adventure Park, where 372 riders enjoyed new trails that were part of the 2021 racecourse.

Due to growth, the North and South Conferences divided into four regions. The South Conference is comprised of the Crystal and Piedra regions and the North Conference includes the Platte and Yampa regions. The 2020 season of "Singletrack Solidarity" engaged riders and teams in a series of local challenges and contests rather than races due to COVID.

League Executive Director Kate Rau said, “I’m thankful to each and every individual who supported the kids, the League, and our communities through the absence of racing last year due to the pandemic. The time trial format allows everyone to restart incrementally before return to full-scale racing. Witnessing the smiles, accomplishments, and camaraderie is truly uplifting.”

To effectively place riders in their 2021 racing categories, every rider raced a 2-lap Individual Time Trial (ITT) regardless of grade in school or previous competition class. Riders went off the start line in groups of 4 at 1-minute intervals. Subsequent races will return to the cross-country mass start by category.

The time trial format kept things calm. Compared to a traditional mass start format, numerous observers and the race crew, in particular, commented on the manageable size of the field and spectators. Mark Nesline, Eagle Valley coach and race crew member, noted, “usually new families are overwhelmed but not this time.”

2021 Race Season Format Details

Cate Logan a Junior from Golden raced strong, played in the Yeti Skills Zone, and led a warm-up with Sophomore and Freshman teammates giving them tips. She commented on what it felt like to be back in the saddle racing.

"Seeing all of my teammates who finished after me, and being greeted by those who finished before is the best part of the day. I was so tired I could barely walk, but that was OK as the adrenaline made me forget long enough to cheer everyone else on. The best part is that the only reaction you get from other people is congratulations. This positivity helps everything come into context: The most important thing in our world is the people around us, and the true friendship that comes from suffering together. Working hard to better yourself truly takes determination and perseverance, and mountain biking is a sport that builds and rewards these qualities."

Having been with the League for 4 years, Your Front Range Toyota Stores commented “we are a proud sponsor of the Colorado League for many reasons including the visible development of great lifelong habits in kids.” Another key sponsor, Western Colorado University stated, “Western Colorado University loves supporting the League especially coming from a place like Gunnison where mountain biking is so important.”

Julie Frater, Woodland Park coach and parent, noted that everyone was so excited to get to race again or for the first time. Several of the girls across teams are riding buddies and had a blast supporting one another in Leadville, "This is what the League represents."

Acts like those of Lakewood’s Marita Muller characterize the League's focus on inclusivity and fun over fierce competition. Upon finishing, Muller asked the announcer to “play upbeat music for the last finisher on the course who’s coming in soon.” Muller did not even know the other rider from another team.

Crystal Team Results

In the Division 1 team competition Colorado Rocky Mountain School took the gold. Cheyenne Mountain earned 436 more points than Glenwood Springs for 2nd and 3rd. There was a mere 256 point spread between Evergreen and Conifer.

First place in the Division 2 teams was Discovery Canyon. Only 36 points separated Air Academy and Woodland Park.

The Aspen/Basalt Composite crew rode to the top in the Division 3 team category. Leadville eeked by Crested Butte by a scant 5 points for 2nd and 3rd.

Crystal Individual Results

Glenwood Springs Sophomore Chloe Lutgring clocked the fastest female lap time for the weekend in Leadville with a 32:39. This effort earned her a Varsity Leader jersey. Emma Borchers, Aspen/Basalt Composite earned the silver with Ella Vaillancourt, Manitou Springs only 36 seconds behind for third.

Borchers' teammate Markus Dewire rode to first and his 27:26 lap time was the fastest of the males. Corbin Carpenter, Roaring Fork, and Discovery Canyon riders Ryan Rydland and Jeremy Cefus were separated by less than 2 seconds for 2nd through 4th for the Varsity boys.

Rose Horning, Leadville, rode strong on her home course to earn 1st in the JV girls category. Maia Cullwick, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, and Meagan Heath, Aspen/Basalt Composite rounded out the top three.

Several sophomore boys moved up to JV, based on their ITT results. Lance Lakoski, Crested Butte, Niko Leunig, Evergreen, and Crested Butte teammates Eli Nolan and Tiernan Pittz rode to 1st through 4th.

The top Sophomore boys were Samuel Friday, Roaring Fork, Camden Heffernan, Cheyenne Mountain, and Jaxon Bakker, Thunder Ridge. The fastest Sophomore girls were Danica Wehr, Conifer, Raegan Agrimson, Air Academy, and Samantha Meskin, Glenwood Springs.

Avery Harris from the new Air Academy team won the Freshman girls category. Ella Bullock, Leadville, and Nian Villafranco, Colorado Rocky Mountain School earned silver and bronze. Finn Veit from Crested Butte took the win for the Freshman boys with a 59:53. Dante Humphrey, Glenwood Springs, and Oliver Rutberg, Cheyenne Mountain had only 14 seconds between 2nd and 3rd place.

The weekend spirit contest was wild rockin' socks. In the Crystal region, the festive sock sombreros from the new teams, Discovery Canyon and Lewis-Palmer, formerly Highlander Composite were the winners. The Lakewood team rode away with the best socks for the Yampa region.

The Yeti Skills zone was back in action. Riders navigated the skills course with speed and precision. These were the most adept for the weekend.

Crystal:
Barrett Poupore - Leadville

Yampa:
Mackenzie Pardoe - Boulder
Hayden Weber - Golden

We encourage more females to test their skills at Race #2.

Yampa Team Results

Boulder High topped the Division 1 team points. Golden was 339 points back in second with 12 girls and 3 boys contributing to the team points. Hometown Summit Tigers rallied to third.

The female riders for VSSA brought them home a gold in the Division 2 team category. Eagle Valley placed second and Greem Mountain was third.

Nederland earned the gold for the Division 3 team category. Wheat Ridge and Estes Park took home a silver and a bronze.

Yampa Individual Results

Boulder High Legacy senior rider Chloe Fraser won the day being the only girl to complete the two-lap course in under an hour with a time of 58:10. Her time would have put her in 26th place among all the boys and 15th in the field of 24 Varsity boys. Fraser was followed by VSSA's Emma Barsness and Eagle Valley’s Zosia Skiba in second and third respectively in the Varsity girls.

With a grin that never leaves her face as long as she’s around bikes, Fraser said “thanks to the League for restarting racing and the course update here at Frisco is great.”

Local Summit rider Lasse Konecny held off Boulder Johnny Stanzione with a 50:09. Stanzione's positive sporting behavior was recognized by spectators on course as he politely asked to pass and encouraged others. Adam Mote, Golden slipped past Magnus White, Boulder Sophomore for third.

The Sophomore category is always quite fast. For the boys, Boulder teammates Eli DeBoom and Jude Schafer rode to first and third. Silver Creek rider Kyan Reuter was second.

Evalynn Skiba, Eagle Valley rode a solid 1:11:25 for the win in Sophomore girls. Adia Annibella, Golden and Auni Young, Green Mountain were 2nd and 3rd place in a field of 22.

The Freshman girls podium included Maggie Reid, Golden, Merrick Neerhof, Summit, and Anna Munro, Boulder. The top Freshman boys after a few riders upgraded to JV were Thayer Ask, Boulder, Garrett Beshore, Silver Creek, and Benjamin Becker, Boulder.

Despite the League’s focus on fun and inclusivity, several high school competitors rise to the top. Coaches and teams build skills, highlight the adventure, and foster finding joy in every ride. Let’s celebrate the USA Mountain Bike World Championships team made up of 12 Colorado League alumni who were competing the same weekend.

The Platte and Piedra regions kicked off their season in Steamboat and Nathrop on September 11th and 12th. All racers will be sorted back into traditional mass start cross-country events to begin at the Haymaker in Eagle (Platte and Yampa) or the Snowmassive in Snowmass (Crystal and Piedra) on September 23rd and 24th. See here for more information on the 2021 season’s events.

The Colorado League is grateful to parents who fulfill the volunteer roles needed each race weekend. Thank you to everyone who pitches in to help!

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