eventures

 

It did not take too long in either the of the Elite events at the 2007 MountaineerCross to figure out who was in control.  Both Amy Dombroski (Velo Bella – Kona) and Todd Wells (GT) to early commanding leads never to relinquish control at the front on the Western State College campus challenging course.  While Dombroski’s competition hit the ground on a few occasions, it was Wells himself going down keeping his competition in the hunt.

 

Elite Womens

 

Nicole Duke (Boulder Cycle-Sport) grabbed the hole-shot and led the early going of the Elite women’s event with Amy Dombroski and Melissa Thomas (Team Maxxis) in close pursuit.  Just a couple of laps in, Dombroski asserted herself off the front, steadily opening her lead lap after lap.  Thomas also reeled Duke in, and just after making the pass to take over second, Duke faltered and went down hard on the backside of the course.  Duke would never catch back up to Thomas who seemed content in second.  Meanwhile behind a hard charging fourth place rider Megan Monroe (BMC - Sports Garage) rolled her front tire off heading into the barriers, crashing hard on the last lap, Monroe would finish back in 10^th place. Dombroski cruised in for the win, with Thomas and Duke nearly a minute behind. Lauren Costantini (SyCip Racing) and Jennifer Smith (Trek VW) rounded out the top five.

 

Elite Mens

 

Danish National Champion Joachim Parbo took the holeshot in the men’s race, dragging former US National Champ, Todd Wells with him.  Wells sat in as Parbo splintered the field, on what the Dane called “His favorite course yet on US soil.” 

 

But a hand-full of laps in, Wells took over the lead, and snapped Parbo’s grip on his rear wheel.  Wells seemed to have everything in hand but after a bike exchange mid-race, he dumped it on one of the many sharp hairpins on the course.  This fall allowed Parbo to close back up to a few seconds, but never totally back into the race.  Just two laps later, Wells went down again on the same corner, but once again it did not cost him anything.  As Wells seemed to be taunting Parbo, an exciting race was unfolding behind the lead duo, between Danny Summerhill (ClifBar Devo Team), Brandon Dwight (Boulder Cycle Sport) and Joey Thompson (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Cycling).  The trio were locked in for a battle most of the race, keeping the leaders close, and the pace high.  With just a couple of laps to go, Summerhill went for a flyer on the start/ finish straight, with Dwight covering the move, and Thompson being put into difficulty.  Dwight would counter on the last lap, but Summerhill answered, beating Dwight to the line to take third, Thompson finished fifth.

 

“It was a good mix of technical corners and power sections,” claimed winner Todd Wells following his victory.  “The course had good flow and the dry grass made for some slippery sections out there.”

 

Most of the riders were make their way to Durango immediately following the race to take part in the next day’s UCI SqwakerCross on the Fort Lewis College campus.  In other race notes, Chad Cheeney benefited from the misfortunes of Kevin Mullervy (ClifBar Devo Team) when Mullervy had just attacked and dropped Cheeney on the last lap, and then Mullervy’s chain snapped.  Kevin’s brother Conor finished 2^nd and Robin Guillaume was 3^rd.  Karl Keister (Cody Racing) out foxed Gaige Sippy (Durango Wheel Club) on a last lap attack to take the Men’s 35+, as Russ Kappius took 3^rd battling mechanicals all race.  Brook Watts (Great Divide) won the SM 45, Megan Myrick (Squadra Velocita) won the SW 3, and Will Curry (CB Builders/ Brick Oven) won the SM4 race.

Big thank you goes out to all of the racers, volunteers, the Dave & Larry Show, Western State College, City of Gunnison, and Wells Fargo. Also to our local sponsors The Firebrand Deli, Mochas, Water Wheel Inn and Gunnison Inn. The Gunnison Parks Department, and City Maintenance, and UCI & ACA Officials. We could not have done this with out your help, THANK YOU!