Riders Tackle 12,000 feet on Stage 2 of Haute Route Rockies
A bright sunrise greeted riders before the start of Mavic Haute Route Rockies Stage 2 in Boulder, Colorado.
Following a neutral rollout escorted by police, the peloton hit the first timed section just 5.7 miles (15.9km) into the day on the climb up Sugarloaf. After rolling through Nederland and skirting the town of Central City, riders dropped down a steep and fast descent on Central City Parkway before starting the long, gradual uphill to Empire. The final challenge of Stage 2 reached one of the highest points of the entire event, the 11,306-foot summit of Berthoud Pass. Colorado’s rapidly changing weather dealt most riders a stiff headwind on the way to Empire and then cut the day short for many as snow closed in on the summit. The front-runners had the opportunity to clock times for Berthoud Pass before the pass closed.
Canadian Olympian Lyne Bessette again topped the podium in the women’s field, and Ryan Petry held on to his overall lead in the men’s race by a scant 8 seconds over Russell Finsterwald.
Rider Reactions
Rebecca Gross & Amanda Knutson – Colorado
About Rebecca and Amanda: Rebecca is a former Masters Cyclocross National and World Champion and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Hailing from Golden, CO, she holds a Masters Degree in Sport and Performance Psychology. Amanda is an experienced event director, including Race Across America, the tour de Vineyards, and the inaugural Haute Route Rockies in 2017.
About the ride: “There are so many local Colorado women here and they are strong riders from all different backgrounds, whether it’s crit racing, mountain bike, cyclocross, and everything in between. It’s such a unique experience to get to ride with all of them together, and everyone has been super supportive.” – Amanda Knutson.
“Riding the Mavic Haute Route Rockies is really fun. Lots of girls we’ve known from racing are here and now we have the chance to get to know them even more. That’s really cool.” – Rebecca Gross.
Pav Bryan – Sacramento, CA
About Pav: This is Pav’s third Haute Route event, and his first 7-day experience. Pav is an accomplished cyclist and head coach at Direct Power Cycle Coaching. He is currently training to break the World Record for the fastest cycle of the iconic Route 66, 2500 miles in under 11 days. The ride, which takes place in September 2018, will raise funds and awareness for two mental illness charities, Mind (UK) and NAMI (US).
About the ride: “It’s definitely all about recovery, especially compared to the three-day Haute Route events where you can get away with going full gas on the climbs. This one is about at least making sure you get to Stage 5 or 6 feeling fairly good, ready for that penultimate stage.”
David Crowe – Athens, GA
About David: An attorney from Athens, Georgia, David is a former professional and Category 1 bicycle racer who won a gold medal in Havana, Cuba in 2004 in the Pan-Am Games in the Masters Road Race. David is riding the Mavic Haute Route Rockies to raise funds and awareness for the Team Type 1 Foundation, which was created to “instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes.”
About the ride: “I’m from Georgia, so riding in Colorado is different, with long, sustained climbs instead of short and punchy climbs. So it’s a completely different kind of riding, especially with the altitude. I’m a naturally aggressive person, but out here you’ll learn the hard way. It’s beautiful out here, just look at this landscape!”
