Koppenberg Circuit
April 3rd, 2005

Plenty of sun and mild temperatures greeted the record number of racers that chose to do battle on the "other" Koppenberg climb this Sunday. While hundreds of rabid cycling fans lined the more notorious Koppenberg climb at this years Ronde Van Vlaanderen in Belgium, a slightly smaller but no less vocal crowd was on hand at Boulder's adopted Koppenberg to witness Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain) and Dirk Friel (Vitamin Cottage) take the wins in the elite women and men's races respectively.

The elite women, who completed 4 laps of the 5.5 mile course which took in 2.5 miles per lap of rutted and pothole strewn dirt road were put under pressure early by a lead group of four riders containing Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mt /Business Objects), Molly Hummel (Colorado Premier Training), Megan Monroe and Lisa Matlock (Tamarac). These four worked together until MTB Marathon National Champ. Gretchen Reeves, who is coming off a win in the marathon race at the first NORBA National, turned the screws on the final 20% grade climb of the Koppenberg and sprinted home for the win. Molly Hummel who raced in the Lookout Mountain Hillclimb collegiate race that same morning is seeing her form come around for the Collegiate National Championships in Kansas City in just over a month's time was able to hang on to second place. Monroe and Matlock rounded out the podium.

Unlike last year, the elite men's field stayed relatively intact for the first half of the eight lap race despite what eventual winner Friel would describe as "the worst road conditions this race has seen". Just like the women's race earlier in the day, a veteran mountain biker would create the final split when Jay Henry (Ford/Specialized) surged ahead on the rough run-in to the climb. Latching on over the top were 2002 Koppenberg winner Dirk Friel, Michael Carter (Denver Spoke) and the young Clayton Barrows (RMCEF), who also raced the morning collegiate race for the University of Wyoming. The 15 strong chase group stayed within site of these four for the remainder of the race but was unable to bring them back. The only split up front came when Carter dropped his chain with two to go and was forced to run the climb. The cagy veteran made a successful bridge to the leaders however, setting up a four man slugfest up the steep slopes of the Koppenburg into the finish. Barrows, who is fine tuning his form for the Collegiate Nationals as well, lead out the final 150-meter sprint but Friel edged past on his left to take the win by half a wheel. Carter claimed the final podium spot with Henry rolling in for a well deserved fourth place.

Friel, who seemed to be inspired by his team Vitamin Cottage's strong second place team standing at the Redlands Bicycle Classic taking place on this same weekend said "I didn't attack all day, it was just a matter of positioning going into the climb. I tried to stay in the top five going in and had no problem following all the moves". Friel's strong showing belies the fact that he had just returned from competing in the Iron Man South Africa two weeks ago where he posted a very respectable time of 10:45. "I really think the swimming is helping my riding. I haven't felt this good on the bike in a couple years".

Stay tuned for pictures...

Results

• Mens 1,2
• Mens 3
• Mens 4
• Mens 35+, Cat 4
• Mens 35+
• Mens 45+
• Mens 55+
• Womens 1,2
• Womens 3
• Womens 4
• Womens 35+
• Womens 45+
• Junior Men 17-18
• Junior Men 15-16
• Junior Men 13-14
• Junior Men 10-12
• Junior Women 17-18
• Junior Women 15-16
• Junior Women 13-14
• Junior Women 10-12