TMBRA Fall Series, Rock Springs, Texas

written by: Sean Sindt

Texas mountain bike racers were back in action last weekend with the first round of the fall racing series. In order to avoid dangerously high temperatures in the summer, mountain bike racing in Texas is broken into two separate seasons, Spring and Fall. This weekend's race at Rock Springs represents the first race of the fall season.

Rock Springs, Texas, hosted the Camp Eagle Classic with a very difficult and demanding course. The Camp Eagle race course has a lot of rough, rocky sections and a lot of elevation change. This race was sure to test the riders and determine what kind of shape everyone was in after enduring the hot Texas summer.

In the men’s Cat 1/Pro race 14 racers lined up to take on the challenge. Off the start, Tristan Uhl (San Jose Hotel) took up the lead with a furious pace on the first climb. Because of the fast early pace, the pack separated quickly. In the lead was Uhl, matched only by Scott Henry (Trek/VW). Forming a three rider group behind them was Matthew Davis (Mad Duck), Sean Sindt (Bicycle Sport Shop), and Rick Wetherald (Solar Eclipse). At the midway point of the race, Henry and Davis had fallen off the pace while Wetherald bridged up to the leaders and took control. Over the second half of the race, Weatherald built his lead up to two and a half minutes over Uhl and Sindt, trailing in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Wetherald won easily, with Uhl about two minutes back, and Sindt two and a half minutes behind the leader. Wetherald is new to the TMBRA series, having just moved to Austin, TX a few months ago from Durango, CO.

“I felt bad off the start and thought the pace was too fast at first,” said Wetherald. “I waited until the pace settled in and then made my move to the front. Once I got there I felt good and I was riding smooth. I’m happy to win my first race in the TMBRA series.”

The next round of the fall racing series sends riders to Huntsville, Texas on the weekend of September 20-21st.

The women’s Cat 1 race saw the usual scenario play out. Christina Smith (Lonestarworks/Austin Bikes) won the race easily, covering the course a full 12 minutes faster than her closest competitor. Christina was recently crowned the spring 2008 TMBRA series champion and appears to be going for the fall series championship as well.

TMBRA #1
Camp Eagle Classic Results
Rock Springs, TX
8/31/08

Men’s Cat 1/Pro

1 Rick Wetherald (Solar Eclipse) 2:08:24
2 Tristan Uhl (Hotel San Jose) 2:10:06
3 Sean Sindt (Bicycle Sport Shop) 2:10:53
4 Nick Cirincione (NRC Pedalmasher) 2:12:34
5 Wallace Groda (Bike Barn) 2:14:44
6 Scott Henry (Trek/VW) 2:18:17
7 Craig Kunz (Bicycle Sport Shop) 2:18:35
8 Freddy Moore (NRC Pedalmasher) 2:21:18


Women’s Cat 1/Pro

1 Christina Smith (Lonestarworks) 1:46:38
2 Sara Krause (Trek/VW) 1:58:18
3 Melanie Etherton 2:00:45