TMBRA Race #5:Reimers Ranch, Austin, TX

The singletrack stampede presented by Bicycle Sport Shop took place last weekend in Austin, Texas. 19 riders came out for the men’s Pro race on a beautiful Sunday morning with high winds. Other than the wind factor, there hadn’t been any significant rain the entire week so the course was in excellent racing condition. Before the pro men’s race started, in seemed everyone was thinking this was going to be a Scott Henry (Team Hammerhead) one-rider run away. Henry won stop #3 in Waco two weeks ago and nearly beat defending series champion Brian Fawley (Park Place Lexus) last week, coming up only one second short of the victory. Fawley was absent from this race due to a road race commitment, which meant that Henry was the clear favorite.

The start was on a fire road heading uphill about a quarter mile until it dumped into the singletrack. Scott didn’t get a great jump off the start line, but quickly made up the ground and passed everyone before the trails started. He entered first and didn’t look back.

Kevin Fish (Bicycle Sport Shop) was the only rider to give Scott a challenge on the first of 3, 10-mile laps. Fish, at the young age of 16, is not a rider who has been at the front of the Pro field too often, but he is fresh off a victory at last weekend's national at Fontana, winning the junior 15-18 category by over 2 minutes.

With the confidence he gained at that race he tried to jump off the start quickly and see if he could hang up front. It only lasted about the first half lap as Henry was too strong for him and the rest of the field. Henry rode solo the entire way and won easily in just under 2 hours 20 minutes. “I got to the singletrack first and I noticed that only Fish was close to me. I worked hard the first lap to separate myself and then rode by myself the rest of the way. Honestly, I was worried about getting a flat or some other mechanical. The course is rough. I’m glad everything was ok because I was feeling good today.” said Henry.

Fish rode by himself for 2 laps and then faded a little on the last lap, finishing 5th. He was passed by David Hanes (Ride Away Bicycles), Matthew Davis (Mad Duck), and Rick Wetherald (Solar Eclipse) claiming 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively. Hanes and Wetherald rode most of the race together until Hanes finished very strong, claiming his best result of the season. Davis was running 3rd most of the way until Hanes passed him near the finish. Despite Hanes passing him, this is also his best result of the season. Wetherald took 4th, but with another top 5 finish he still has the series lead.

With 5 races down and 3 to go, the overall is really shaping up. Wetherald and Hanes are leading the series because of their consistent top 5 finishes. Wetherald hasn’t been out of the top 5 at any races and Hanes has been in the top 5 at all but one race. Taking up 3rd overall is Henry. This is Henry’s second victory of the season and its getting to the point now that everyone is expecting him to take the overall by the end of the season. Sean Sindt (Bicycle Sport Shop) is sitting in 4th overall, due to a 3rd and several finishes just outside the top 5. Davis is in 5th but with more races like today he could be taking that 4th spot from Sindt soon.

The women’s fields once again saw excellent competition across the age groups. The 19-29 racing category was again won by Claire McKenna riding for Hammerhead Bicycles, with Julia Jenkins of Bikesport/Ion coming in 2nd. McKenna, known for her technical riding ability, moved to the front of the women’s mass start early in the race and built a solid lead, posting the best women’s finishing time of the day. McKenna, who is on track to win the Texas State Championship said, “this course is just a lot of fun. I had a great time out there!”

In Texas, the women’s 30-39 age class is always a hotly contested category, and the Singletrack Stampede was a repeat of the Outback Blowout two weeks ago with top racers Melanie Etherton (Cycle Progression) and Sara Krause (NRC/Kona) in close quarters throughout the race. Krause was slightly outgunned by Etherton in the open sections of the course, and once again captured 2nd to another outstanding 1st place by Etherton. Both racers say they are gaining benefit from the constant, close competition. “If I do well at my A races this summer, I’ll have to take Mel out to dinner as a thank you,” said Krause.

The women’s 40-49 and 50+ age groups saw repeat victories by Kim Chance (Matrix/Richardson BikeMart) and Lisa Nye-Salladin (Hill Country Bicycle Works) who have dominated their age groups all year, and tend to post similar times. Chance, who primarily focuses on adventure racing, summed up the women’s racing by stating, “You know, the races are always fun. The courses are great, and the camaraderie amongst the women is excellent. This was a great course and a great day.”

Race #6 will be in Comfort, Texas the weekend of April 18th and 19th. Comfort will be a stage race format with a short track race and uphill time trial on Saturday, and cross-country race on Sunday.

Written by: Sean Sindt and Sara Krause

Pro Men’s race results

1 Scott Henry Team Hammerhead 2:19:20
2 David Hanes Ride Away Bicycles 2:21:58
3 Matthew Davis Mad Duck 2:22:23
4 Rick Wetherald Solar Eclipse 2:22:39
5 Kevin Fish Bicycle Sport Shop 2:23:15
6 Noel Reuter Bicycle Sport Shop 2:23:46
7 Sean Sindt Bicycle Sport Shop 2:24:07
8 Payson McElveen Bicycle Sport Shop 2:25:14
9 Nick Cirincione Team NRC 2:26:43
10 Will Ross Cycle Progression 2:28:22