The 7th round of the TMBRA spring racing series took place last weekend in Coldspring, TX. The GHORBA Big Ring Challenge is a great race if you like a fast, flat course with not much elevation change. Any riders who fit the “roadie” type were ready for a great result, or at least that’s what everyone thought. As riders made it to Double Lake Recreation area Sunday morning they were greeted with a steady downpour of rain which didn’t let up until the 2nd of 4 laps. Racing in the rain is something that happens fairly rarely in Texas.
Texas rider demonstrates how to ride with a broken seatpost
“We haven’t had a muddy race that I can remember for the past 2 years” said Noel Reuter (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Sport Shop). “I should make it a lot of fun!” Despite the rain, riders were ready for a great weekend of racing and didn’t let the weather get in the way.
The Pro men’s race was loaded with talent. Among the 22 Pro’s that took the line included current series points leader Scott Henry (Hammerhead), defending series champion and winner of 2 races this year Bryan Fawley (Park Place Lexus), and Jason Sager (Team Jamis). Sager is formerly from the Texas area, now residing in Oregon. Sager is a seasoned pro racer and has won many races in the TMBRA series in recent years. It looked as if these 3 riders were going to have the best chance of winning.
Off the start, Sager got the whole shot and left the pack behind. Henry and Fawley were caught up in traffic behind. The course included a lot of tight singletrack with little room to pass.
The Pro men’s race was loaded with talent. Among the 22 Pro’s that took the line included current series points leader Scott Henry (Hammerhead), defending series champion and winner of 2 races this year Bryan Fawley (Park Place Lexus), and Jason Sager (Team Jamis). Sager is formerly from the Texas area, now residing in Oregon. Sager is a seasoned pro racer and has won many races in the TMBRA series in recent years. It looked as if these 3 riders were going to have the best chance of winning.
Off the start, Sager got the whole shot and left the pack behind. Henry and Fawley were caught up in traffic behind. The course included a lot of tight singletrack with little room to pass.
Bryan Fawley bringing it home in 4th
“Scott and I were caught behind riders off the start and Sager was 45 seconds up on us before we could do anything about it” said Fawley. Sager ended up riding solo the entire race and won by over a minute to Henry. Coming in 3rd was Mitch Comardo (Gary Fisher 29er), riding a single speed. Fawley took 4th.
Pro Men’s Results
1 Jason Sager Team Jamis 2:20:35
2 Scott Henry Hammerhead 2:21:57
3 Mitch Comardo Gary Fisher 29er 2:22:35
4 Bryan Fawley Park Place Lexus 2:24:02
5 Ray Hall 918XC Racing 2:28:41
6 Rick Wetherald Solar Eclipse 2:29:05
7 Greg Parham Team NRC/Kona 2:29:11
8 Kevin Koen Bike Lane 2:30:58
9 Sean Sindt Austin Flyers/BSS 2:31:50
10 Keith Hargis RBM/Matrix 2:32:39
Pro Men’s Results
1 Jason Sager Team Jamis 2:20:35
2 Scott Henry Hammerhead 2:21:57
3 Mitch Comardo Gary Fisher 29er 2:22:35
4 Bryan Fawley Park Place Lexus 2:24:02
5 Ray Hall 918XC Racing 2:28:41
6 Rick Wetherald Solar Eclipse 2:29:05
7 Greg Parham Team NRC/Kona 2:29:11
8 Kevin Koen Bike Lane 2:30:58
9 Sean Sindt Austin Flyers/BSS 2:31:50
10 Keith Hargis RBM/Matrix 2:32:39
GT Golden Bike Winner Vince Lombardi repeats in Coldspring
Another story taking place last weekend was the GT Golden bike series. Coldspring was the 2nd stop on the Golden Bike series calendar. Vince Lombardi, the highest placed amateur from the first stop in the series at Sea Otter, was flown all expense paid to Coldspring to defend his golden bike given to him by GT. Equipped with full support, including cheerleaders, Lombardi entered the Cat 1 19-29 age group. His race ended up being a run away. He won easily by minutes. If Vince had known, he should have entered the Cat 1 Pro race, which you can enter in the Texas series without having an official pro license. Vince’s time in the Cat 1 19-29 would have placed him 5th in the pro race.
After 7 of 8 races the top 2 places are official in the overall. Scott Henry has the series mathematically wrapped up and will become the 2009 TMBRA spring series champion soon, a title that any Pro racer here in Texas would agree that he deserves. David Hanes (Ride Away Bicycles), will place second overall. David has had bad luck lately, but his consistency in the first 5 races in the series are enough to give him 2nd overall. Sitting 3rd is Sean Sindt (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Sport Shop), 4th is Rick Wetherald (Solar Eclipse), and 5th is Payson McElveen (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Sport Shop). Sindt, Wetherald, and McElveen look like they will be taking spots in the top 5, but he trio are separated by less than 30 points and will have to fight it out at the last stop of the series.
Here are the pro men’s standings:
1 Scott Henry Hammerhead 350
2 David Hanes Ride Away Bicycles 301
3 Sean Sindt Austin Flyers/BSS 272
4 Rick Wetherald Solar Eclipse 255
5 Payson McElveen Austin Flyers/BSS 243
After 7 of 8 races the top 2 places are official in the overall. Scott Henry has the series mathematically wrapped up and will become the 2009 TMBRA spring series champion soon, a title that any Pro racer here in Texas would agree that he deserves. David Hanes (Ride Away Bicycles), will place second overall. David has had bad luck lately, but his consistency in the first 5 races in the series are enough to give him 2nd overall. Sitting 3rd is Sean Sindt (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Sport Shop), 4th is Rick Wetherald (Solar Eclipse), and 5th is Payson McElveen (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Sport Shop). Sindt, Wetherald, and McElveen look like they will be taking spots in the top 5, but he trio are separated by less than 30 points and will have to fight it out at the last stop of the series.
Here are the pro men’s standings:
1 Scott Henry Hammerhead 350
2 David Hanes Ride Away Bicycles 301
3 Sean Sindt Austin Flyers/BSS 272
4 Rick Wetherald Solar Eclipse 255
5 Payson McElveen Austin Flyers/BSS 243
Tracy Jones somehow manages to keep her bike clean
In the women’s 19-29 race, Claire McKenna (Team Hammerhead) was once again the clear victor over Bikesport/Ion’s Julia Jenkins, who raced a strong race to finish 2nd. McKenna had a rough day after catching a dirt clod in her right eye on the 2nd lap, “I had to stop and squirt water in my eye, it was burning so badly. I couldn’t see well at all.” She had to back off the pace to stay safe, but still gutted out a first place finish.
The women’s 30-39 race started with a different dynamic than the past few races as Sara Krause (NRC/Kona) out-sprinted state series leader Melanie Etherton (Cycle Progression) for the singletrack. Krause opened up an early lead, which dwindled after she ran into some trouble early in the race.
After the race, Krause said, “I ended up having to soft pedal a couple of minutes—it was demoralizing to have started so well and settle in so well, just to have the rest of the field catch me.”
Etherton passed Krause early on and opened up a solid lead, finishing the race with the fastest time of the day. Krause, who fell to third in the field, managed to move back into 2nd place, passing Team Hotel San Jose’s Alex Robinette in the 3rd lap. Etherton and Krause will go 1-2 in the state series, while Jenkins looks to be the victor in the 19-29 category.
The second fastest time of the day was posted by women’s 50+ racer Mary Hodge (Gary Fisher/Subaru/Bike Barn). Hodge, who is known to be an incredible competitor and talent, was a mere 30 seconds behind the time set by Etherton. The women’s 40-49 race saw a newly upgraded Diana Weatherly (Bicycles Inc./Trek) solidly take home the victory over Kathy Johnson (Matrix RBM) in 2nd, and Steffi Penco (unattached) in 3rd.
With the women’s 40-49 state championship still undecided, all eyes will be on X-Bar to see who will show up and challenge Matrix/RBM’s Kim Chance, who has dominated all season, for the overall trophy.
Written By: Sean Sindt and Sara Krause
Photos By: Chris Vandivere
The women’s 30-39 race started with a different dynamic than the past few races as Sara Krause (NRC/Kona) out-sprinted state series leader Melanie Etherton (Cycle Progression) for the singletrack. Krause opened up an early lead, which dwindled after she ran into some trouble early in the race.
After the race, Krause said, “I ended up having to soft pedal a couple of minutes—it was demoralizing to have started so well and settle in so well, just to have the rest of the field catch me.”
Etherton passed Krause early on and opened up a solid lead, finishing the race with the fastest time of the day. Krause, who fell to third in the field, managed to move back into 2nd place, passing Team Hotel San Jose’s Alex Robinette in the 3rd lap. Etherton and Krause will go 1-2 in the state series, while Jenkins looks to be the victor in the 19-29 category.
The second fastest time of the day was posted by women’s 50+ racer Mary Hodge (Gary Fisher/Subaru/Bike Barn). Hodge, who is known to be an incredible competitor and talent, was a mere 30 seconds behind the time set by Etherton. The women’s 40-49 race saw a newly upgraded Diana Weatherly (Bicycles Inc./Trek) solidly take home the victory over Kathy Johnson (Matrix RBM) in 2nd, and Steffi Penco (unattached) in 3rd.
With the women’s 40-49 state championship still undecided, all eyes will be on X-Bar to see who will show up and challenge Matrix/RBM’s Kim Chance, who has dominated all season, for the overall trophy.
Written By: Sean Sindt and Sara Krause
Photos By: Chris Vandivere
