Intermountain Cup #7
Written by: Shannon Boffeli
Photos by: Lyna Saffell
As any cyclist in Utah will tell you, it has been raining a lot in Utah this year. The normally arid high-desert climate of Utah has done a 180 in 2009. Rain has been falling hard and steady everyday for the past two weeks. Yet through some miracle of nature, Sautrday morning, it stopped, just long enough for racers to complete their grueling laps on the Deer Valley racecourse.
Dave Welsh pushing the pace early on the Little Stick climb
The Pro men got off the line first with a strong group of twenty pros all challenging for a top position. Bart Gillespie (Monavie-Cannondale.com) and Dave Welsh (Kuhl/Scott) got the early gap up the Little Stick climb followed closely by Chris Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher), Kevin Day (Kuhl/Scott), and Shannon Boffeli (Revolution/MTBracenews.com). After the first descent Blake Zumbrunnen (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) and Josh Wolfe had bridged up to the chase group but it was clear the leaders were not coming back.
Welsh, who has been showing phenomenal form in 2009, challenged the Monavie team captain with repeated attacks. Never giving up hope that he could dislodge Gillespie. As he soon found out, there is a reason Bart Gillespie has been the most dominant rider in Utah for the past 10 years.
Gillespie looks relaxed on his way to another Intermountain Cup win
Through all the attacks Gillespie stayed close. On the third of four ascents up Little Stick, Welsh threw all his chips in. With a huge acceleration he moved clear of the Monavie rider. But the effort proved too much for Welsh who almost immediately gave up the top spot to Gillespie and more. As the final full lap wound down and just a half lap remained, Welsh soon found himself falling prey to Chris Holley and Kevin Day who had been climbing strong all day just a minute behind the leaders.
After the race Holley said, “You can’t expect to drop Bart it’s just not going to happen. You really have to hand it to Dave though. He really gave it everything today.”
Chris Holley stayed strong for a second place in Deer Valley
To finish off the podium Rich Abbott (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) charged from mid-pack into the 5th spot. After a slow start, Abbott moved methodically through the field. At the start of lap number three, he put in a huge effort on Little Stick, which moved him from 8th into the 5 slot.
KC Holley motors her way to an impressive win
In the women’s race there were a few absences due to the Pro XCT race in Colorado Springs. This left KC Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Jen Hanks (Revolution/Peak Fastners) to battle for the top spot. Holley got the early advantage taking a lead on the first lap. Hanks tried her best to keep pace with the Gary Fisher rider until a wrong turn on course cost Hanks many minutes.
After the race an exhausted Jen Hanks said, “At the end of each lap the course crosses over itself and instead of descending back to the start/finish I just started up the climb again. I didn’t realize my mistake until the top of Little Stick at which point I rode all the way back down and had to do the climb again.”
Her mistake left Holley charging ahead unchallenged. The talented Gary Fisher rider, who excels at both XC and ultra-endurance racing, had no problem maintaining her focus and keeping the hammer down to finish over 8 minutes ahead of second place Julie Minahan (Jan’s). Hanks climbed her way back into third followed by Katie Lindquist (Kent Eriksens Cycles).
Pro Men
1. Bart Gillespie (Monavie-Cannondale.com) 2.03.07
2. Chris Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) 2.05.04
3. Kevin Day (Kuhl/Scott) 2.05.57
4. Dave Welsh (Kuhl/Scott) 2.06.32
5. Rich Abbott (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) 2.06.41
6. Reed Wycoff (Contenders)
7. Jonny Hintze (Bikers Edge)
8. Geoffrey Montague (Delta 7 Sports)
9. Shannon Boffeli (Revolution/MTBracenews.com)
10. Josh Wolfe (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
11. Ty Hansen (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
12. Quinn Bingham (Bikers Edge)
13. Brandon Firth (Rocky Mountain)
14. Taylor Foss (Kuhl/Scott)
15. Marc Wimmer (Wimmers Cycles)
DNF Blake Zumbrunnen (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
DNF Matt Ohran (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
DNF Brandon Cross (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
Pro Women
1. KC Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) 2.02.33
2. Julie Minahan (Jan’s) 2.10.58
3. Jen Hanks (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
4. Katie Lindquist (Kent Eriksen Cycles) 2.19.42
