Breckenridge, Colorado gets set to host the Marathon National Championships this holdiay weekend. The high-mountains of Colorado greets riders this weekend with cool temperatures and intermittent rain showers. Despite the wet weather the Firecracker racecourse is in great shape. Two 25-mile laps make up 50 miles of racing on hand July 4th.
Baker's tank is where the real action starts on the marathon course
Marathon riders will attack the course at 11 AM fourth of July morning. The race starts with a quick trip up Main Street in front of thousands of fans who have gathered for the Independence Day parade. Once off the parade route racers will charge up a gruelling road climb which gains almost 2,000 vertical feet in just 5 1/2 miles. After passing the Baker Tank riders hit the dirt, which offers more climbing up to the high-point of the race at over 11,000 feet.
Just a taste of the Breck singletrack
After traversing a maze of singletrack and access roads riders finally descend back to the start finish on a series of fast, technical singletrack trails that would give John Tomac a chubby. This offers riders just enough enjoyment for them to forget they have to do it all over again.
The 2009 edition proves to be the most heavily contested Marathon National Championships ever. Big riders will collecting on Main Street Breckenridge tomorrow morning. The men's race will feature 2008 Marathon National Champion Jeremiah Bishop (Monavie-Cannondale.com), Jeremy Horgan-Kobleski (Subaru/Gary Fisher), yellow jersey killer Dave Wiens (Topeak/Ergon), and Michael Broderick (Kenda/Seven). With XC National Championships just two weeks away and just over the hill in Granby, Colorado, many of the nationals best riders have included the Firecracker in their race schedule.
Pua Sawicki will be going for the win
The women's race will include overall favorite Pua Sawicki (Ellsworth). Sawicki has been living and riding for weeks at high-altitude in preparation for the race. The Marathon Championship is about the only endurance title Sawicki doesn't have on her resume and she will be determined to pull on the Stars and Stripes jersey tomorrow.
In her way is Colorado rider Heather Irmiger who has been enjoying a standout season in 2009. She excels at altitude and should have a great 4th of July. Defending Marathon National Champ Sari Anderson will be on hand to defend her title against Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven), and Gretchen Reeves.
Even before night falls in Breckenridge the fireworks should be raging as the top mountain bike racers in the U.S. do battle in Breckenridge. Stay tuned to MTBracenews.com for results, reports, and photos from the 2009 National Marathon Championships.
High-point of the marathon course just below the tree line
