Wren and Gillespie marked each other throughout the race
All the big names toed the start line for the elite men’s event including Bart Gillespie (Monavie-Cannondale.com), Ali Goulet (Church of the Big Ring), Eric Rasmussen (Specialized), and newcomer, professional road racer, Tyler Wren (Boo Bicycles).
Off the start Tanner Cottle (Specialized) led the group up the long opening paved climb before he was overtaken by the big guns Goulet, Wren, Gillespie, Rasmussen, and Reed Wycoff (Contender).
The second selection of the day came shortly after as Goulet, Wren, and Gillespie gapped the other leaders. Once off the front these three quickly opened an insurmountable gap.
The leaders weren’t content to simply sit on the front as attacks began almost immediately. Most of the animation was coming from the road racer Wren who pushed the pace on the climbs. On lap three a big acceleration from Wren gapped his compatriots but Gillespie marked him by the top of the pavement with Goulet in tow.
That was the beginning of the end for Goulet however as he was gapped again on the next climb. This time he was unable to bridge the gap.
Ali Goulet cranks through some singletrack
With two in the lead group each man took turns pushing the pace and putting in small accelerations to test each other’s fitness. The two leaders stayed together for the next five laps leaving everything to be decided on the final trip up the pavement climb.
Wren had been hammering the climb all day and it was clear Gillespie would have his hands full in the final sprint. As the leaders approached the finish line Wren was indeed ahead clearly giving it his all. Gillespie stayed close through the steepest part of the climb and once the road began to flatten out and the finish banner was in clear sight Gillespie burst from Wren’s wheel rocketing past the Boo Bicycles rider with an astounding turn of speed.
Bart Gillespie has won many races but this weekend’s will be one of the most memorable. The cagey veteran displayed the power and tactical prowess, which has helped make him the most successful bike racer in Utah history.
Wren crossed the line with a well-deserved second place. Goulet stayed strong for third place followed by the persistent Eric Rasmussen who rode by himself all day long. Connor O’Leary showed good late-season form taking fifth.
Connor O'Leary navigates an icy descent
The women’s event would see Erika Powers (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) fighting off challengers Jen Hanks (Revolution/Peak Fasteners), Sarah Kaufmann (Roaring Mouse), Stephanie Skoryenko (University of Utah), and Chantel Olsen (PCIM).
Erika Powers was off to the races for another win
Powers took the early lead wasting no time in gapping her competitors. Kaufmann, an endurance mountain bike specialist, started slower but limited the gap to Powers on the opening lap.
On the second of four laps for the women, Powers once again punched it on the paved climb and dislodged Kaufmann for good. Now Kaufmann started to feel the heat from Stephanie Skoryenko who was giving everything on the climb to close on the second placed rider.
Stephanie Skoryenko grinds out a short climb
Skoryenko spent the first two laps battling with Jen Hanks but Hanks couldn’t match her speed on the paved climb. Skoryenko would gain precious seconds on Kaufmann each ascent of the climb but Kaufmann’s smooth riding and power in the singletrack sections were too much for Skoryenko to match.
In the end it was Powers taking another dominant win over Sarah Kaufmann in second and Stephanie Skoryenko in third. Jen Hanks held on for fourth place followed by Chantel Olsen who rode a consistent race in fifth place.
Jennie Wade on her way to a good seventh place finish
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Tyler Wren and Bart Gillespie waged an epic battle in Draper,Utah
Sarah Kaufmann digs for speed on the run up
Elite Women
1, Erika Powers
2, Sarah Kaufmann
3, Stephanie Skoryenko
4, Jen Hanks
5, Chantel Olsen
6, Allison Vrem
7, Jennie Wade
8, Kelsi Bingham
Elite Men
1, Bart Gillespie
2, Tyler Wren
3, Ali Goulet
4, Eric Rasmussen
5, Connor O'Leary
