Texas Mountain Bike Racing Series Race #2St. Jo, Texas
3/1/09
Writting and Photos by: Sean Sindt
Round two of the Texas Spring racing series took place last weekend in St. Jo, TX with a fast exciting course and low, bone-chilling temperatures. Bar H Ranch is a favorite course for many riders because it has a mix of everything. It has a rare downhill start, followed up with a good mix of climbing, technical descents, and fast rolling hills throughout the approximately 8-mile lap.
The pro men’s race started at 9am with a starting temperature forecasted to be 34 degrees. 34 degrees is not what Texas riders are used to having on the 1st of March, and it proved difficult for many riders. As 18 riders took to the line, it was hard to concentrate on anything except being cold. “The beginning of the race was just brutal” said Sean Sindt (Bicycle Sport Shop). “We started down hill and into the wind, I was so cold. Everybody was freezing.”
With the absence of some key riders, like round #1 winner Bryan Fawley (Park Place Lexus), and current marathon series leader Scott Henry (Hammerhead), the pace started a little slower than usual. After descending the frigid first hill, Christian Helmig (Mad Duck) took up the race lead following by Will Ross (Cycle Progression), Rick Wetherald (Solar Eclipse), Sean Sindt (Bicycle Sport Shop), Matthew Davis (Mad Duck), and Jesus Martinez. The six front riders separated themselves from the field after the first 1-2 mile start loop and began the 3-lap race as a group of 6.As the first lap went on, Wetherald and Helmig started to push the pace at the front causing the chasing four riders to fall off their pace. At the end of the first full lap it looked like Wetherald and Helmig were set to run away with the race. “I felt good the first lap, very good.” said Wetherald. “I thought I could attack Christian and win today, but when I tried he always responded and stayed on my wheel. He was too strong.”
Helmig pulled away from Wetherald and at the end of lap two, putting a gap of around 1 minute on the Solar Eclipse rider. Helmig wasn’t challenged on the last lap and won the race easily by 2 full minutes over Wetherald who had 3 minutes over third. Rounding out the top 6 and finishing a close 45 seconds apart from each other was Ross, Davis, David Hanes (Ride Away Bicycles), and Sindt.
Stop #3 of the spring racing series is in Waco, Texas on March 15th.
Bar H Bash Results 3/1/09
Pro Men
1 Helmig, Christian (Mad Duck) 1:37:46
2 Wetherald, Rick (Solar Eclipse) 1:39:33
3 Ross, Will (Cycle Progression) 1:41:26
4 Davis, Matthew (Mad Duck) 1:42:01
5 Hanes, David (Ride Away Bicycles) 1:42:05
6 Sindt, Sean (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Spor) 1:42:13
7 Martinez, Jesus 1:42:26
8 McElveen, Payson (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Spor) 1:43:24
9 Brusseau, Lucas (Bicycles Plus) 1:46:05
10 Garza, Nicholas (Mad Duck) 1:46:10
Cat 1 Women 30-39
1 Etherton, Melanie 2:04:31
2 Ziegler, Jane 2:09:06
3 Krause, Sara (Team NRC) 2:09:16
4 Barlow , Bonnie (Mad Duck) 2:13:36
Stop #3 of the spring racing series is in Waco, Texas on March 15th.
Bar H Bash Results 3/1/09
Pro Men
1 Helmig, Christian (Mad Duck) 1:37:46
2 Wetherald, Rick (Solar Eclipse) 1:39:33
3 Ross, Will (Cycle Progression) 1:41:26
4 Davis, Matthew (Mad Duck) 1:42:01
5 Hanes, David (Ride Away Bicycles) 1:42:05
6 Sindt, Sean (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Spor) 1:42:13
7 Martinez, Jesus 1:42:26
8 McElveen, Payson (Austin Flyers/Bicycle Spor) 1:43:24
9 Brusseau, Lucas (Bicycles Plus) 1:46:05
10 Garza, Nicholas (Mad Duck) 1:46:10
Cat 1 Women 30-39
1 Etherton, Melanie 2:04:31
2 Ziegler, Jane 2:09:06
3 Krause, Sara (Team NRC) 2:09:16
4 Barlow , Bonnie (Mad Duck) 2:13:36
