Writing and Photos by: Shannon Boffeli
Even at 9,000 feet the temperatures were hot prior to the start of the Utah State XC Championship race. Each year the Solitude racecourse provides a unique and challenging setting for those wishing to take the title of State Champ. With roughly 1,600 vertical feet of climbing per lap and more than 80% singletrack Solitude is an ideal mountain bike course. This year's race featured a new opening climb which eliminated the need to start on the road but punished the riders with a steeper and more prolonged dirt portion of climbing. The Pro men would complete 4 laps on the course while the women did 3.
Dave Welsh opens an early lead
The men's event featured most of the names who have been battling it out all season including Chris Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher), teammates Dave Welsh and new dad Kevin Day (Kuhl/Scott), Reed Wycoff (Contender), and Chad Harris (Racer's Cycle Service).
Off the start Welsh threw down his usual early acceleration gapping the field right from the start. Greggy Gibson (Racer's Cycle Service) was the only rider to match Welsh's early pace. Gibson is a Utah native and has been putting in fast times at the weekly Solitude race series each Wednesday. Gibson spends most of the year racing in Kentucky and Tennessee for Union College where he attends school.
Welsh kept pouring it on throughout the opening lap cresting the first 1,600 foot climb out front. But Gibson, who splits his time between XC and downhill racing, closed it down on the descent riding through the start/finish on Welsh's wheel. The second lap followed the same script, Welsh opened it up on the climb and Gibson closed on the descent. This time he did it early enough to pass the leader and put time on him over the rest of the tight, twisting Solitude singletrack.
Greggy Gibson tries to keep cool on the descent
At the halfway point Gibson held the lead by 20 seconds over Welsh. The two leaders had several minutes on third place Rich Abbott (Revolution/Peak Fasteners).
On the third ascent of the Solitude climb Gibson was able to maintain his lead through the climb and into the descent. At which point he felt confident he would stretch it out. Once in the tight descent Gibson began to encounter lapped traffic which allowed Welsh to bridge the gap between them. They finished the descent together and once they started what would be the final climb of the day Welsh left no doubt who would be coming home in first place. The Kuhl rider exploded up the final climb putting over a minute on Gibson who did his best to close the gap to just under a 60 seconds at the finish line.
"The last time up the climb Dave was just gone," Gibson said after the race.
Dave Welsh has enjoyed a phenomenal season in 2009 and now adds Solitude to his win at Sundance putting him in the lead of the Intermountain Cup standings with just 2 races left.
Reed Wycoff put together a good race for 4th
Behind the two leaders Rich Abbott, who started slowly off the line, rode this way into third after one lap and held on for the rest of the race. Abbott knows the Solitude course well and kept an even steady pace throughout the 2 plus hours of racing. Fourth went to Reed Wycoff who held off a hard-charging Chris Holley who recovered from a first lap mechanical which dropped him minutes behind the slowest rider on course.
KC Holley gets down to business on lap 2
In the women's event it was KC Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) taking the top spot. Holley has been the strongest rider on the Intermountain Cup scene all season and it was no surprise she dominated at the state championships. Holley now has two wins in the Intermountain Cup this season and hasn't finished lower than 4th in the 9 Cup races she's done this season. Holley finished the race over 5 minutes up on second place Roxanne Toly (Jan's).
Holley is also an accomplished endurance rider and less than an hour after the race was seen riding the Wasatch Crest Trail with husband Chris.
Rich Abbott puts in a strong effort in 3rd
Pro Men
1, David Welsh (Kuhl/Scott) 2.13.11
2, Greggy Gibson (Racer's Cycle Service) 2.14.07
3, Rich Abbott (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) 2.19.35
4, Reed Wycoff (Contender's) 2.23.15
5, Chris Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) 2.23.16
6, Jonny Hintze (Biker's Edge)
7, Kevin Day (Kuhl/Scott)
8, Chad Harris (Racer's Cycle Service)
9, Chris MacKay (Cole Sport)
10, Aaron Stites (Racer's Cycle Service)
Pro Women
1, KC Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) 2.02.53
2, Rozanne Toly (Jan's) 2.08.02
