Written by: Jens Raz
Tinker Juarez, still racing in his MonaVie kit, puts the wood to the competition at 12 Hours of Temecula
Fear of rain and treacherous conditions for Jason Ranoa’s long-running 12-hour mountain bike marathon in Temecula evaporated, as quickly as water from Vail Lake trails. Temperatures started out in the 30s, and steadily climbed to the mid 50s for most of the day. Perfect weather for racing!
After a week of torrential downpours just north of San Diego parts of the racecourse were diverted to avoid a few river crossings. Net result from the week was close to 5 inches of water in Temecula. That number might not mean much to the rest of the country, but it constitutes about half our yearly rainfall in one week.
The resulting racecourse was fun, fast, with plenty of hard punchy climbing thrown in. The staple “Damn Climb” was taken out and replaced with the Bridges. A shorter but steeper switch back climb that led to a high-speed descent on the ridgeline climbing back up to Marlin Ridge. Yet another express descent followed with an undulating course that shot riders into the famous “Tunnel of Love.” Flying out of the Tunnel, feeling more like a video game than a bike race, the course drops out onto a BMX track and sets the rider up for the last short but steep plunge into base camp, just to do it all over again.
The solo race started hard and fast with Tinker Juarez (Cannondale Factory Racing) taking the holeshot and not relinquishing it until the race was over. 9 hours 51 minutes into the 12 hour race Tinker forged out enough padding to relax and let Alan La Framboise and Brian Van Vleet (KHS) hash it out for 2nd and 3rd respectively. 2009 series winner Alan La Framboise encountered some bad luck with a broken rear derailleur hangar that put a stop to his winning intentions. The fast lap of the day 42.02 went to Tinker.
Alan La Framboise kept the pedal to the metal until a mechanical forced him to slow down
The Expert class appeared to be the most closely contested group with both winner Daniel Nelson and 2nd place Phil Kelly doing 13 laps. 3rd place Tom Andrews and 4th Henry Valenzuela rounding it out with 12 laps each.
The second round of the SoCal Endurance Race Series will continue on June 12th at a yet to be disclosed location with the finale to be held on November 13th. Racers enjoyed great support and enormous amounts of swag from Specialized, Spinergy Wheels, Night Rider Lights, Baja Design Lights, Cyco Path Cyclery, Hammer Nutrition, Nimbus Water Systems and many more!
The finishing stretch of the 12 Hours of Temecula
Pro Men
1, Tinker Juarez (CFR) 12 laps
2, Allan La Framboise 10 laps
3, Bryan Van Vleet 10 laps
4, Jared Fisher 9 laps