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Rocky Mountain Cycling Club
For People Who Love To Ride!
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RMCC Colorado Triple Crown Series - 2009 Consolidated Results
The 2009 Triple Crown Series was composed of the following events:
--Joe Lookingbill Denver to Aspen Classic. 186 miles (13,000 vertical feet) Sat, June 13. Littleton, Conifer, Fairplay, Twin Lakes, Aspen, Woody Creek.
--Colorado Death Ride 226 miles (15,000’ vertical) Sat, July 4. Ridgway, Durango, Delores,Telluride, Ridgway.
--The Grand Loop. 200 miles (14,000 vertical feet). Sat, Aug 1. Course: Golden, Lyons, Estes Park, Trail Ridge, Granby, Berthoud Pass, Golden.
Overall Triple Crown Results
This year we started the first Triple Crown three stage series (612 miles and 44000 vertical feet). The lowest cumulative time for the three stages (Denver-Aspen, Death Ride, Grand Loop) determines the Colorado Triple Crown winner.
Congratulations to Mark Lowe with a winning 2009 time of 37 hours 40 minutes, second place Dick Wiss at 2:58 behind, and third place Ray Rupel at 3:10, fourth place Patrick Nourse at 7:23.
Congratulations to all four for completing the Triple Crown in one year!
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Overall Triple Crown Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Differential | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 37.40 | | 16.25 |
2 | Dick Wiss | 40:38 | 2:58 | 15.06 |
3 | Ray Rupel | 40:50 | 3:10 | 14.98 |
* | Andrea Koenig | 41:56 | 4:16 | 14.59 |
* | John Mangin | 42:55 | 5:15 | 14.26 |
4 | Patrick Nourse | 45:03 | 7:03 | 13.58 |
*Did Denver-to-Aspen make up on August 21st
Results from the Grand Loop -- August 1, 2009
After a two year absence due to road construction the 2009 Grand Loop was staged on Saturday August 1st. It is indeed a grand ride at 200 miles with 14,500 vertical feet of climbing!
Congratulations to overall and men’s first to finish Mark Lowe. He completed the ride in 11 hours 49 minutes, a new course record! Congratulations also to women’s first to finish and fourth overall Andrea Koenig (14 hours 11 minutes).
This course starts in Golden, heads up to Estes Park and goes over Trail Ridge Road and then back over Berthoud Pass. In setting this new record Mark broke the record set in 2001 by Tashi Dennis by 22 minutes.
Also congratulations to the other six entrants who all had excellent times in one of the hardest events RMCC offers.
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Official Grand Loop Ride Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 11:49 | 16.93 |
2 | Ray Rupel | 13:15 | 15.09 |
3 | Dick Wiss | 13:36 | 14.70 |
4 | Andrea Koenig | 14:11 | 14.10 |
5 | John Mangin | 14:24 | 13.88 |
6 | Diane Benoit | 14:45 | 13.56 |
7 | Brian Meadows | 15:59 | 12.51 |
8 | Patrick Nourse | 16:31 | 12.11 |
Age Groups
Women 30-39 |
Andrea Koenig |
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Women 50-59 |
Diane Benoit |
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Men 30-39 |
Mark Lowe |
John Mangin |
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Men 40-49 |
Patrick Nourse |
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Men 50-59 |
Ray Rupel |
Brian Meadows |
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Men 60-69 |
Dick Wiss |
Results from the Colorado "Death Ride" -- July 4, 2009
The 2009 Colorado Death Ride was staged on Saturday July 4th (225 miles and 15500 vert. Feet--the toughest one day RMCC ride). Congratulations to overall and men's first to finish Mark Lowe (13hr 55min) and women’s first to finish and 4th overall Andrea Koenig (15hr 32min). Also congratulations to all eight entrants who achieved the fastest overall group speed (14.62 mph) ever for this RMCC event.
This year’s Death Ride (a.k.a San Juan Skyway) was the first RMCC produced in 10 years. The lapse was due to the extra long drive to Durango and the unsafe (for climbing) road from Placerville to the Telluride junction. Now that the town of Ridgway has good services we moved the start point there and reversed the course to run it clockwise. This made for a huge improvement and the ride was a resounding success! The total drive time was reduced by 3 hours and the dangerous climb is now a fast decent. The other advantage is that the prevailing winds are more now more favorable.
The ride started at 2AM with clear skies and mild temperatures. As we crossed over Red Mountain Pass at 4AM we could see the Milky Way. The riders crested Molas Pass at dawn. As they descended Coal Bank Pass a downslope tail wind picked up and continued all the way into Durango, and all of the riders were in by 7:30. At this point it became clear that we were going to have some great times. Doing this section (81 miles and about 7000 vertical feet) in less than 6 hours is a good time and makes for a great start of this long ride--if you can hold it.
It started to heat up as they turned west to climb Hesperus Hill and onto Dolores (at 127 miles) with 3000 more vertical feet. Most riders were into Dolores in just over 81/2 hours. It was now certain we were going to have some great times!
They just did a 200K in 8.5 hours with 10000 vertical feet and were about to start the equivalent of an Elephant Rock century. We have some great riders in RMCC!
As the riders leave Dolores the first unfavorable condition appears--no tailwind going up the Dolores river valley. As the locals say this doesn’t happen at this time of day! Coming into Rico all riders are at a low point. The gradual, undulating climbing has gotten to them and they now face steeper climbs on the way to the fifth check point at the Telluride junction.
From Dolores to Telluride they do done another 61 miles and 3500 vert. ft. Spirits seemed up at this point because as the veterans say “you start smelling the BARN”. 36 miles later and 2000 more feet riders arrive at the Ridgway finish with big tired smiles and say to to Charlie Henderson, "Boy that really is a tough and monster ride--the toughest I’ve ever done". Charlie simply responds, "That’s why we call it THE DEATH RIDE!"
Congratulations to all you again!
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Official Colorado Death Ride Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 13:55 | 16.17 |
2 | Dick Wiss | 14:52 | 15.13 |
3 | Ray Rupal | 15:08 | 14.98 |
4 | Andrea Koenig | 15:32 | 14.48 |
5 | John Mangin | 15:40 | 14.36 |
6 | Michael Henderson | 15:49 | 14.23 |
7 | Patrick Nourse | 15:56 | 14.12 |
8 | Greg Holland | 16:30 | 13.63 |
Age Groups
Women Overall and 30-39 |
Andrea Koenig |
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Men 30-39 |
Mark Lowe |
John Mangin |
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Men 40-49 |
Michael Henderson |
Patrick Nourse |
Greg Holland |
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Men 50-59 |
Ray Rupel |
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Men 60-69 |
Dick Wiss |
Results from the Joe Lookingbill Denver-to-Aspen Classic -- June 13, 2009
Congratulations to overall and Men’s 1st to finish Mark Lowe (11hr 56min) and women’s 1st to finish and 6th overall Diane Benoit (12hr 40min). Also Congratulations to all 20 entrants (2nd largest since RMCC used to run this as a public ride) who braved very challenging conditions to ride the longest running RMCC event.
This year’s Aspen ride had some of the most challenging conditions in many years. From the start (Mineral and Santa Fe) to the top of Kenosha Pass, winds were basically but with very damp conditions. Fog hung in the valleys and on the lower peaks. Temperatures were in the upper 40s and low 50s and in the 40s crossing Kenosha Pass. This first section is 58 miles and about 7000 vertical feet, which always makes for a hard start to a long ride.
The winds in South Park (after dropping off of Kenosha) can make or break a rider on this ride. This year they broke the riders with head winds increasing in strength and became severe by the time the reached Fairplay. Thirty-seven more miles of strong head winds to Buena Vista make the ride even more brutal.
The first six riders through Buena Vista picked up this wind as a strong tail wind to propel them up northwest to Twin Lakes. But as many of us veterans say, "Crap happens off the back," meaning that the remaining riders got a severe cross wind instead. There was more headwind as the riders headed west toward Twin Lakes and the beginning of Independence Pass.
The worst was yet to come, however! Again the riders that cleared the top of Independence Pass by 3:00 PM were in good shape with mild temperatures and overcast skies. But the rest would have hell to pay.
The weather changed dramatically with rain and hail on the lower parts of the pass to a full on snow blizzard on the upper parts of the pass. We want to give credit to three riders that used common sense to protect themselves--Keith Pryor and John Hayden who got caught descending on the West side and abandoned in Aspen because of possible hypothermia and Kenneth McCollum at the top because he felt it unsafe to go on. The three of you did all the hard part of the ride (Good Job!). Two others hid in a cave on the west side to escape the storms furry and then finished.
The last two Debra Banks and Janet Taffet got hit 2 miles before the top. Debra tells it all: "Had an epic ride. Clawed up Indy pass in a downpour—it turned to snow 2 miles from top. Full on white-out, blizzard conditions with wind gusts that stopped you in your tracks. Warmed up in the car on top. Put on ALL Clothes including a down jacket!! For the descent. Got to Woody Creek Tavern w/10 minutes to spare! AWESOME!!!".
Congratulations to all of this year's participants!
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Official Denver-to-Aspen Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 11:56 | 15.60 |
2 | Dick Wiss | 12:10 | 15.30 |
* | Andrea Koenig | 12:13 | 15.22 |
3 | Tim Feldman | 12:15 | 15.18 |
4 | Ray Rupal | 12:27 | 14.93 |
5 | Patrick Nourse | 12:36 | 14.76 |
6 | Diane Benoit | 12:40 | 14.69 |
* | John Mangin | 12:51 | 14.47 |
7 (tie) | Dan Dwyer | 14:30 | 12.82 |
7 (tie) | Ed Wolph | 14:30 | 12.82 |
9 | Stephen Graham | 15:25 | 12.07 |
10 | Eric Althen | 15:45 | 11.80 |
11 (tie) | Stephen Whiteman | 15:50 | 11.74 |
11 (tie) | Ed Dowski | 15:50 | 11.74 |
13 | Rob Price | 15:52 | 11.72 |
14 (tie) | Debra Banks | 16:45 | 11.10 |
14 (tie) | Janet Taffet | 16:45 | 11.10 |
*Did Denver-to-Aspen make-up ride on August 21st.
Age Groups
Women Overall and 50-59 |
Diane Benoit |
Debra Banks |
Janet Taffett |
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Men 30-39 |
Mark Lowe |
Stephen Whiteman |
Rob Price |
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Men 40-49 |
Tim Feldman |
Patrick Nourse |
Stephen Graham |
Eric Althen |
Ed Dowski |
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Men 50-59 |
Ray Rupel |
Dan Dwyer |
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Men 60-69 |
Dick Wiss |
Ed Wolph |
RMCC 1-2-3
The RMCC 1-2-3 was a multi-stage event. The events were:
--100K (61 miles). Sun, Apr 12.Thornton, Hudson, Keenesburg, Brighton.
--200K (124 miles). Sat., May 16. Course: Exit 243, Horsetooth, Stove Prairie.
--300K (183 miles). Sat, May 23. Course: Littleton, Larkspur, Palmer Lake, Black Forest, Elbert and return.
The Full Story...
by Mike Fulton
The inaugural RMCC 1-2-3 Timed Open Road Series started April 12th under an ominous sky.
A group of seventeen riders braved the rain forecast and rode the 61 miles from I-25 and Colorado 7 to Keenesburg and back in high spirits.
Mark Lowe and Jim Kraychy won the 100k stage in 3h1m for an average speed of 20.3 mph. Martha Pomares took top women’s honors in 3h34m
for an average speed of 17.2 mph. Charlie Henderson set a new 70 and over record at 4h57m.
The rain held off until everyone was in the parking lot and packing up. Special thanks to Owen and Evan Fulton for being exemplary check point workers.
The 200k stage was cancelled on successive weekends due to upslope conditions that had foggy and potentially icy conditions on the top of Stove Prairie.
On the 16th of May (Mother's day) the weather finally cooperated! Tim Kalisch and Mark Lowe finished at 6h7min with an average speed of 19.7 mph.
I believe this is a new course record. Mark had a 5-10 minute lead at the top of Stove Prairie, but lost it due to Tim’s descending skills.
Long time RMCC member Diane Benoit took top women’s honors with an elapsed time of 6h59m for an average speed of 17.2 mph.
Thanks to Charlie Henderson for working the finish.
The 300k stage started May 23rd with on a nice warm morning. The group was looking forward to the event on the descent down Deer Creek Canyon.
Diane Benoit rode her first ever 300k and kept remarking on how nervous she was--never having ridden that far.
The lead group of Mark, Tim Kalisch, Jeff Nading, and Tim Miller missed a turn, which put Diane 28 minutes ahead of the fastest men at the ½ way checkpoint
(and she was nervous at the start??). The riders found a little rain on the way back, and the road spray had them looking like chimney sweeps
at the finish. Mark Lowe and Tim Kalisch took the stage at 10h36m. Mark Lowe took the overall series, five minutes ahead of Tim.
Diane finished 12 minutes behind Mark in 10h48m to take the stage at an average speed of 16.8 mph!!! Not bad for your fist 300k!!!
Martha Pomares had a great ride and took the women’s overall series.
Final Results - Combined Time for All 3 Events
Rider | Total Elapsed |
LOWE, Mark | 19:44 |
KALISCH, Tim | 19:49 |
MILLER, Tim | 20:56 |
NADING, Jeffrey | 21:00 |
JONES, Lloyd | 22:26 |
POMARES, Martha | 22:26 |
JENSEN, Keith | 23:47 |
Results from May 23rd 300K
Rider | Larkspur | Elbert | Black Forest | Larkspur | Elapsed Time | Average Speed |
LOWE, Mark | 2:07 | 5:20 | 6:50 | 8:28 | 10:36 | 17.1 |
KALISCH, Tim | 2:07 | 5:20 | 6:50 | 8:28 | 10:36 | 17.1 |
BENOIT, Diane | 2:07 | 4:52 | 6:30 | 8:24 | 10:48 | 16.8 |
MILLER, Tim | 2:07 | 5:20 | 6:50 | 8:42 | 11:13 | 16.2 |
NADING, Jeffrey | 2:07 | 5:20 | 6:53 | 8:42 | 11:13 | 16.2 |
JONES, Lloyd | 2:10 | 5:10 | 6:55 | 8:51 | 11:13 | 16.2 |
POMARES, Martha | 2:16 | 5:10 | 6:55 | 8:50 | 11:13 | 16.2 |
JENSEN, Keith | 2:33 | 5:40 | 7:30 | 9:33 | 12:18 | 14.7 |
WYATT, Jacob | 2:33 | 5:40 | 7:30 | 9:35 | 12:21 | 14.7 |
Cathy Cramer | 2:41 | 5:50 | 7:35 | 9:55 | 12:59 | 14 |
GROAT, David | 2:39 | 5:55 | 8:22 | 10:25 | 14:35 | 12.4 |
Results from May 16th 200K
Rider | Turn Around | Finish Time | Average Speed |
KALISCH, Tim | 2:35 | 6:06 | 19.7 |
LOWE, Mark | 2:35 | 6:07 | 19.7 |
NADING, Jeffrey | 2:31 | 6:28 | 18.6 |
MILLER, Tim | 2:35 | 6:39 | 18.1 |
BENOIT, Diane | 2:45 | 6:59 | 17.2 |
POMARES, Martha | 3:01 | 7:39 | 15.7 |
JONES, Lloyd | 3:01 | 7:39 | 15.7 |
REED, Paul | 3:01 | 8:07 | 14.8 |
PERSON, Adrian | 3:17 | 8:50 | 13.6 |
Results from April 12th 100K
Rider | Turn Around | Finish Time | Average Speed |
KRAYCHY, Jim | 1:34 | 3:01 | 20.3 |
LOWE, Mark | 1:34 | 3:01 | 20.3 |
MILLER, Tim | 1:34 | 3:04 | 20 |
KALISCH, Tim | 1:36 | 3:06 | 19.7 |
McDONALD, Sargent | 1:36 | 3:09 | 19.4 |
MARWITZ, Curtis | 1:41 | 3:19 | 18.5 |
NADING, Jeffrey | 1:41 | 3:19 | 18.5 |
JORDAN, John | 1:54 | 3:30 | 17.5 |
REED, Paul | 1:50 | 3:31 | 17.4 |
JONES, Lloyd | 1:50 | 3:34 | 17.2 |
POMARES, Martha | 1:50 | 3:34 | 17.2 |
JENSEN, Keith | 1:53 | 3:42 | 16.5 |
WYATT, Jacob | 1:50 | 3:49 | 16 |
PERSON, Adrian | 2:00 | 4:08 | 14.8 |
FOSS, Ronaele | 2:23 | 4:57 | 12.4 |
HENDERSON, Charlie | 2:23 | 4:57 | 12.4 |
RMCC Challenge Series Foothills Climbfest
RMCC Foothills Climbfest
“They Say it Can’t be Fun”
In 2009, the Foothills Climbfest was run twice:
--81 miles (7500 vertical feet). Sun, May 31. Course: Deer Creek, High Grade, Shadow Mountain, Myers Gulch, High Drive, Brook Forest, Pleasant Park.
--81 miles (7500 vertical feet). Sat, Sept 5. Course: Deer Creek, High Grade, Shadow Mountain, Myers Gulch, High Drive, Brook Forest, Pleasant Park.
Results from the inaugural running - 5/31/09
The Inaugural 2009 Open Road Foothills Climbfest (81 miles and 7500 vertical feet) was staged on Sunday May 31.
Congratulations to overall and men's winner Mark Lowe (4 hr 42 min) and women's winner and 5th overall Wendy Fields (5 hr 31 min), who is new to the club!
Mark's 17 mph average and Wendy's 14.7 mph average are impressive for this very challenging course that has five major climbs and many grades in excess of 10 to 12%!
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Official Times
Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
Mark Lowe | 4:42 | 17.00 |
Steve Rudolph | 5:02 | 16.12 |
Randy Culver | 5:02 | 16.12 |
Tom Groves | 5:21 | 14.70 |
Wendy Fields | 5:31 | 14.70 |
Sy Katz | 5:31 | 14.70 |
Andrea Koenig | 5:41 | 14.27 |
Stuart Siekmeier | 5:44 | 14.14 |
Matt Schnell | 5:47 | 14.02 |
Brian Rapp | 6:01 | 13.48 |
Patrick Nourse | 6:25 | 12.64 |
Michael De Suguin | 6:37 | 12.25 |
Results from the second running - 9/5/09
The late summer Foothills Climbfest (81 miles and 7500 vertical) was staged on Saturday, September 5th. The event started under sunny skies
with light winds. As the day progressed, some clouds rolled in. Most riders stayed dry saved for a few who got hit by a rather
intense rain on top of Shadow Mountain.
Congratulations once again to overall winner Mark Lowe ( 4 hr 26 min).
Mark’s time was 16 minutes faster than his spring time and his speed of 18.28 miles per hour is amazing for this challenging course.
Congratulations and thanks to all the participants who competed in this RMCC Sportif.
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Official Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 4:26 | 18.28 |
2 | Josh Horwood | 5:15 | 15.43 |
3 | Cary Stewart | 5:34 | 14.55 |
4 | Greg Holland | 5:47 | 14.00 |
5 | Lloyd Jones | 6:13 | 13.03 |
6 | Ron Sheng | 6:34 | 12.33 |
7 | Gerry Newton | 6:46 | 11.97 |
RMCC Copper Triangle
In 2009, the Copper Triangle was run once:
--78 miles (6,000 vertical feet) Sat, June 27. Course: Copper Mountain, Vail, Minturn, Leadville, Copper Mtn.
Results
After a cool and damp start, the weather improved and the first running of the Cooper Triangle proved to be a great day.
Mark Lowe and Steve Rudolph lit up the afterburners!
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Official Copper Triangle Times
Overall Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Gender/Age Group |
1 | Mark Lowe | 4:04 | M 30-39 |
2 | Steve Rudolph | 4:18 | M 40-49 |
3 | Diane Benoit | 4:56 | F 50-59 |
4 | Roger Kane | 5:37 | M 50-59 |
5 | Brent Myers | 6:18 | M 50-59 |