RMCC Challenge Series 2010 Consolidated Results
The 2010 Challenge Series was composed of the following events:
RMCC Colorado Triple Crown Series: "For those who triple dare!
Official Times are recorded for each event. In 2010, only two of the triple crown events were completed (the Grand Loop was canceled due to road construction):
Results from the RMCC Colorado Death Ride -- July 4, 2010
The 2010 Colorado Death Ride was staged on Sunday July 4th, which is 225 miles in length with 16,000 feet of climbing. Congratulations to overall and men’s first to finish Mark Lowe(12h 47min) and women’s 1st to finish and second overall Andrea Koenig (14h 14min). Also congratulations to all eight entrants and the seven finishers who rode and persevered in doing this the hardest RMCC one day event!
This was the second running of this ride that the RMCC has staged with the Ridgway start and the clockwise direction. This format has provent to work very well. Initially we had some concerns with crossing Red Mountain Pass in the dark, but these proved to be a non-issue thus far. The riders traversed this route between Ouray and Silverton in the time frame between 2 and 4 in the morning and encountered only two vehicles in this entire distance! The biggest advantage to riding the clockwise direction has been that the prevailing winds are more favorable than the other direction and the climb up the narrow, busy road from Placerville to Telluride is avoided.
This year the temperatures were much colder than last year and all riders got very chilly descending Red Mountain Pass into Silverton where the temperature was as freezing. Riders were happy that we had the support vehicles that they could warm up in!
As dawn broke the climbs up Molass and Coal Bank warmed everybody up, but the long decent into Durango was still chilly. Most riders arrived at the Durango control between 7:30 and 8:00 having already done 7000 feet in 81 miles!
Light winds greeted the riders on their 46 mile and westerly traverse to Dolores (3000 feet of climbing). There was a nice tail wind up the Dolores valley to the control at Rico and on to the top of Lizzard Head Pass. This makes for a good start to the last 100 miles from Dolores to the finish (6000 more feet of climing). The tailwind kept up giving the riders got a real boost as they turned East at Placerville to make the final climb up Dallas Divide.
Three new riders (Cathy Cramer, Brian Hart and David Hackett) joined the event this year after qualifying using the Aspen ride for two of them and the 300k for the other. The other five were repeats, or as one person said “crazy.” All riders finished before 8PM which made for a solid group performance. There were many proud, satisfied and relieved faces at the finish! There is reason we call it the Death Ride!
Congratulations to all of you again!
Special thanks to Charlie Henderson and Jim Kraychy for providing the support for this event!
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Official Death Ride Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 12:47 | 17.60 |
2 | Andrea Koenig | 14:14 | 15.81 |
3 | Dick Wiss | 15:05 | 14.92 |
4 | Michael Henderson | 15:17 | 14.72 |
5 | Brian Hart | 17:39 | 12.74 |
6 | Patrick Nourse | 17:43 | 12.69 |
7 | Cathy Cramer | 17:52 | 12.59 |
8 | David Hackett | @Rico | |
Age Groups
Women 40-49 |
Andrea Koenig |
Cathy Cramer |
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Men 30-39 |
Mark Lowe |
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Men 40-49 |
Michael Henderson |
Patrick Nourse |
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Men 50-59 |
Brian Hart |
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Men 60-69 |
Dick Wiss |
Results from the Joe Lookingbill Denver-to-Aspen Classic -- June 19, 2010
The 2010 Joe Lookingbill Denver-Aspen Classic was staged on Saturday June 19 (180 miles and 13000 vert. feet) after being delayed from June 12 because of a weekend of rain, snow, and cold temperatures.
Congratulations to overall and Men’s 1st to finish Jeff VanDeRlinden and Diane Benoit 2nd overall and women’s 1st to finish. Also congratulations to all 10 entrants (25 had originally entered for the June 12 date making this potentially the largest field in many years) for doing RMCC’s oldest event on a beautiful sunny day that had very challenging head winds.
Eight out of the ten Aspen entrants were 1st timers and seven finished. The eighth made it to the top of Independence Pass but was past the cut off time to desend safely.
This year’s ride started at the Ken Caryl park-n-ride to insure secure overnight parking making the course about 6 miles shorter at 180.1 miles. In the first 50 miles the course climbs almost 7000 feet making for a difficult start. The conditions were calm but with cold temperatures in the mid to low 40s. At Kenosha Pass things changed--a strong head wind greeted the riders and this would continue for the next 57 miles making this portion of the ride very difficult and challenging (physically and mentally)!
Some riders showed the stress from this as they road into the Buena Vista check point. Not to get some breaks across South Park after the first 50 miles of constant climbing consumes extra energy that is needed for the climb over Independence. Congratulations to all 10riders for fighting through this. Nine went on to finish and the tenth (Pam Zaske) made the top of Independence.
good job by all!
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Official Denver-to-Aspen Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Jeff VanDeRlinden | 12:05 | 14.90 |
2 | Diane Benoit | 12:10 | 14.86 |
3 | Ernie Stefely | 12:26 | 14.48 |
4 | Dick Wiss | 12:36 | 14.29 |
5 | David Hackett | 13:47 | 13.06 |
6 | Brian Hart | 14:20 | 12.57 |
7 | Frances Summerhill | 15:52 | 11.35 |
8 | Bob Dean | 15”55 | 11.31 |
9 | Terri Wickstrom | 16:40 | 10.80 |
* | Mark Lowe | 10:04 | 17.90 |
*Did make-up ride on Aug. 7th. New course record!
Age Groups
Women 50-59 |
Diane Benoit |
Frances Summerhill |
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Women 40-49 |
Terri Wickstrom |
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Men 30-39 |
Jeff VanDeRlinden |
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Men 50-59 |
Ernie Stefely |
David Hackett |
Brian Hart |
Bob Dean |
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Men 60-69 |
Dick Wiss |
RMCC Foothills Climbfest
“They Say it Can’t be Fun”
Results from the first running (long course) - Sep. 4th
The first extended course of the Foothills Climbfest was staged on Sept. 4th.
This version of the ride was 94 miles with 11,000 feet of climbing.
Mark Lowe was the winner and Fran Summerhill was the 1st and only women finisher.
All five finishers concurred that this is an extremely difficult course with very steep grades in the last 1/3 of the course!
Jim Stutzman commented on how much more difficult he found this course than the
Lyons Gran Fondo. A very challenging ride and congratulations to all the finishers!
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Official Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 5:42 | 16.5 |
2 | Mark Pfeil | 5:57 | 15.8 |
3 | Josh Horwood | 6:05 | 15.4 |
4 | Fran Summerhill | 8:21 | 11.2 |
5 | Jim Stutzman | 8:30 | 11.1 |
Results from the third running (short course) - May 29th
The third running of the Foothills Climb Fest (short course: 81 miles and 8000 feet of climbing) had 19 starters and 16 finishers.
Mark Lowe won for the third straight time and was followed by Josh Horwood and Steve Rudolph tying for 2nd.
A first for this event was the presence of a tandem--that of Scott Peterson and Christine Finson. The ride featured sunny skies, warm
temperatures, and many riders throught there were more headwinds than tailwinds.
Congratulations to all the riders for competing on an exceptionally difficult course.
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Official Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 4:47 | 16.75 |
2 (tie) | Josh Horwood | 4:59 | 16.07 |
2 (tie) | Steve Rudolph | 4:59 | 16.07 |
4 | Peter Piccolo | 5:05 | 15.76 |
5 | Scott Caruso | 5:11 | 15.45 |
6 | Mark Michel | 5:14 | 15.31 |
7 | Mark Pfeil | 5:19 | 15.07 |
8 | Dave Ratcliff | 5:33 | 14.43 |
9 | Greg Holland | 5:42 | 14.05 |
10 | Troy Reynolds | 5:44 | 13.97 |
11 | Lloyd Jones | 5:46 | 13.89 |
12 | Christine Finson, Scott Peterson | 5:55 | 13.54 |
13 | David Westall | 6:18 | 12.71 |
14 (tie) | Martha Pomares | 6:35 | 12.17 |
14 (tie) | Gerry Newton | 6:35 | 12.17 |
RMCC Mt. Evans Challenge
“Colorado's Ultimate Hillclimb Event”
Results - June 26, 2010
Ten riders came out for the inaugural Mt. Evans Challenge, which is ride from Golden to the summit of Mt. Evans. Riders were greeting by a passing shower at the start which made some wonder
if we would make it to the top or not. Fortunately, the rain passed and the sun came out and it became a beautiful day--sunny with cool
temperatures (although a bit breezy as they got higher up). There were a good mix of riders, ranging from those who had already done a few thousand miles this year to those who still
felt like they were still getting going for year and were looking for a challenge to jump-start things. Nine would ultimately make
the summit within the 6 hour time limit.
Congratulations to event winner, Mark Lowe, the highest finishing woman, Terri Littleford, and to all ten riders who came out for a very challenging ride!
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Official Times
Rank | Rider | Total Elapsed | Average Speed |
1 | Mark Lowe | 3:57 | 12.15 |
2 | Steve Rudolph | 4:14 | 11.34 |
3 | Mark Michel | 4:16 | 11.25 |
4 | Mark Pfiel | 4:30 | 10.67 |
5 | John Burke | 5:07 | 9.38 |
6 | Eugene Chu | 5:22 | 8.94 |
7 | Matt McGowan | 5:23 | 8.92 |
8 | Terri Littleford | 5:25 | 8.86 |
9 | Harris Rosenthal | 5:58 | 8.00 |
10 | Kathy Letner | Summit Lk. | |