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Classic in full gallop

Cold, a little snow, can’t slow 2015 show

After a week of valley rains and mountain snow, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Citizens Tour went off without a hitch after race officials made the call to ride at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

At the Silverton finish line, crowds descended on the tiny hamlet by the thousands. Memorial Park at the town’s northern end was the scene of games, vendors, booths and beer. Riders met with family and friends, husbands waited for their wives, parents met their children and the pros high-fived each other.

While the sun made an early appearance, it began hiding behind clouds later in the morning, and by 11:30 a.m., there was snow.

Chad Cheeney, co-founder of the Durango DEVO junior developmental cycling program and local cycling personality who’s been living in Bend, Oregon, with his wife, Anna, for a little over a year, stepped out of nowhere to help emcee the event in black slacks, boots and a cowboy hat. The Cheeneys made a special return trip to the Four Corners for this year’s event.

“You couldn’t really ask for better weather,” said Cheeney, who’s known by the locals as “Chainsaw.” “You have the storms that get the nerves up, and look so pretty, too, and then that sun this morning.”

Cheeney called the Iron Horse the “all-encompassing event.”

“You get the beginners, the tours, the Ned Overends (local legend, the 59-year-old Overend finished third), and that’s what’s really neat about it,” he said. “It brings all these cyclists together in one good race.”

He’s not kidding. From the sport’s elite to someone who borrowed a bike and lucked into an entry, it draws from all corners of cycling. Several riders completed the ride on their mountain bikes. Wounded Warrior veterans did it on handcycles, and Mike Tierney of Aspen finished the 50-mile course on his unicycle.

“I do this because I love it,” Tierney said. “It’s pretty neat to get out into the universe and what’s going on to see what’s possible.”

What’s more, it’s his second time. He did it in 2005.

“I just love the area, and it’s such an iconic ride and event, so for me to be allowed to do this is pretty amazing,” he said.

Tierney uses a 36-inch wheel, has three crank positions for his pedals for climbing and he installs an inner tube on the seat for comfort. The world-renowned unicyclist has climbed volcanoes in Hawaii and says he hopes he can show others what is possible.

“If I can inspire somebody else out there, then that’s a win for me,” he said.

Cale Reeder of Albuquerque knows what’s possible. The second overall masters rider said he came back to redeem himself after his 1982 Iron Horse experience.

“We drove in last night, and it was snowing and a total winter wonderland, and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, are we really racing (Saturday)?’” the masters class world champion said. “But it was actually really good.”

Local Mike Hurst, owner of Carver Brewing Co., called it a good day.

“A good day of suffering,” he said. “But way better than I thought it would be.”

Hurst has done the Iron Horse at least 10 times, he said, and he called this year’s one of the best.

“Gaige Sippy did such a great job with the event,” he said of this year’s race director, who now has run the show eight years non-consecutively.

As for Sippy, he spent most of his day on the passes working with race officials.

“We fought the weather most of the way, but overall, it went well,” he said.

Sippy said a good representation of the 275 Quarter Horse riders turned out at Purgatory Resort, but inclement weather turned a few of the cyclists back toward town instead of the outdoor venue.

“For any of the folks that didn’t make it, it was going to be a long ride, even if the weather cooperated, so we had to make the call,” he said.

An 11:30 cutoff was mandated for the ride to Silverton.

“All things considered, we had a good run,” he said.

bmathis@durangoherald.com

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