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Mara Abbott attempts to set record at 45th Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

Colorado Olympian gunning for most wins, male or female
Few women have been able to keep up with Boulder’s Mara Abbott when she appears in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Coming off a win at the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico and a 17th-place finish at the Tour of California, she is an overwhelming favorite to win her second consecutive IHBC this year.

There isn’t much Mara Abbott hasn’t accomplished when it comes to cycling.

All eyes will be on the Colorado native and five-time Iron Horse Bicycle Classic women’s road race winner when she attempts to go for a record-setting sixth Coca-Cola Road Race.

Abbott won last year’s 47-mile race from Durango to Silverton in 2 hours, 42 minutes, 30.4 seconds. It was the first time Abbott had competed in the event since 2011, the year that established Abbott’s legendary status by making it four wins in a row.

“I’m really excited I get to do the Iron Horse, it’s one of my all-time favorite events,” Abbott said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “I’m really happy that I get to be there.”

Having five titles is nice, but six has a better ring to it. She currently is tied with legendary men’s racer Ned Overend with five road-race titles. Overend, even at age 60, will have a shot at a sixth title this year, too.

Abbott’s climb to the top isn’t as crowded as Overend’s chances. However, Abbott will still approach Saturday morning like any other race.

“Honestly, you never know what a race will hold and what the challenges will be until you actually get into the race,” Abbott said. “You don’t know the amount of pride or the amount of talent (of the field). You could finish last and be more proud of your performance than winning depending on what happened when you left the start line.”

Despite there not being an obvious challenger to Abbott in the race that features 5,700 feet of climbing over Coal Bank and Molas passes doesn’t mean that they’re not out there. Plenty of riders will be gunning for a cut of the $2,550 prize purse that pays out to 10 riders.

“It’s hard to predict who is going to have a good race,” IHBC race director Gaige Sippy said. “All of (the riders) have an uphill battle to beat Mara.”

So far, Abbott, 30, has had a solid 2016. She took first in the Tour of Gila in New Mexico and finished 17th in the Tour of California.

“If she doesn’t win, I’d be quite surprised,” Sippy said. “If she’s not the odds-on-favorite, then I don’t know who would be. She’s the strongest in the field on the road. She knows the race well and wants to beat out Ned.”

The IHBC is more than a race to Abbott. She’s been an ambassador for the event and has promoted the race outside of Durango.

“It’s a wonderful community event,” she said. “It’s more than just a bike race. It’s in the mountains, and it’s a really unique location and has a special atmosphere.”

The event is so special to Abbott that she chose the IHBC over competing at the Volkswagen USA Cycling Road National Championships in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which coincides with the IHBC weekend. Durangoan Carmen Small will compete at nationals instead of her hometown race with hopes of securing an Olympic roster spot later this year.

With its picturesque setting and grueling climbs, it’s no wonder why Abbott keeps returning to the IHBC. But, by the end of the weekend, both Abbott and Overend will find out who really owns the iron.

In the other events throughout the weekend, the Mountain Bike Specialists Mountain Bike Cross Country race will see Kari Babinski, Sarah Brennan, Jenna Emerick, Katja Freeburn, Rebecca Gross, Brianne Marshall, Elizabeth Saenz, Emily Schaldach, McCauley Smith, Camryn Sippy and Sarah Warren all in the women’s pro/open category.

The rider list for the 2016 Morehart Murphy Subaru Circuit Race hasn’t quite filled out for the women. Even though Abbott is expected to participate, the likes of Sheena Carswell and Meredith Mapel are currently the only female riders signed up for the race. Gaige Sippy said Abbott plans on racing all three road events to chase a second consecutive omnium championship.

jmentzer@durangoherald.com

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