Alister Ratcliff took a quick break from studying for an accounting test to go for a bike ride. His accounting professor may not have agreed with the decision, until hearing Ratcliff won $600.
Ratcliff, who won an NCAA Omnium National Championship with the Fort Lewis College cycling team, crossed the finish line first in the open men’s criterium during the 43rd Iron Horse Bicycle Classic on Sunday afternoon in downtown Durango.
“I actually just moved in above Himalayan Kitchen, so the race was right outside my door,” the 26-year-old Ratcliff said. “I have a big accounting test (Monday), and I actually was studying while watching the earlier races out my window.”
Ratcliff, who is finishing his degree at FLC after racing internationally for a few years, narrowly edged 16-year-old Christopher Blevins of Durango for the criterium title. The two Durango riders did everything they could to make sure Albuquerque’s Kip Taylor, who won the road race in 2013, didn’t win a criterium title. Taylor finished third.
“Me and Chris were going to try to attack the other guy. We are Durango, and he’s not, so we couldn’t let him win; we made it as hard as we could on him,” Ratcliff said.
Taylor understood the strategy of the Durango cyclists.
“That’s part of the sport. Durango guys came true (Sunday) and did it again,” said Taylor, who was boxed out for the second consecutive day after finishing fourth in the men’s road race Saturday to Durango Mountain Resort. “It was cool to see those guys talking during the race and put together their strategy like that.”
Blevins and Ratcliff had constant communication throughout the race as they turned laps in the lead peloton alongside Taylor.
Rain began to fall just six minutes into the race. It only lasted for five or 10 minutes, but it was enough to slow the riders down a bit early. Still, Blevins and Ratcliff were looking to push the pace.
“I was probably taking a lot of risk, more than I should’ve,” Blevins said. “We definitely had to slow down a bit in the corners, but the rest of the race was pretty much the same.”
Blevins jumped out in front with four laps remaining. He was the strongest going up the hill and into the final turn, but Ratcliff had enough to chase him down.
“I was just trying to make it hard. I think I’ve got some good skills through the corners, so I wanted to go into the corner and see if I could get a gap,” Blevins said of the final turn. “The sprint was pretty short, so I kind of wanted to lead into the sprint. The move wasn’t totally to get a gap but to establish a lead going into the last corner.”
For a 16-year-old with tons of competitive experience, racing to a second-place finish in the downtown criterium was a blast.
“It was so much fun. I don’t get to do many races in town, and having my friends out here and people I know cheering me on definitely is something special,” Blevins said.
Blevins and Taylor will go toe-to-toe for the overall omnium points championship when they compete in the time trial Monday morning.
“I beat Chris (Saturday), and he got me (Sunday), so we might be pretty close in the standings,” Taylor said. “I’m not sure who else is in contention, but I think my chances are pretty good. The time trial is the best part; it is a beautiful ride.”
For Ratcliff, it is back to the books to get ready for his exam.
“I realized I wouldn’t make a lot of money cycling, so I came back to finish my degree,” Ratcliff said. “I have fun on my bike when I can.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
