The weather again threatened this year’s Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. But, as in most years, the cyclists and the train moved in sync from Durango to Silverton. “All things considered, we had a good run,” the 44th anniversary’s race director Gaige Sippy said.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Barb Dobrot of Albuquerque finished the last leg of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Citizens Tour in snow flurries as she pulled into Silverton on Saturday afternoon.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Riders in this years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour race the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad along Camino Del Rio Saturday.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
Spectators photograph riders in this years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour along Camino Del Rio Saturday.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
Cow bells and whistles greeted Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour riders along U.S. 550 North in Hermosa Saturday morning during the race to Silverton.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
Riders in this years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour make their way up the Animas Valley along U.S. 550 Saturday morning under partly cloudy skies.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
A rider in this years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour throws a fist in the air as he is passed by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad along U.S. 550 North Saturday morning in the race to Silverton.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
Riders in this years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour take the turn from Camino Del Rio onto North Main Saturday morning in the race to Silverton.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
Riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Coca-Cola Road Race make their way to Silverton.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald <br>
The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Coca-Cola Road Race begins in Durango.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald <br>
Just in time. Riders in this years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour barely get across the railroad crossing in Hermosa along U.S. 550 Saturday ahead of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
A rider in this years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour follows the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad along U.S. 550 North Saturday morning in the race to Silverton.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
Riders in this years Iron Horse Bicycle Classic’s Citizen’s Tour head towards Hermosa along U.S. 550 Saturday beside of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald <br>
With snow and hail on the ground, Doug Leggett of Gallup, N.M., pulls into the plaza area of Purgatory after finishing the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Weather forced those in the rear of the race to stop at Purgatory instead of continuing to Silverton.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald<br>
Snow and hail slowed the after-race party at Purgatory as weather forced some riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic to stop at Purgatory instead of continuing to Silverton.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald<br>
Through snow and hail, a rider in this year’s Iron Horse Bicycle Classic turns into Purgatory on Saturday as weather forced those in the rear of the race to stop at Purgatory instead of continuing to Silverton.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald<br>
With snow and hail on the ground, 8-year-old Eli Holden of Durango holds the bike of his sister Mia Holden after she finished her Iron Horse Bicycle Classic ride at Purgatory on Saturday. Weather forced those in the rear of the race to stop at Purgatory instead of continuing to Silverton.
Shaun Stanley/ Durango Herald<br>
Law enforcement work at Purgatory on U.S. Highway 550 Saturday afternoon to turn away Iron Horse riders who have not made it past that point. Weather on the mountain passes and in Silverton prompted race organizers to shut down the race about 11:30 a.m.
SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald<br>
Riders where awarded medals after crossing the Iron Horse finish line on Saturday in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
A note to others who were riding in the Iron Horse finish line on Saturday in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
Riders looks for their bags after crossing the Iron Horse finish line on Saturday in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
Fans cheer on racers during the Iron Horse race on Saturday in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
Fans cheer on racers during the Iron Horse race on Saturday in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
Riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic ride past the historic San Juan County Courthouse in Silverton on Saturday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
Snow flurries appeared during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Silverton on Saturday
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
Steve Alschuler, left, and Grant Kier, try to warm up after riding in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race in Silverton on Saturday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
Bella LeSkosek, holds Charlotte, as Harlow and Bebe all stay warm under blankets as they cheer on riders during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Silverton on Saturday. She was there with her mother Charmaine cheering on her father Peter.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
Malia Durbano cheers on riders during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Silverton on Saturday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald <br>
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.
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