The Crested Butte Bike Week delivered four days of cycling celebration.
The Fat Tire 40 mountain bike event delivers strong competition each year. It was no different last weekend, as Durango’s Levi Kurlander won the elite men’s 40-mile single-track mountain bike race. He crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 18 minutes, 2.8 seconds to edge Gunnison’s Bryan Dillon (3:18:04.8).
Kurlander was one of many Durangoans to make the trip to Crested Butte. Rotem Ishay placed fourth in the elite men’s race in 3:27:02.3. Erich Mcalister took 11th in 3:44.28.5, Jens Nielsen was 12th in 3:45:39.2, and Greg Lewis was 17th in 4:02:13.7.
The women’s elite race was claimed by Avon’s Gretchen Reeves, as she finished in 4:03:41.1. Durango’s Emily Schaldach was a close second in 4:07:27.7. Dolores’ Ashley Carelock placed 10th in 4:50:51.0, and Sarah Warren of Durango was 11th in 4:57:34.6.
In the open men’s 23-39 division, Durango’s Miles Venzara placed eighth in 4:22:39.7. Chip Wiegan of Longmont won that race in 3:55:15.6.
The open men’s 50-and-older division was won by Randy Ulmer of Cave Creek, Arizona. He finished in 4:08:44.2. Michael Hicks of Durango was ninth in 5:33:54.5.
Crested Butte Bike Week also prides itself on its Chainless World Championship, using gravity to power the bikes downhill in a place known for its steep terrain. First place this year went to Crested Butte’s own Dave Ochs.
Last year’s champion, Crested Butte’s Pete Sedunov, finished second this year.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
