Fresh off a third-place result in the U.S. Cup cross country mountain bike series and a short-track cross country win, Durango’s Todd Wells is focused on peaking in time for nationals.
Two weeks ago, Wells, 39, took fifth in Missoula, Montana at the Missoula XC. Winning that race was teammate and fellow Durangoan Howard Grotts, who finished in 1 hour, 32 minutes and 14 seconds. Keegan Swenson was second in 1:37:31, and Wells finished in 1:38:25.
One week later, Wells was back in action in Colorado Springs to complete the USA Cycling, U.S. Cup. – a five-race series.
In a hard-fought race with Raphael Gagne and Russell Finsterwald, Wells jumped out to a lead after one lap.
Coming down the stretch, it was Gagne who built a two-second lead, and Wells and Finsterwald sprinted for second place. In what would’ve been a photo finish, if cameras were at the finish, the race officials awarded Finsterwald second place and Wells third.
The result gave Wells a third-place finish at the U.S. Cup instead of second.
“I thought I edged him out, but the officials gave it to him,” Wells said on his blog. “I was hoping they would have a finish-line camera since it was (a top) category race, but why would they do that?”
Making the day more difficult for the three-time Olympian was being the victim of a robbery.
“To add insult to injury, my backpack and wallet got stolen out of the car at the venue, so after filing my first ever protest, I also had to file my first ever police report,” Wells said.
The next day was much better for Wells, as he took first in the short-track cross country event. He was able to pedal around Finsterwald and Swenson for the win.
“Finsty attacked on the pavement heading into the double track climb. I was able to jump around him and Keegan and roll it in for the win by a few bike lengths,” Wells said.
The short-track race was not part of the U.S. Cup, but Wells enjoys competing in the short-track races regardless.
“Most of the time we race the STXC basically for bragging rights since there is rarely any money, no series overall or anything else,” he said. “The best part of the STXC is the training we get out of it.”
Training is on Wells’ brain as he gears up for nationals, which will be held July 14-19 at Mammoth Mountain, California.
First, he will go to Leadville this weekend as part of the Camp of Champions. He will get a first-hand look at the Leadville 100 course and get some high-altitude training in ahead of Mammoth. The Leadville 100 MTB race is held in August.
“It will be a nice chance to get some ultra high-altitude training in before Mammoth,” Wells said. “After Leadville, I will zip in and out to the Boston PROXCT before heading to nationals. I’m really excited to head to Bean Town for a MTB race, and I hope they get a great turnout.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
