On Saturday, racers in the Big Mountain Enduro Series took the Colorado Trail from 11,728 foot Kennebec Pass, and, on Sunday, they charged Horse Gulch.
At Buckley Park’s race headquarters, many riders wore fresh cuts and bruises. All were exhausted – Durango’s course was tricky.
“Its about how few mistakes you can make,” said Sarah Rawley, race promoter and fourth-place women’s pro finisher.
Timed on their descents in four stages, these riders still climbed. On Saturday, racers pedaled up 3,700 feet, and Sunday they climbed 2,000 feet.
But in Enduro fashion, what goes up, must come down. Saturday’s race dropped more than 6,000 feet on the Colorado Trail, which was closed to the public for the first time in its history. On Sunday, the Horse Gulch course dropped more than 2,600 feet.
And what takes most riders hours, these athletes finish in minutes. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, of Boulder, comes from years of pro cross-country racing.
“This is one of my favorite events because it’s real backcountry,” he said.
Macky Franklin, of Taos, New Mexico, should know. He won Saturday’s second stage on the Colorado Trail after sliding down a steep slope and mechanical issues.
“It’s the spirit of Enduro,” he said. “Go out there, carry all your water and tools to the middle of nowhere and ride your bike as hard as you can.”
Several pros said Durango is a highlight. Saturday’s race carried them through mountains and streams and Sunday’s through high desert. Ponderosa pines turned into piñion-juniper. Veteran Nate Hills, of Keystone, called it a good contrast.
“It was no joke,” he said. “All stages were really physical.”
He said Enduro bridges a gap between genres of mountain bike racing.
“It’s brought disciplines together,” said Hills. “Before they were separate.”
Franklin said it’s about the most talented rider.
“The idea is to find the best overall,” he said. “It’s cool to see what they can do.”
Pro women’s racer Syd Schulze, of Taos, called the run pure challenge.
“It’s a test,” she said. “You really have to be good at everything. You’re super fit; that doesn’t matter if you can’t handle a bike.”
Durango’s Anthony Diaz, fourth-place men’s pro, described pushing the limits as a delicate balance. Go faster, but you risk blowing everything.
“You’re out there, just always riding a fine line,” he said.
After the two hard days, Horgan-Kobelski took the win and $1,200. Hills placed second, and California’s Marco Osbourne finished third.
Female pro Heather Irmiger of Louisville, Colorado, finished first, winning $800, Cait Dmitriew of Glenwood Springs took second and Durango’s Krista Park placed third, despite her nursing a recently constructed clavicle.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
On the Net
Big Mountain Enduro: www.bigmountainenduro.com for race course maps, stages, elevation profiles, results and more.
