Team Alpine Orthopaedics opens spring bike racing competitions

“The first race is always a shock to your body”

The first test for new Gunnison Valley bike team, Team Alpine Orthopaedics Cycling, came last weekend as they headed to Rabbit Valley for the first stop of the Mountain States Cup series.

While riding has been non-existent in the upper end of the valley, the team spent some of the spring ticking off miles riding in Gunnison, Fruita and Grand Junction.
“All of us are just trying to put in some long, slow, easy miles to get our legs used to riding,” says team pro rider Travis Scheefer.
Seven riders for the team made the trip to Rabbit Valley to compete in the time trial and cross-country races, and while a couple stepped up to the podium, several of the team’s pro riders are still shaking off some of the winter chill.
“The first race is always a shock to your body,” adds Scheefer. “Your legs won’t turn over or have as much power as you need on a bike.”
Scheefer posted the top result for the team’s men’s pro riders, taking 26th in cross country and 15th in the time trial. Jeff Irwin posted a 40th-place finish in the cross-country and 23rd in the time trial.
“The guys that are really fast in the first race are coming from the Front Range and Durango area where they’ve been riding a lot longer already,” says Scheefer. “By the time mid-season comes around it usually flip-flops.”
Dave Ochs had a stand-out performance over the weekend, winning the singlespeed open class in the cross-country race and finishing third in the time trial.
Tim Curry, head coach and manager of the Alpine Orthopedics Junior Cycling team, led by example, winning the CAT I ages 19-29 class in the time trial. Team rider Troy Hiatt posted a fourth-place finish in the men’s CAT I ages 30-39 time trial race.
Women’s pro rider Laura Anderson opened her season with an eighth-place finish in the cross country race, with teammate Jari Kirkland seven minutes behind in ninth place.
Kirkland added a second top-10 finish to her weekend’s accomplishments, taking fourth place among pro women in the time trial.
Despite the mixed bag of results, Scheefer says it was still a great way to kick off the race season.
“It was cool to be out there at the first race as a team,” says Scheefer.
On a side note, Gunnison resident and Trek pro team rider Jenny Smith returned to the top spot on the Mountain States Cup series by winning the cross-country race.
Team Alpine Orthopaedics Cycling will now turn their attention to the endurance circuit and are headed down to Cortez, Colo. for the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde on May 8. They will then return to the Mountain States Cup races for the second stop, the Chalk Creek Stampede in Nathrop, Colo. May 14-16.