The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
CBMST, CBMP, and Ryan Sutton all in effect
Angel Fire, New Mexico is one tough start to the downhill bike racing season. The venue offers one of the longest and toughest courses of the entire Mountain States Cup series with a variety of downhill track options.
Last weekend, race organizers decided to run the racers down the World Cup course at the Chile Challenge, the first stop for gravity riders on the racing series.
It’s baptism by fire in Angel Fire.
“It’s all downhill and has a lot of everything,” says Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team (CBMST) gravity coach and pro rider Kain Leonard. “I told my kids this is definitely the toughest track you’ll see all year.”
Gunnison Valley rider Ryan Sutton led the local charge in New Mexico, placing fourth in the pro men’s category.
Leonard, who pulled his bike off the wall the week before the race, was in the saddle for the first time on his downhill bike at Angel Fire. Nevertheless, he flashed the course to come in sixth place among pro men.
“I just pulled my downhill bike from the hooks a week ago,” says Leonard. “I’m very happy with that result.”
Leonard’s wife and CBMST team rider Stephanie Leonard had a shaky start to the weekend with a slow preliminary run but rallied on her final run, shaving massive time to finish in fourth in the pro women’s category.
“I had a pretty horrible seeding run but cleared my head during a break before the final run,” says Stephanie. “I was really stoked to drop 45 seconds off my preliminary run.”
CBMST gravity riders Eddie Cohn, Samuel Degenhard, Matt Defeo and Josh Palmer jumped into the fray with team mechanic Brian Chapel along to wrench on their bikes.
Heading into the weekend, Leonard kept the goals simple for his riders.
“I wanted them to cross the finish line and I wanted them to ride within their limits,” explains Leonard. “Not fast but smooth.”
All but one team athlete reached both goals to conclude what Leonard considered a successful opening weekend, with both Cohn and Palmer breaking into the top 10 in their respective classes.
“The weekend was an overall success for the team,” says Leonard.
Crested Butte Monkey Posse (CBMP) rider Kevin Bates continues his charge on the Cat I 30-39 age class this season. Bates opened the year with an 18th-place finish in Angel Fire and CBMP Cat 3 women’s rider, Nicole Digate, took second place.
The local gravity-fed riders now have their collective sights set on defending their home track at the Wildflower Rush June 26-27 at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
