The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Lee Cannon finishes fifth race in a row
A slew of Gunnison Valley bikers made the annual pilgrimage to Leadville for the Leadville 100 bike race on Saturday, August 11 with Team Alpine Orthopaedics rider Jenny Smith leading the charge posting the top result.
Bryan Dillon had the fastest local time completing the 100-mile grind in a time of 7:11:14 fast enough to get him 15th overall. Meanwhile, Lee Cannon, 65-year-old Lee Cannon, continued on his personal quest of racing in 10 Leadville 100 races in a row from the ages of 60 to 70. Not only did Cannon finish, his fifth finish in a row, but he shaved more time off his personal best.
Last year he took 20 minutes off his previous best and then returned this year to shave another 30 minutes and finishing in a time of 10 hours and two minutes.
Smith jumped into the fray of the Leadville 100 bike race for the first time last year and while she placed fourth, it didn’t come easy.
“Last year I completely disintegrated at 80 miles,” says Smith.
Smith is a veteran mountain bike racer who has spent a majority of her career on the cross-country race circuit as well as some years in the Xterra off road triathlon world. Both of which are significantly different than the Leadville 100.
In other words, while she is a heavily decorated mountain bike racer, 100 miles of racing can be a different story.
“My natural tendency is to go out from the gun fast,” explains Smith.
This time around, Smith managed to wrap her head around a new strategy specific to a race like the Leadville 100.
“I had a completely different mindset this time,” says Smith. “I was not allowed to start the race until 40 miles. I needed to finish this one strong. I had to get the monkey off my back.”
This year’s field of women was also stronger than last year’s with the top five finishers from 2011 back for more, plus an additional group of decorated bike racers jumping in.
“The women’s field is gathering depth and all riding better,” says Smith.
Smith followed her plan almost to the letter and as she approached the major climb up Columbine, it was time to switch into race mode. Smith proceeded to pass 20-30 people approaching the climb, heading up to Columbine and then back down. But on the way back to town (the Leadville 100 is an out and back course format) she found herself alone and battling a head wind for 40 miles.
“It was kind of weird with no one around,” says Smith. “It would have been nice to have a group to ride with.”
Once she hit the final feed zone at the 75-mile mark, she settled in with a group of riders, three of whom decided to make one last attack on an uphill section of road riding.
Smith managed to reel them all back in by the final crushing Powerline Climb and finished in fifth place among women with a time of seven hours, 56 minutes.
“I felt super strong the whole way, especially the last 20 miles,” says Smith. “I felt a little sad about my time, it wasn’t my goal time.”
Smith admits that once the Leadville 100 bug bites you, it gets in your blood. Though she’s not completely sold on a return for next years’ race.
“I’ll be back for more in the future,” says Smith. “It was just on the last road climb I was like, this is kind of boring.”
Cannon will return with his ten races in ten years goal set and a new time goal in mind. After coming so close this year, headwind and all, Cannon is determined to finish the race in less than ten hours.
