The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Jingles Rules
Just three hours prior to the Pro Cycling Challenge finish in Mt. Crested Butte on Tuesday, there was an equally exciting finish in the 1st Annual Andy Bamberg Memorial Townie Crit in downtown Crested Butte.
Fifty-plus cyclists lined up in front of the post office for a shot at the townie crit title. Racers were treated to a standard course and a non-traditional course with a sneak through the Talk of the Town bar.
After 30 minutes of cycling around and around, the final sprint lap was initiated and the riders dropped the hammer.
Irwin THC rider Brian McLain came around the final turn in the lead but Mt. Crested Butte FNG Jeremy Kipp made one last move, and shifted gears, which may or may not have been against Townie Crit rules, to steal the title in the final 50 meters.
“I just heard clicking behind me as I was approaching the finish line,” said McLain.
Marcel Medved stepped onto the podium in third place. Tulsa OKC rider Barb Hess won the women’s title. Brick Oven rider Chrissy Oliveri finished in second with Tulsa OKC team rider Carolyn Westervelt in third.
It was go time for the fans following the Townie Crit, as they dispersed along the final hill climb section and packed the final stretch to the finish line.
Shout outs to Jingles the cat and Andy Bamberg were painted in the pavement in town. While some of the top cyclists in the world were preparing to battle gravity for the final push, fans were using gravity to their advantage. Standing atop a Toyota Landcruiser with funnel in hand, some enthusiastic locals were “hydracarboloading” as a warm up to run with the leaders up the hill.
Cookie Monster, Elk Head and the Pink Taco were all out to meet the top cyclists in the nation, sharing encouraging words. Even Barry Bonds was on hand for the event.
In the end, the fans were treated to another exciting stage finish in Mt. Crested Butte on Tuesday.
Last year, Levi Leipheimer made the break from a large group in the final stretch to take the stage win and overall lead.
This year, when the lead group left the town of Crested Butte and headed uphill with a minute lead, there was talk that one rider from that group may actually hold on for the win.
With two kilometers left, Swiss BMC rider Mathias Frank had left the lead group behind to push out alone. Frank faded as three other riders came by but American Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda rider Christian Vande Velde and American BMC rider Tejay Van Garderen flew by everyone with just under one kilometer to go to duke it out to the finish.
Vande Velde made his move, punching in front for a couple of big ring pedal strokes but Van Garderen matched it and then some to take the stage win and pull on the yellow jersey as the overall race leader.
“We were fortunate to have Mathias in that lead group,” said Van Garderen. “I wasn’t overconfident that I was going to win and when I saw Christian on my wheel, I thought he was in a perfect position to outsprint me so I was worried, but at this altitude I think maybe the elevation took hold and he had trouble with his acceleration.”
Last year, Van Garderen and Levi Leipheimer traded off in the overall lead through the first three stages and Van Garderen had Vande Velde hot on his wheel after the first two stages. This year, though, he appears committed to taking the overall win.
Prior to the start of the Pro Cycling Challenge Van Garderen stated, “I think the crowds and the organization blew everyone away. I was motivated last year as well. I remember when Levi took the jersey off me last year…it was pretty emotional. I’m hoping to pull it off this year and maybe take the jersey home. I’m going to fight here for the victory.”
Following his stage win in Mt. Crested Butte, Van Garderen re-emphasized his intentions.
“This year I’m going to try to keep [the yellow jersey] until Sunday,” exclaimed Van Garderen at the awards ceremony.
“It’s certainly not over,” added Van Garderen after the race. Vande Velde “certainly looks like he’s riding strong. If I can hold him and not let him get away, I can take him in the Time Trial.”
The race left the valley on Wednesday morning for the Queen Stage, taking off from Gunnison bound for Cottonwood Pass and eventually Aspen via Independence Pass. They start in Aspen the next day, Thursday, and head back over Independence Pass and through Leadville before ending in Beaver Creek. Stage five on Friday, August 24 starts in Breckenridge and will go through Fairplay into Colorado Springs. Stage six takes riders from Golden through Boulder. Then the race will finish on the streets of Denver on Sunday, August 26 with the Individual Time Trial.
