The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
$6,000 Cash Purse and Triple Crown up for grabs this weekend
by Stan Cola
New this year, the Gore-Tex Grand Traverse Mountain Run and Bike will be held over the course of two days, giving participants the chance to compete in both events. The trail run will depart Crested Butte’s Elk Avenue at 6 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, finishing in Aspen. The mountain bike race will start on Sunday, September 6 in Aspen at 8 a.m. and will traverse the Elk Mountains in the opposite direction, finishing at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
The Triple Crown
The Grand Traverse Triple Crown is the combination of the three Grand Traverses races: skimo, run and bike. Those who completed the skimo race this past March are qualified to attempt the Triple Crown. Triple Crown status is achieved by completing all three races in the same year. This year is the first opportunity to achieve the GT Triple Crown.
Team Participation
In the tradition of the Grand Traverse ski race, summer racers will also be offered the opportunity to compete in teams of two. Participants may choose from either Individual or Team divisions in both run and mountain bike. There is also a Combined Team category, where each member of the team races one of the disciplines, competing to receive a fastest combined time. Individual athletes competing back-to-back as dual run and bike competitors will also be recognized in a separate Dual Sport category.
Course details, aid station locations, cut-off times and registration info can all be found at www.elkmountainstraverse.com or cbnordic.org.
