The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Take second place as a team
[ by Than Acuff ]While a relatively young team, the Crested Butte Devo high school bike race team is getting it done in their respective classes and rolled to a second-place team finish at the Haymaker Classic in Eagle, Colorado on Saturday, September 12.
Nine riders rolled up to the start line for CB Devo across all four race classes with three JV boys setting the tone in their race led by Robert Spencer. Spencer went down with an injury at this same race last year so there was some history to undo for Spencer.
“He had redemption on his mind,” says coach John Landreth.
Spencer exacted revenge on the course and then some as he went out with the lead group of three riders and tucked in behind them biding his time. With four miles left in the race, Spencer pushed out in front of the three-pack and rather than take his turn pulling, he pulled away for good to win the race and take over as the overall series points leader.
“He’s living his best life out there in front,” says Landreth.
Nate Taylor and Soren Eggebraten joined Spencer in the JV race and were positioned in the top five after the first lap and Taylor remained there to finish in fifth. Eggebraten won the season opening race in the freshman class and moved up to the JV class in the second race and showed that’s right where he should be coming in one second behind Taylor in sixth place to help in the team point total.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with all three of them,” says Landreth. “They are all just students of the game which is fun to watch.”
But it wasn’t just the JV “bronado” scoring team points for CB Devo, as Tilly Rinderle and Grace Tucker were a big part of the team’s success. Rinderle remained the top rider among sophomore girls rolling to her second win of the season to remain the overall points leader while Tucker remained in the mix out front of the girls’ freshman race to place fourth.
“Tilly has a lot of confidence going and it’s contagious with the rest of the group,” says Landreth. “It was a huge performance out of Grace in her race; she just wouldn’t let that front group get away.”
Jackson Holsteen continues to find his groove in the varsity class. After a stellar sophomore race season last year, he bypassed the JV class to jump into the varsity class this season and continues to gain with each race placing 22nd in Eagle.
“His fitness is phenomenal, and he rode his race,” says Landreth. “He moved up a couple of spots and that’s all we can ask for.”
The lone sophomore boys’ rider for CB Devo, Sullivan Reese, is on a mission as he continues to climb his way up the results. After finishing in 19th place the first race of the season, Reese continued to climb his way up in Eagle coming in 14th place.
“He wants a top 10 and he’s got that bit between his teeth,” says Landreth.
Mason Dunn lined up for his first race of the season toward the back of the back and after getting tangled up and going down with another rider on the first turn, he was in 61st place out of 62 riders. Nevertheless, he got back up and put the hammer down to climb his way back up crossing the line in 29th place. Meanwhile, freshman racer Walker Sumners crossed in 39th place.
“I’m proud of those freshmen boys,” says Landreth.
The team heads to Glenwood Springs for a race on Sunday, September 27 and will be up to full strength with 10 athletes in the saddle for CB Devo.
“It should be a fun race,” says Landreth. “We really like the Glenwood course.”
