Winter Races Continue in Leadville

Mtn Bike “Fatty” Series Kicks Off on Saturday

If winter can’t stifle your lust for adventure then strap a helmet on and get ready to take on dauntless gearheads from far and wide. The Cloud City Wheelers of Lake County are kicking off the Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series (WMBS) with the Tennessee Pass Night Jam this Saturday, Jan. 19.

Bring a headlight and a helmet for a high-speed race on groomed Nordic track through the trees near Ski Cooper for the Tennessee Pass Night Jam. Registration/check-in begins at 4 p.m. at the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center with the race set to begin at 6 p.m.

The Wheelers are a local subordinate of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, and the success of the winter race series has enabled them to build new trails, expand and improve upon existing ones, groom regularly, and help in education and advocacy efforts in Leadville. They continue to leave a mark on up-and-coming youth riders and the county’s year-round recreational accessibility.

Entry to the race is $20. The Leadville Winter Mountain Bike series continues throughout the season slowly drawing nearer to the heart of Lake County for the East Side Epic, a tour of Leadville’s historic mining district on April 20.

For more about the Cloud City Wheelers and the Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series, visit www.cloudcitywheelers.org, or contact them directly via email at info@cloudcitywheelers.org. They are always actively seeking help from volunteers and partners with common goals.

It’s a FatBike-Palooza in Leadville Today! Pick from any number of fat-tire races and other winter fun at 10,152 feet! Photo: Leadville Today/Brennan Ruegg

Shoe, Bike and Ski At Winter Tri

This Saturday, Jan. 19, winter sports enthusiasts from around the region, will gather in Leadville for Pedal Power’s Aria Athletic Club & Spa Winter Triathlon. This race takes place at the Leadville’s Colorado Mountain College Timberline Campus starting at 10 a.m. and will consist of a 5K snowshoe, 10K snow-bike and an 8K skate-ski.  This event will be open to both individual competitors and teams.

With incredible conditions awaiting participants and a reputation for courses that present tactical as well as physical challenges, this multi-discipline winter event is ideal for endurance athletes of all levels to test their abilities at a variety of snow sports. The snowshoe leg of the event takes place on the off-site, single track, with the bike and ski portions playing out on groomed nordic-track, depending upon recent snowfall, which is setting up nicely.

As part of the race, there will be a Winter Tri ‘Team Challenge’ specifically designed to encourage and recognize team efforts within the discipline.  The Team Challenge winners will be eligible for special prizes based upon the combined times of each team’s participants.

Racers should meet at CMC – Leadville, one hour before the start to allow time for registration and to coordinate equipment.  It is suggested that participants call Pedal Power in advance at 970-845-0931 for directions.

Pre-registration for this event is $35 for individuals and $30 per person for teams. Racers can register on the day of the race for $45 for individuals or $30 per person for teams. Participants can pre-register directly online at pedalpowerbike.com.  They can also get forms at Pedal Power Bicycle Shop in Eagle-Vail or by calling 970 845-0931.

This is the second event of the 2018/2019 Pedal Power Winter Race Series.  The non-profit series benefits local charities in Eagle and Lake Counties. The next event in the Winter Race Series will be the Eagle-Vail Metro District Snow Mtn Bike Race.  That race will take place on February 6 at 10 a.m. with racer registration at the Eagle-Vail Pavilion.

Thomas Schoonover graduated from Colorado Mountain College Leadville last May but not before he competed in the 2018 Colorado Cup fat bike race. This year’s races are on Jan. 26 at CMC Leadville. Photo Lauren Swanson

Colorado Cup Races Roll into Leadville Jan. 26

The Colorado Mountain College running club will host this year’s Colorado Cup races, which include snowshoe, fat bike and cross-country ski events, at CMC Leadville on Jan. 26. The Colorado Cup will feature a 6.4K skate ski race, an 8K fat bike race and 5K/10K/sprint/medley snowshoe races at the Leadville campus. Beginners to experts are welcome to compete in one or all three of these thrilling races.

The 5K snowshoe race will determine the Colorado High School Snowshoe State Championship. Racers will compete on the trail system surrounding the campus. The Colorado Cup has taken place since 2009, under various names and in different locations, and has been the state high school snowshoe championship since 2010.

The races will start at 8 a.m. and will continue until noon. Fees range from $20 to $40 and participants can register online. All proceeds benefit the Colorado Mountain College Competition Club, which supports the running club.

After two years of tough competition, the CMC running club will join the National Junior College Athletic Association next year. By joining the NJCAA, the CMC club earns the designation of a team and will compete against two-year colleges in the Wyoming, Colorado and western Nebraska region.

Starting next fall the Leadville campus will host races and travel to other colleges. It will be possible for students to run with CMC for two years, then transfer to a larger program. It will also be possible for athletes to compete on the team from any of CMC’s campuses. A runner attending another CMC campus can follow the workout schedule online, attend meetings virtually and travel for meets. Members must attend school full-time (12 credits) and not have any previous college degrees.

For more information about the race, the club or the team, contact Darren Brungardt, coach of the college’s running club, at 719-486-4296 or dbrungardt@coloradomtn.edu.

The Colorado Cup started as a snowshoe race in 2009 and now has evolved to include fat bike and Nordic ski racing, too. Skate skiers will begin the day, followed by fat bikers and snowshoers. Photo: Lauren Swanson