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| The "classic" podium boys, L to R: Chris Johnson, Zack Allison, and Dan Miller-Lionberg |
Hats off to Zack Allison, the new FoCo GraVelo SS Champ !
We had an impressive turnout and an incredible time racing in 15-20 degree weather.
In all truth, we expected only a small handful of riders but we ended up running out of registration forms!! The amazing 50+ attendance proved that Single Speed Gravel racing is alive and well in the old Fort... Way to throw down, y'all!
An early breakaway of about 12 riders took place but was all broken up within a few miles after leaders rotated a couple times to then have the top 5 leaders put a good gap on the rest of the group. The long course went 1 mile from the town of Nunn east of Fort Collins. Winds around 30mph persisted throughout the race; lightweight riders like myself fought getting side-pushed in really lose sections, being forced to just hang on and "surf the marbles".
I'd like to thank the Sun God for shining for us and helping us make it the whole way. Would have been a different story without you... Even though the going was darn frigid, at least it seemed like a nice day. Still, riders struggled with water bottles, camelback hoses, food and snot all freezing.
The brutal wind brought about some balance by rewarding us with "a pat on the back" the last 7.5 miles pushing us all closer and closer towards that wood stove, hot chili and cold beer.
Special recognition is deserved by Rod Cerkoney and Claire Mechtly:
Rod, our only age 50+ rider of the day, won the 23 mile loop, fixed gear too. So there.
The only other "Master" racer to ever win an OxSxOx was Dr. Tim Anderson, taking 1st place Single Speed back in 2008.
Claire of 400 Smith Racing was the only lady to take on the "Classic" 45 mi loop with a middle-of-the-pack finish.
Top 3 finishers below. Full results with times tomorrow.
OxSxOx "Classic" 45.1 Mi
1st Zack Allison of Mercy Elite cycling team 2:33:05 Single Speed
2nd Chris Johnson of E2 cycling team 2:37:40 Single Speed
3rd Dan Lionberg of 400 Smith Racing 2:38:35 Fixed Gear
OxSxO "Lite" 23.5 Mi
1st Rod Cerkoney 1:33:57 Fixed Gear
2nd Bryce Johnson 1:35:05 Single Speed
3rd Izzy Krompegel 1:35:08 Single Speed
If you or anyone you know have any photos to share, please send them in! We're short on those.
bikeagainst@gmail.com
Single speeders at this 8th edition of the OxSxOx set the precedent for what's believed to have been the first winter race of this type in Fort Collins.
Blown away and Humbled,
-Raf
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