Steamboat Stage Race

Labor Day weekend hosted the final event of the 2009 road season, the Steamboat Stage Race. This is a 4 day race where the winner is determined based on the lowest cumulative time. This event was brand new to the calendar, but all the feedback said it was a great event. The 45 Plus squad already had the Best All Around Team (BAT) and Rider (BAR) locked up for 2009, so they were there to have fun and enjoy the final race. The 35 Plus team sat in second for the BATand in striking distance for 1st, but it would take great results and some luck. Matt Segur was within striking distance of 3rd place for the BAR in the 35 Plus Category.



Here is a race report on the 35 Plus race from Matt

Friday Prologue TT: A few hours before race time, the mix1 35+ team headed out to the race course for sign in and course recon only to be sequestered in our cars for an hour due to a severe thunderstorm in the area. As typical with Colorado weather the storm and came went leaving great conditions for racing. The Prologue of 4.5 miles was on a closed loop plenty of climbing and fast, technical descents. Mix1 stamped our mark on the race with 3 solid finishes: Segur in 2nd; Gibson in 4th and Lucke in 19th.

Stage 2 Circuit Race: Saturday’s circuit race took place on the same 4.5 loop as the prologue only run in reverse; making the course even tougher – more climbing! Jimi the Terminator Gibson took control of the tempo setting and shredded the field. Jimi ended up off the front with the GC leader (Mitch Westhall) and Dennis Farell (9th GC). I was in the 2nd group on the road but had to sit in and not work as Jimi was up the road. Jimi finished 2nd and I finished 7th with Pete in 14th. GC after stage 1: Jimi 2nd, Segur 4th

Stage 3 Road Race: 70 miles of up and down; no flat road. The course had 2 out back legs. The peloton split shortly after the start on the first switchback climb, but regrouped slightly on a long technical downhill. The course was all rollers to on the first leg. Numerous attacks here including a long one man suicide mission. Yours truly even attacked the GC leader and Dennis Farell twice, but they were too attentive to let me get away. This large group stayed together until shortly after starting the 2nd leg when Jimi got to work on a sick tempo that cut the field down to about 8. On the next climb the group split again with just six of us left. This leg had some insanely fast down hills!!! The six us stayed together until the last 2 climbs. We lost one on the first and then another at the start of last climb. This left jimi, mitch, Byron and me. We stayed together until 500 to go when Mitch attacked, followed by Byron. My legs said no and Jimi had enough to finish 3rd. GC after stage 2: mitch, jimi, Byron, segur. There is a chance that I can still get on the podium as there are time bonuses in tomorrow’s crit.

Stage 4 Criterium: With the 1st and 2nd on GC secured by Mitch and Jimi, respectively, the battle for 3rd was between Byron, a former national criterium champion, and Segur. Byron was holding an 11 second advantage. With a mid-race time bonus prime (5 – 3 – 1 seconds) and time bonuses on the finish line (30-20-10 seconds) Segur had the opportunity to secure 3rd on GC and put to two mix1s on the final GC podium. The race was fast and furious from the gun with the GC contenders teams all on the front controlling the race and other teams looking to get some results on the final stage after being dominated by Mix1 and Green Mountain all weekend. Segur attempted two attacks on the field taking advantage of two teammates, Jimi and Pete, on the front. These attacks were unsuccessful as Byron was attentive and chased hard to bring it back with support from his team and others looking for results. At the mid-point of the race the time bonus prime was announced and Segur went on the wheel of Pete having him lead out and allowing Segur to sprint for the 2nd time bonus of 3 seconds and cutting Byron’s lead down to 8 seconds. Jimi and Pete rode selflessly on or near the front of the race keeping everything in check and taking the pressure off of Segur. The race came down to the final lap with much action on the front. Segur managed to position himself in 3rd wheel coming into the final corner for the bunch sprint to line. Unfortunately, Segur picked the wrong wheels to follow and was only able to finish in 6th position ahead of Byron but out of the time bonuses.

Final GC:
2nd – Jimi
4th - Matt

The team made a heroic effort to win the 35 Plus BAT but after a season of racing came up 7 points short. Matt's 4th place did allow him to secure 3rd overall in the BAR for the season.

All in all a very impressive season for Mix1. They took 1st in the 45 Plus BAT and 2nd in the 35 Plus BAT. They took 1st, 2nd and 5th in the 45 Plus BAR as well as 3rd and 10th in the 35 Plus BAR. This team has come so far in only it's 3rd year and everyone is excited for 2010.