Dead Dog Stage Race - 4 stages wins, 1 overall win, 1 2nd place overall

The Mix1 45+ squad had some good results at the Dead Dog Stage Race, headquartered in Laramie, Wyoming.  At the road race, which went up high into the Snowy Range Mountains, the Mix1 riders, Matt Vawter, Bill Stalhuth, and Peter Ismert, had some good top 10 finishes, but were beat by some strong riders from Utah and Nevada.   Ismert was able to grab 3^rd place on the final climb to the finish, with plenty of help from his teammates during the race and at the finish.  At the criterium, they had more success thanks to Matt Vawter controlling the breakaway attempts during the race and getting in good position to ensure a fast finish.  This enabled Ismert to start his sprint from a long distance from the finish and he was able to hold it for the win (photo above is Peter winning the crit).  The Time Trial was all Bill Stalhuth.  Bill beat the entire field on a windy afternoon at 8000 feet to take the win for Mix1, beating out several other strong time trialists, and placing him in 4^th overall GC after all the racing was done.  Although Mix1 didn’t get on the podium for the overall GC, they came away with a couple wins and lots of good racing with great competition.  The race promoter and all the volunteers once again pulled out all the stops for the racers and put on an excellent event.  Plenty of local citizens from both Laramie and Centennial, WY were also out to cheer on the racers.  

Most of the 35 Plus guys took the weekend off, but Matt Gates represented the team solo and was out to avenge bad luck from last year.   He got the race off to a good start by making the winning 4 man move in the RR, dropping 2 of the guys, and then out sprinting the last remaining member of the break for the win, which also gave him the GC lead.  The crit was hard with a small field and Matt riding solo.  But he rode a smart race and let a non threatening Horizon Organic rider get away to take the win, with Matt winning the field sprint for 3rd and another time bonus.  So Matt entered the finally TT sill in the lead and delivered with a strong 2nd place that locked up the win overall.  Great ride Mr. Gates.


The 55 plus team duplicated Matt Gate's results with a 1st, 2nd, and a 3rd in the 3 stages, all by Bill Kelligher, who ended up 2nd overall (he won the crit)  Steve was also racing and constantly placed top 10 in all stages and took a fine 9th on the final GC.