Steve Matous, Bill Kellagher and Steve Birnbaum lined out for Mix1 at the race start. Our field was capped at 125 riders and we know 110 finished the race so for us it is the largest race in Colorado. All the top Colorado contenders were on the start line (Workman, Beaudin, Weir, Montgomery) as well as many from out of state so we knew it would be a good race. The first flat 12 miles were unevenful but on Shalona hill, as the peleton slowed to tackle the 6% grade, Matous went to the front and rode away from the group. Bill recalled after the race that all of a sudden racers started going into the red zone and knew the race was on. Fairly quickly Beaudin bridged up to Matous and a few minutes later Workmen also came across but it was obvious he had to work hard to do it. While there was already a gap the three now worked together to make the gap several minutes before getting to the climb up Coal Bank. About 1/2 way up Coal Bank Workman dropped off the back and by the time the summit was reached Beaudin had a 150 yard lead on Matous. The downhill saw Beaudin quickly pull away but on the way up Molas pass Matous again pulled him back to within 150 yards. Alas once over the pass the dye was cast and on the run into Silverton Beaudin maintained his lead and won the race Matous taking 2nd.
Behind the breakaway Bill was working with a small group of 3-4 others (including Montgomery &Weir 1st & 2nd last year) but by the top of Coal bank had broken away. On Molas pass Bill caught then passed Workman and ended the day 3rd. Mix1 had two podium places!
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