Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Cyclists spin through Ketchum’s corners

Sun Summit’s annual criterium takes to the roads

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The fourth annual Ketchum Criterium sponsored by Sun Summit was held Sunday, June 27 on the roped-off streets of west Ketchum.

Local racers Whit Albright (second from left) and Billy Olson of Sun Valley Road & Dirt make their way around Sunday’s Ketchum Criterium course. Express photo by Willy Cook

A criterium is a "road bike race on a short course in city streets," said race organizer Greg Stock of Sun Summit. "It involves a lot of cornering and sprinting—it’s very technical."

This year’s race saw fewer contestants than years past due to the unknown timing of some road work in Ketchum. The race date was in question, so the criterium lost some Boise riders to a race in Oregon.

Sunday’s course was the same as previous years: A three-square block, 0.4-mile loop running through the heart of West Ketchum. Spectators lined the course in places.

The day’s spotty weather only became an issue during the Men’s Category 3 race when hail and heavy rain pelted the course.

But, "the guys toughed it out," said Stock, and the race was never delayed for weather.

The biggest hindrance occurred when the inflatable Red Bull finish line arch collapsed when a generator ran out of gas.

Of course, the cruiser class has become an annual spectacle with costumed and careening cruiser riders ducking into alleyways, cheating the course and just being a general menace. This year was no exception.

"The cruiser race was crazy—about 30 people doing all kinds of nutso stuff," said Stock, who added it was a "fun free for all." With the entire field cutting through an alleyway at one point, the rules were clearly out the window.

 

Here are Sunday’s results:

Citizen men: 1—Abram Fleishman, 2—Wesler Corrales (Hailey). 3—Frederic Boloix (Ketchum).

Juniors: 13-14: 1—Max Durtschi (Sun Summit). Juniors 15-16: 1—Jose Garcia (Sun Summit). Juniors 17-18: 1—Kristian Timmons (Durance Cycleworks).

Masters Men 35+: 1—Chris Williams (Sun Summit). 2—JT Theis (Intermountain Orthopedics). 3—Marc Gilbreath (Rocinante).

Masters Men 45+: 1—Kris Thoreson (Sun Summit). 2—Steve Cole (Boise Cycling Club). 3—Bob Walker (Autoliv).

Women Category 4: 1—Alysia Cohen (Tamarack/Goldy’s). 2—Heather Thiry (Tamarack/Goldy’s). 3—Jodi Cuccia (Intermountain Orthopedics).

Men’s Category 4.5: 1—Troy Quesnel (SV Road & Dirt). 2—Moses Mexia (Scott USA). 3—Will MacFarlane (Velocity).

Men’s Category 3: 1—Jason Eder (Balance Bar). 2—Michael McClure (Balance Bar). 3—Shawn Cheney (Canyon Bicycles).

Cruiser Class: 1—Joel Mallet (The Blue Hairs). 2—Unknown. 3—The Papst Man (anonymous).

Women Pro 1,2,3: 1—Sima Trapp (Tamarack/Goldy’s). 2—Stacey Scanlan (Tamarack/Goldy’s). 3—Kris Walker (Bingham’s). 4—Jana Repulski (Tamarack/Goldy’s). 5—Mary Hall (Tamarack/Goldy’s).

Men’s Pro 1,2: 1—Remi McManus (Subway Express. 2—Matt Newbill (Bode/Specialized). 3—Scott Robinson (The Elephant’s Perch). 4—Christoph Hurley (Lost River Cycling). 5—Bill Olson (SV Road & Dirt).

 

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