Recapping the 2010 Breck Epic backcountry mountain bike race

A week ago today 127 mountain bike racers were cranking down on the Wheeler Trail in the fifth-stage of the 2010 Breck Epic. The Wheeler Trail includes a series of switchbacks on narrow-gauge singletrack that overhangs cliff-bands and the precipitous slopes of Peak 9. After reaching the crest of the Tenmile Range at 12,460' racers descended the Wheeler Trail, first through high-alpine tundra meadows then Evergreen forests to Copper Mountain, to complete one of the toughest sections in the entire six-day, 240-mile race.

On Friday the athletes rolled across the finish line in Breckenridge, CO, and one of the world's toughest mountain biking races successfully concluded after six days of racing (See below for the top three finishers in each category). Reggae pulsed over the PA at the finish line. MC Seth Strickland called out results and provided plenty of witty banter. Competitors lounged around chatting and smiling while sipping bottles of Fat Tire Ranger IPAs and Michelob Ultras in the can at 10am. They are fierce rivals and the closest of friends.

During each day of the race athletes rode a different course designed to feature some of the best singletrack trails in the region. Racers climbed a total of 37,000' (seven miles) over six days at elevations between 9,000' and 12,460'. They crested the Continental Divide and the Tenmile Range. Some did it solo, some with a partner. Some did it with just one gear. One did it on a fully-rigid bike.

The weather - one of the X factors in mountain bike racing - cooperated perfectly except for brief cold and wet conditions during stage 3 on the West side of the Continental Divide in Park County. Otherwise each day was cool in the morning then sunny and warm. Athletes concentrated fully on racing and not on adverse weather conditions.

The superbly-organized race leveraged ultra-bike friendly Breckenridge, CO and the legendary singletrack trail systems surrounding the town. Numerous trails connect seamlessly with Breckenridge and enabled stages to start and end all within minutes of the town center and the racers compound. Following police-escorted pelotons through town, racers disappeared into the mountains and emerged hours later.

The race proceeded almost quietly throughout the week in Breckenridge with minimal traffic disruptions thanks to solid race planning and execution and to all the volunteers out on the course helping ensure everything went down according to plan. Aid stations were available at several positions along each course for racers’ every need.

The Breck Epic's organizer, The Greenspeed Project, will use race proceeds in part to improve and protect open spaces and trail systems in Summit County. The race helps improve the experiences for anyone who spends time outdoors in the county. The Greenspeed Project itself is comprised of outdoors enthusiasts who work and play in the mountains.

The 2010 Breck Epic was a memorable event for the town of Breckenridge. It demonstrated how fully this high alpine community embraces mountain biking, competition and open spaces. The town is ready for the 2011 Breck Epic.

Following are the top three finishers in each category and their total times for all six courses. Full results are available here.

Solo Open Men

1. Jeremiah Bishop - 18:16:12
2. Alex Grant - 18:23:33
3. Josh Tostado - 18:43:07

Solo Open Women

1. Pua Sawicki - 20:32:44
2. Ivonne Kraft - 22:07:21
3. Wendy Lyall - 25:08:30

Solo Singlespeed

1. Evan Plews - 20:41:44
2. Dejay Birtch - 21:55:04
3. Michael Melley - 22:19:36

Solo 40+ Men

1. Mark Sevenoff - 21:40:07
2. Patrick West - 22:00:19
3. Garth Prosser - 22:00:52

Solo 50+ Men

1. Russell Kappius - 21:37:42
2. Russell Asleson - 23:32:32
3. Bruce Wilson - 24:34:46

Solo 40+ Women

1. Elizabeth Winfield - 27:21:54
2. Kathy Eckert - 29:17:24
3. Kara Durland - 30:26:09

Solo 50+ Women

1. Kim Bear - 32:06:18
2. Kate Prusack - 35:48:36
3. Devora Peterson - 36:42:07

Clydesdale

1. Ken Kreidl - 25:35:23
2. Steven Thompson - 27:16:40 
3. Matt Blevins - 33:46:52

Duo Men Open

1. Parsons / Muhlfeld - 21:01:30
2. Zahnd / Iten - 22:43:29
3. Pemberton/ / Pemberto - 27:46:37 

Duo Women Open (one team)

1. Gates / Ranoa - 28:58:21

Duo Coed

1. Kerkove / Looney - 23:55:36
2. Eriksen / Eriksen - 25:30:36
3. Rishel / Rishel - 28:16:42

Duo 80+ Men (Combined ages)

1. Overstreet / Thompson - 22:43:58
2. Brezsnyak / Piker - 22:57:19
3. Bednarski / Munger - 23:53:55

Duo 100+ Men (Combined ages / two teams)

1. Bear / Johnson - 30:00:40
2. Darling / Hardisty - 33:09:49

Team Relay (two teams)

1. Larry Johnson - 26:26:27
2. Shannon Galpin - 28:52:08