The working man’s and woman’s stage race is a 4 event training race omnium taking place Monday August 2^nd through Thursday August 5^th.  Following the final event on Thursday there will be a BBQ and awards ceremony.  Points will be awarded for each stage.   All racers who race at least one stage will be eligible for overall awards.  Also, volunteers are needed to make this event happen!  Volunteers will get 3 points for each stage they volunteer for (for up to 2 stages) which is equivalent to a 3^rd place stage finish!  See the stage descriptions for volunteer positions available.  Email Lisa Curry ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to sign up.  First come, first serve on volunteer positions.

For more info (categories, scoring, stage descriptions, locations and times) see the Gallatin Valley Bicicle Club website.

Results

WMSR 2010 Stage 1 Results (Old Windmill Prologue TT)
WMSR 2010 Stage 2 Results (Chuck Norris Loop RR)
WMSR 2010 Stage 3 Results (“Col du Langohr” hill climb)
WMSR 2010 Stage 4 Results (“Meadow Creek Mayhem” criterium)

CG Results

WMSR 2010 GC after Stage 3
WMSR 2010 Final GC

Thanks to John Curry for planning all these great stages, and to Lisa and John for all the organization of the WMSR.

The 2010 Montana road race State Championships was held this past Sunday in Phillipsburg Montana.  The 77 mile course consisted of long flats, big climbs, wind, and 85 degree temps. The field consisted of Men's 4's and the super strong Master A's.  In the 4's, Michael Curtin, David Ellenberger, Alex Schoenfelder and Jesse Vernon showed up to play for the GAS / Intrinsik team.  With their Gallatin Alpine Sports / Intrinsik Architecture kits zipped up, Maxxis tires fully inflated, Smith Optics securely fastened, and their Hammer Fuel onboard, the team was ready to go.

This past weekend John and Lisa Curry, as well as Alex Schoenfelder traveled to Colorado for MTB nationals.   David Ellenberger and I (Alex Lussier, token Canadian, ineligible for US nationals) made the trip to Whitefish for two MORS series mountain bike races.  Saturday's Granja del Cerdo race was one of the truest test of cross-country skill and endurance in the Montana series.  Almost entirely on single track the course was rooty, bumpy, 30 miles long, with 4,250 feet of climbing, and...  It was hot!  Both David and I managed 3rd places in our respective categories.  Clint Muhlfeld (Sportsmans) took an early lead and never looked back.  A rider from Calgary started conservatively but moved up to within 2 minutes of Clint by the end of the race.  Champion ski mountaineer Brandon French (Great Northern) rode well for the first part of the race but faded in the heat at the end, allowing me to pass him for 3rd place with less than a mile to go.

Sunday's race was short and fast.  Unfortunately I had no speed left in my legs!  I battled for 5th with Eric Greenberg (Flathead Cycling) for a while before settling in to 6th. Matt Butterfield (Sportsmans) was lightening fast, winning the race in just over an hour.  Clint had recovered well enough to stay in second, therefore clinching the weekend's combined title.

Cow Country has "queen event" status in Montana due to its length and relentless hills and wind.  The GAS/Intrinsik turnout was modest in the men's 1-2-3 field with 4 riders: John Curry, Brian Frykman, Jared Nelson, and Alex Lussier.  But, in a Montana field, that's enough.

Sometimes at Cow Country, the first 35 miles along the river can be rather uneventful.  Not so this year.  Attacks started early with a few riders evidently keen to get in an early break.  Alex and Jared covered everything they could until an inconspicuous attack by Elliot Bassett (NRO), which was followed only by John and Geoff Proctor (MT Velo).  We felt confident that if the break stayed away, John could finish it off so the rest of us took a breather.  The only downside for John is that he ended up soloing the last 40 miles of the race.  But its hard to feel bad for someone who's soloing for victory!  Still, an impressive ride, especially after winning the Homestake pass mountain bike race the day before!

As always happens in "the big climb," things broke up and riders were scattered, regrouped, and scattered again along the last 40 miles to the finish.  Brian pushed the pace up the climbs, dropped everyone with him, and caught everyone in front of him except for John, thereby capturing second place.  GAS goes 1-2!