Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

Mountain biking omnium provides plenty of heated competition

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Created on Sunday, 12 June 2011 16:46

Written by Nathan

Photo by Bob Kane, Design Photography

By Elise Reuter, OutThereColorado.com

For many cyclists racing through Ute Valley Park, Saturday's event was more than just a race.

At the Hotter than Habanero Mountain Biking Omnium, a team of young, promising cyclists was presented with an opportunity to compete against professionals and to visit training camps across the globe.

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Riders ranging in age from 14 to 22 are training and competing with the USA Cycling Junior Development Camp to gain valuable riding skills. Based on their progress, two of the riders will be selected for another camp in Kirchzarten, Germany.
 
The omnium consisted of a short track race and a cross country race.

One of the up-and-coming riders finished first in the Category 1 women’s cross country competition. Kaylee Blevins, 15, crossed the finish line with a wide grin. Blevins is not old enough to attend the camp in Germany, but she wants to qualify for nationals this year. Blevins hopes to turn pro eventually but her focus right now is to “do my best and have a fun race.”

The men’s professional cross country race proved exciting as two of the region's top racers, Kalan Beisel and double junior national champion Russel Finsterwald, battled throughout. Finsterwald grabbed a late lead, but a wrong turn pushed him back and put Beisel across the finish line first.

“Russel’s a good friend. … He’s one of my best training buddies,” Beisel said.

“We’re pretty good buddies - we went to Boulder together,” explained Finsterwald, whose goals for the year consist of a national title and a top-20 finish for North American World Cups.

Following in third place was racer JJ Clark.

The race was a brisk 20-mile jaunt. All three riders placed in the same order for the short series.
 
Although this is the first year that Colorado Endurance Sports has put on the race, it was well-attended and sanctioned by USA Cycling. Organizer Jayson Middlemiss created the race with the help of Ryan Kohler, one of the coaches for the USA Cycling Junior Development Team. It became a unique chance for young but talented riders to race next to their professional counterparts.