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BRECKENRIDGE - Young legs be damned. Sometimes the wily old veterans just can't be beaten.
Thane Wright's performance proved as much at the Peaks Trail Time Trial, the fourth of seven races in the Colorado Freeride Summit Mountain Challenge.
Wright, a 44-year-old endurance specialist in his 16th year as an SMC regular, posted the top time at Wednesday night's all-out sprint of a race, finishing the technical, tortuous Frisco-to-Breck course in 42 minutes and 2 seconds.
He narrowly beat runner-up Kevin Kane, who represents the opposite end of the spectrum as far as demographics go. Kane, at just 16, has vaulted to the top of this series in an astoundingly short duration. He came within seven seconds of posting the fastest time of the night in what would've been more than just the latest reminder that he's a rider to watch for years to come.
As it was, however, the time trial belonged to a man who began riding in this series the same year Kane was born.
"There's not many time trials in mountain bike racing," said a typically humble Wright, "so it's a great opportunity to get to race this discipline. It's just such a perfect trail for this race."
Kane, meanwhile, said that despite the pace at which his times have dropped on the Peaks over the years, the course seems like it gets harder by the year.
"Just because things sneak up on you," he said, as a pack of teenage girls surrounded him. "You can go out and preride this all you want and things still sneak up on you."
Wright was followed in his Pro/Elite category by last race's winner, 39-year-old Todd Smith, who finished in 42:12, three seconds behind Kane.
Asked later whether he felt OK during the race, Smith said, "It's hard to tell. You're going so hard the whole time, you never feel good."
Thane Wright's performance proved as much at the Peaks Trail Time Trial, the fourth of seven races in the Colorado Freeride Summit Mountain Challenge.
Wright, a 44-year-old endurance specialist in his 16th year as an SMC regular, posted the top time at Wednesday night's all-out sprint of a race, finishing the technical, tortuous Frisco-to-Breck course in 42 minutes and 2 seconds.
He narrowly beat runner-up Kevin Kane, who represents the opposite end of the spectrum as far as demographics go. Kane, at just 16, has vaulted to the top of this series in an astoundingly short duration. He came within seven seconds of posting the fastest time of the night in what would've been more than just the latest reminder that he's a rider to watch for years to come.
As it was, however, the time trial belonged to a man who began riding in this series the same year Kane was born.
"There's not many time trials in mountain bike racing," said a typically humble Wright, "so it's a great opportunity to get to race this discipline. It's just such a perfect trail for this race."
Kane, meanwhile, said that despite the pace at which his times have dropped on the Peaks over the years, the course seems like it gets harder by the year.
"Just because things sneak up on you," he said, as a pack of teenage girls surrounded him. "You can go out and preride this all you want and things still sneak up on you."
Wright was followed in his Pro/Elite category by last race's winner, 39-year-old Todd Smith, who finished in 42:12, three seconds behind Kane.
Asked later whether he felt OK during the race, Smith said, "It's hard to tell. You're going so hard the whole time, you never feel good."
After a rougher-than-expected experience at last year's Peaks Trail Time Trial, Jill Sorensen virtually dominated the women's race this time around, finising nearly a minute faster than the second-swiftest female racer, Holly Harvin.
Sorensen completed the 7.9-mile course - which climbs 1,200 feet (and descends 460) - in 50:31, with Harvin crossing at 51:22.
"I just felt better this year," said Sorensen.
The Peaks Trail not only hosts the lone time trial in the series, but it also presents one of the burliest courses. Not in distance or vertical gain, of course; this reputation comes from the four-letter word rock.
Very few of the 149 racers Wednesday managed to ride the entire course without clipping out of their pedals at least once. At least one wore a mouthguard as a precaution. Others wound up running their bikes through the uphill finish line because the rocks had bitten through their tire.
And, yes, there were plenty of wipeouts worth recounting once the lactic acid had relented.
"I was taking corners a little bit wide and the grass is higher than the stumps right now, so there are some hidden treasures," said pro/elite racer Christian Ball, wearing a shirtful of Peaks Trail dirt. "I probably went 15 feet after I hit the stump - and I was going uphill."
Despite the route's technicality, the novelty of a time trial still sent most of the racers home fulfilled. Others were grinning at the feeling that comes with getting passed by later starters.
"That's the worst part of a time trial," said Cat Morrison. "When the people who start behind you pass you."
Colleen Ihnken, the top finisher in the expert women 35-plus division, concurred: "I was feeling good until that little kid passed me. He looked like he was about 10."
Sorensen completed the 7.9-mile course - which climbs 1,200 feet (and descends 460) - in 50:31, with Harvin crossing at 51:22.
"I just felt better this year," said Sorensen.
The Peaks Trail not only hosts the lone time trial in the series, but it also presents one of the burliest courses. Not in distance or vertical gain, of course; this reputation comes from the four-letter word rock.
Very few of the 149 racers Wednesday managed to ride the entire course without clipping out of their pedals at least once. At least one wore a mouthguard as a precaution. Others wound up running their bikes through the uphill finish line because the rocks had bitten through their tire.
And, yes, there were plenty of wipeouts worth recounting once the lactic acid had relented.
"I was taking corners a little bit wide and the grass is higher than the stumps right now, so there are some hidden treasures," said pro/elite racer Christian Ball, wearing a shirtful of Peaks Trail dirt. "I probably went 15 feet after I hit the stump - and I was going uphill."
Despite the route's technicality, the novelty of a time trial still sent most of the racers home fulfilled. Others were grinning at the feeling that comes with getting passed by later starters.
"That's the worst part of a time trial," said Cat Morrison. "When the people who start behind you pass you."
Colleen Ihnken, the top finisher in the expert women 35-plus division, concurred: "I was feeling good until that little kid passed me. He looked like he was about 10."
George Gruber VII, the kid in question (he's older than 10, but not much), was one of a number of riders to raise some eyebrows with his time Wednesday. He bumped up from the junior division and proceeded to finish faster than every other sport racer (45:23).
Scott Tanner also had a good night, winning the expert men 35-plus division in 43:47, as did Tim Faia, who continues to obliterate courses on a singlespeed bike since joining the Gary Fisher 29er Crew this year. He rode Wednesday's route in 43:15, the fourth-fastest time overall.
Crystal Miller was the fastest sport woman (58:03); Evan Kelly (52:33) and Brook Yates (59:39) were the top beginner racers; Barry Hanson (52:25) won the clydesdale division; Erik Ladwig (53:21) was the top junior sport boy; and Heidi Gruber was the lone junior sport girl (57:23).
Devon O'Neil can be contacted at (970) 668-4633, or at doneil@summitdaily.com.
Top Five Times
Men
1. Thane Wright - 42:02
2. Kevin Kane - 42:09
Scott Tanner also had a good night, winning the expert men 35-plus division in 43:47, as did Tim Faia, who continues to obliterate courses on a singlespeed bike since joining the Gary Fisher 29er Crew this year. He rode Wednesday's route in 43:15, the fourth-fastest time overall.
Crystal Miller was the fastest sport woman (58:03); Evan Kelly (52:33) and Brook Yates (59:39) were the top beginner racers; Barry Hanson (52:25) won the clydesdale division; Erik Ladwig (53:21) was the top junior sport boy; and Heidi Gruber was the lone junior sport girl (57:23).
Devon O'Neil can be contacted at (970) 668-4633, or at doneil@summitdaily.com.
Top Five Times
Men
1. Thane Wright - 42:02
2. Kevin Kane - 42:09
3. Todd Smith - 42:12
4. Tim Faia - 43:15
5. Jeff Covey - 43:17
Women
1. Jill Sorensen - 50:31
2. Holly Harvin - 51:22
3. Kristin Schwarck - 52:53
4. Brenda Moczygemba - 52:59
5. Colleen Ihnken - 53:20
4. Tim Faia - 43:15
5. Jeff Covey - 43:17
Women
1. Jill Sorensen - 50:31
2. Holly Harvin - 51:22
3. Kristin Schwarck - 52:53
4. Brenda Moczygemba - 52:59
5. Colleen Ihnken - 53:20
