ColoBikeLaw.com 35+/Cat 4 Racing Team

2009 March

In 2008, we were fortunate enough to have won the American Cycling Association's award for Best All Around Team, and by all accounts 2009 is off to a great start as well. We're really lucky to have a great bunch of guys to not only race with, but hang out with too!

The season started early with the Valley of the Sun (VOS) Stage Race in Phoenix, AZ. CBL brought a contingent of 7 racers for this 3 day event, and we ended up taking 3 of the top 10 GC spots in our division. It was a hard race, the locations were spread out, making travel a bit of a challenge, and the courses themselves were unforgiving.

It was a great time to get away, race and learn more about the sport and each other. We combined a mini camp with the race, and gained valuable insight on how we can work together as a team.

After the VOS, we regrouped back in Colorado and enjoyed a little down time before the real season started in earnest. So far, the CBL squad is showing great promise by sweeping the podium at the Frostbite Time Trial in Ft. Collins.

This spring, we will again be holding our annual training clinic with USAC Elite Level Coaches Barney King and Corey Hart, MS. Held in conjunction with the Subaru / Vista Auto Group Criterium and Haystack Mountain Team Time Trials, we're excited to kick off what hopes to be another promising season with a clinic to help us form strategy, learn to function as a team in races, and most of all enjoy the company of friends.

We really look forward to racing with a whole host of great teams in some of the best venues in the country. Stop by and say 'hi' after the race!

See you at the finish line,

The ColoBikeLaw.com 35+/Cat4 Team

2008 Summary

All images courtesy of Mark Woolcott Photography

2008 is off to a great start for the ColoBikeLaw.com 35/4 squad, our season officially kicked off with the Koppenberg race in Superior. Our BAR/BAT point earners this race were Sean Hampton finishing 6th despite several mechanical failures, and Manny Lorenzo squeaked in for 19th. The rest of the squad played their roles well and the race was a success by all accounts.

On April 12 and 13, we held our annual Training Clinic under the guidance of USAC Cycling Coaches Barney King (Phoenix, AZ) and Corey Hart (Boise, ID). Our coaches put together a weekend of learning opportunities both in the classroom as well as on the road, and we had over 25 racers attend. The results spoke loud and clear as we rolled through the weekend of fast and furious racing.

We fielded 4 Teams at the Haystack Mountain Team Time Trial on Saturday; the course was windy, around 18 miles or so, and fast. We took the podium with 1st and 3rd/4th (tied) placings, and our final team came in a respectable 6th in a very fast race with increased winds.

Sunday was no different as we raced the AST Crit in Golden. We executed a plan during the race that allowed us to not only win half of all the prem's awarded, but we also attacked and lead Matt Swenson to the line for the win. Sean Hampton took 10th, and Tim Hurtgen not only won a prem but also came in 12th rounding out our BAR/BAT points. Perhaps two of the most exciting parts of the race were when Erik Swanson attacked and opened up a sizable gap for an uncontested prem, and also when Manny Lorenzo attacked mercilessly over and over again, splitting the field and causing serious pain to the rest of us back in the Peloton!

All in all, a great weekend of racing.

A special thanks to our team sponsors for making this weekend a reality, and a special thanks to the Lazy Dog Grill in Boulder and the Rock Rest Lodge in Golden for hosting our classroom time, and serving up the best Steamworks beer (www.steamworksbrewing.com) on the planet!

As we come up to Deer Trail, we're excited to have the opportunity to field another strong squad and hope that we see everyone out there for another great day of racing.

Stay tuned, 2008 is going to be a great year!