Race, Race Report, Top Stories

Encierro Velo Recap

KIOWA, CO — It was a great day of racing for COS Racing at the Encierro Velo 100K Gravel Race, particularly in the Masters’ field. Six COS Racing riders took to the start today on a grueling 60-mile course that featured several long climbs and dozens of shorter ones. The top COS Racing performance came from Vladislav Dragomirov – who finished just off the podium in 4th place overall and 1st in the Men’s 30-39 category. Several of our Master’s racers also took podium positions. J Erik Hartel came in 14th overall and third in Masters Men (MM) 50+ while Mike West, Kevin Healy, and Michael Jones took first, second, and fifth in MM 60+.

As one might have predicted, this field was disproportionately stacked with professional gravel and road racers from throughout the region – most notably, team-friend Jonathan Cavner (Rodeo Labs) and former team member and neo-pro Henry York (Rio Grande) – all eager to race hard after a long COVID-enforced racing drought. At mile 5, on a section of road that featured strong crosswinds, Rodeo Labs launched a strong attack that shattered the field. Only Dragomirov was able to match the intensity – for a while, at least. Not atypical of gravel racing, the rest of the COS Racing contingent was left to race solo or in small groups soldiering through deep sand and over washboard conditions. Dragomirov described his race experience as a 54-mile individual time trial after losing contact with the lead trio. Most of our other riders shared his experience.

The race concluded with a Paris-Roubaix-style lap of the interior of the rodeo arena – a grueling slog through soft sand that had many riders dismounting to run their bikes across the line. The race was ultimately won by Nick Gould (Rodeo Labs).

This race was the first cycling event in the region since the lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions. Race organizer Phil Schweizer maintained solid control over the environment, enforced standards of social distancing and face-coverings in the start and finish areas, and had ample quantities of hand-sanitizer and other supplies on hand. Gravel racing is uniquely well-suited to social distancing since fields tend to splinter into small socially-distanced groups and individuals rather quickly. In this race, Rodeo Labs’ early attack set the conditions for a very dispersed race.

Additional solid performances came from David Johnson and George Pollard York, who placed 20th and 26th overall respectively.

Top Stories

In Memorium of Teammate Dr. Ryan Scott Knoche (1977 – 2019)

COLORADO SPRINGS — It is with great sadness that COS Racing announces that Ryan Knoche, a stalwart member of our mountain bike race team, passed away from natural causes on November 9, 2019 after completing the Palo Duro Canyon 50 Mountain Bike Race in Texas.

Ryan was an outstanding mountain-biker with great charisma and a deep love of the sport. He was always ready to ride and race hard then share a laugh with teammates afterward. He was also a chiropractic doctor at Springs Chiropractic in Colorado Springs. Ryan leaves behind his wife of 17 years, Keely and their two children.

During the 2019/2020 season, COS Racing’s kit will feature a black commemorative patch bearing Ryan’s name to honor his memory, legacy, and cycling accomplishments.

A Celebration of Life Happy Hour will be held in Ryan’s honor on his birthday, December 4, 2019 from 4-7:00 pm at Trails End Taproom, 3103 West Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ryan Knoche Charitable Fund c/o Pikes Peak Community Foundation at www.ppcf.org/donate or 102 South Tejon Street, Suite 350, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80903.

Ryan’s full obituary can be read at the Colorado Springs Gazette website: LINK

Team Event, Top Stories

2019-2020 Season Registration is Open

COLORADO SPRINGS on 20 OCT – Today marks the official start of COS Racing’s 2019/2020 racing season. Last year was one of the most successful years for the team in its five-year history – with more than 125 top-three podium finishes across all disciplines at the international, national, regional, and local levels across all disciplines, except BMX.

Online registration opens today at COS Racing online and in-person tonight at the annual team registration event and meeting.

Most notable, we had international podium finishes by Chris Murphy at UCI Para-cycling Track World Championship and Para-cycling Track National Championships. Our mountain-bike team also podiumed at several MTB National Championship events in 2019, as well as won consistently throughout multiple MTB world-class multi-day and endurance events such as the Breck Epic. Liz Woods took 2nd at Masters National Track Championships. At the individual level, at least a dozen riders upgraded this year as a result of their successes in the local racing scene.

New riders who are interested in joining/applying for COS Racing’s race- or club teams are invited to attend our team meeting today at 6PM for information. See inset for details. New and returning members are also welcome to register above under the “MEMBERSHIP” tab above.

Top Stories

COS Racing Annual Membership Meeting Scheduled

COLORADO SPRINGS – On October 20th, COS Racing will hold its annual membership meeting at sponsor Pink Realty‘s new location in Colorado Springs.

This will be an informational meeting for prospective riders and returning members, as well as an opportunity to meet team members and learn about programs being offered to support racers and bike racing in our region. COS Racing has spots available for interested male and female riders on its Road, Mountain Bike, Gravel, Cyclocross, and Track squads.

  • WHO: All current and interested riders/racers
  • WHAT: COS Racing Membership/Information Meeting
  • WHERE: Pink Realty – 4783 Farmingdale Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80918
  • WHEN: October 20, 2019, 6PM -8PM
  • WHY: Renew team members; recruit new members; learn about new programs; try on new Primal kits for sizing; party; socialize; eat and drink. 

Among these topics, the team will unveil its new tiered race team system and kit and discuss its new sponsors, team benefits/discounts, race-reimbursement program, and travel reimbursement programs.

COS Racing is Colorado Springs’ largest racing team with more than 80 members. COS Racing racers had more than 125 top-3 podium-finishes this year in national, regional, and local races.

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Race, Race Report, Top Stories

Multiple Podiums for COS Racing at High Plains Grinder

ELBERT, CO – COS Racing made a significant impact on the podium during today’s High Plains Grinder – taking podiums three podium positions in the short-course race.

Ian Matteson, Matt Bell, and Vladislav Dragomirov took 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place, respectively, in the short-course race Men’s Open Category. J Erik Hartel took 3rd and Kevin Healy achieved 4th in the short-course Masters 50+. According to initial reports, team member and former US National Champion mountain biker Daniel Matheny finished in 4th place in the long course event, while Peter Tonn finished in mathematically-impossible “billionth place.”

Podium - Mens Short Course Open
Podium – Mens Short Course Open

This year’s event was significantly larger and more competitive than last year’s edition. Approximately 190 riders competed – split almost evenly between the 40-mile short-course and the 70-mile long-course. Both routes consisted of rolling hills through the windy and exposed prairies in and around Elbert. Conditions were also challenging with no shortage of quality washboard, headwinds, and sand.

The quality of racers at this year’s event also added to the challenge. The fields for both races contained numerous national, regional, and local race teams, including Lucky Pie, Tierra Plan, Modern Market, Subaru Groove, Trek, and Clinch. Former UCI professional rider Tom Danielson (Clinch) headlined the long-course field.

At least nine COS Racing riders lined up at the start including Matt Bell, Vlad Dragomirov, J. Erik Hartel, Kevin Healy, and Ian Matteson in the short-course event and Nicholas Brummer, Chris Ferguson, coach and sponsor Daniel Matheny, and Peter Tonn in the long-course.

Race, Thunderbird RR, Top Stories

Thunderbird Road Race p/b Darkblade Systems Results POSTED

COLORADO SPRINGS — Final results for this weekend’s State Road Race Championships have been posted to RaceResult.com and are available for download here.

2019 Thunderbird-RR-2019-ResultsDownload

Thanks to all 263 racers who competed, as well as to the many volunteers who donated their time to this event. Thanks also to the US Air Force Academy for allowing us to host this challenging event on their installation.

Finally, thank you to Darkblade Systems for sponsoring this event for the second year. Darkblade Systems is based in Northern Virginia with personnel supporting Intelligence Community and Department of Defense customers in Colorado, various other domestic locations, as well as overseas.  Events such as this one would not be possible without outstanding corporate sponsors.

See you all at next year’s event.

COS Racing