Category Archives: Race Report

Report of race by admin or individual racer.

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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.

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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.

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Four Podium Finishes at Pikes Peak Hill Climb

PIKES PEAK SUMMIT, CO – At yesterday’s 2019 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, COS Racing raced to four podium finishes. Racers Matt Bell, Lacey Rivette, JJ Lopez, and Daryl Spano finished atop the podium in first, second, third, and third places in their categories, respectively.

We got not 1, not 2, but 4 podiums!

-Ron Buhdi on Facebook, 10 August 2019

In Mens Senior Cat 4, first-year COS Racing racer, Matt Bell took the top-spot on the podium. Lacey Rivette took cond place in Womens Senior Cat 5s. JJ Lopez and Daryl Spano each took third overall in Masters Men 50+ Cat 4 and Masters Men 50+ Cat 1/2/3. respectively.

These results featured some tenacious riding. Riding in the 50+ Cat 1/2/3 race, Daryl described his race as “got dropped by the whole group but ended up clawing my way to third. Everyone on the team rode with inspiration! I call that a good day.”

…got dropped by the whole group but ended up clawing my way to third. Everyone on the team rode with inspiration! I call that a good day!

– Daryl Spano

Often described as brutal, iconic, and legendary, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb is 20-kilometer race up one of America’s tallest peaks. The event requires racers to ascend over 4,700 feet of elevation in slightly more than 12-miles.

Additionally, COS Racing riders Christo Clements, Ron Buhdi, George York, and Tony Nelson competed at the event, however, final results have not yet been published.

Race, Race Report, Top Stories

COS Racing Team Podiums at 2019 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals

WINTER PARK, CO – On July 26, 2019, three COS Racing riders competed for national honors at the 2019 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals in the Winter Park, Colorado. Two COS Racing riders took 5th place in their respective categories, while COS Racing member, sponsor, mentor, and coach, Daniel Matheny placed 6th overall.  This year’s event was hosted by Winter Park Ski Resort

Competing in the XC Women 25-29 Cat 1/2 event, Lacey Rivette raced to 5th.  Relatively new to endurance sports, Lacey wrote “I can’t describe how it feels to know that after only a year of consistent training and hard work, a girl who never did any type of racing or endurance sports was able to stand on the podium next to some insanely talented and fast ladies!”  This performance marked a notable improvement over her 7th place finish at this year’s 2019 Marathon Nationals at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas.

I can’t describe how it feels to know that after only a year of consistent training and hard work, a girl who never did any type of racing or endurance sports was able to stand on the podium next to some insanely talented and fast ladies!

– Lacey Rivette

In the XC Mens 35-39 Cat 1/2 race, Peter Tonn took the 5th step of the podium, matching his recent performance at Marathon Nationals.  Peter finished just 15 seconds off the lead group of four riders and a minute or so in front of former National Champion and COS Racing rider Daniel Matheny.

This year’s event took place on a climby, 5-mile singletrack loop that started at 9,000 feet above sea-level and topped out at over 9,600 feet.

For more information see:

Race Report, Top Stories

Multiple Top-10 Finishes by COS Racing Riders at the 2019 USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championship

On May 11, 2019, four COS Racing athletes competed at the USA Cycling Marathon Mountain Bike National Championship at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas, taking home a second-place, fifth-place, seventh-place, and ninth-place in their respective categories. This marks a particularly success performance by the team’s MTB squad competing at the National level.

This year’s most notable performance took place in the Master Men 35-39 category where top COS Racing/Matheny Endurance rider and coach Daniel Matheny finished second overall. Matheny, last year’s National Champion in this event, faced stiff competition this year from Brandon Melott of DNA Racing who won by over two minutes. COS Racing teammate Peter Tonn finished ten minutes further back for a fifth-place finish after more than three-and-a-half brutal hours in the saddle, resulting in two COS Racing riders placing in the top-five nationally in this category. This race featured one of the largest fields over top-performing 33 riders.

In women’s racing, Lacey Rivette took seventh overall in the Women’s Open 19-29 category, while veteran COS Racing rider David Johnson placed ninth overall in the Master Men 55-59 race, after just over four hours of hard racing.

COS Racing rider Dustin Holcomb was slated to race in Mens Master 45-49 but did not start due to illness.

This year’s event took place near Amarillo, Texas, on Palo Duro Canyon’s Comanche Trail and had over 350 riders registered. Race organizers boasted that the course consisted of technical climbs and descents, as well as sections of smooth, fast trails of the floor of the canyon. Rain over the preceding night made for muddy conditions in places. Next year’s event will use the same course.

#3Tbikes #actionpotentialcos #bolleeyewear #coloradocycling #coloradosprings #cosracing #elevationwheelcompany #icoachbadasses #ipautomationcos #kidsonbikescos #leespiritsco #mathenyendurance #mynthomes #pactimo #pikespeakathletics #primalwear #procyclingwarehouse #rockrimmonvisionsource #runnersroostcs #trailsendtaproom #usacycling Chris Murphy colorado springs Community Service cos racing cosracing cx cyclocross Daniel Matheny darkblade systems darkblade systems thunderbird road race eric fossell gravel Group Ride Lacey Rivette Matheny Endurance mathenyendurance MTB Para-Cycling Peter Tonn pink realty race results Racing Team Event track

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COS Racing Competes in the Road Race at ‘Front Range Classic’

US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLORADO – Sunday was another outstanding early-season day for road racing at the early season Front Range Classic with COS Racing landing on the podium at least once during multiple challenging races amongst packed fields and tough national-level competition.  The road race took place on a fast 13-mile hilly course on the US Air Force Academy. 

More than a dozen COS Racing riders entered the Mens, Womens, and Masters Road Races. According to multiple competitors, the preceding week’s blizzards had cancelled travel plans for many professional and elite teams headquartered in Colorado resulting in a surge in elite-level participation in this event.  By race morning this meant that nearly every race was full with a waiting list for many categories.  This was not limited to professional categories.  Nearly every race reached capacity with fields of 75 riders.  Although the fields were large, the hilly course rapidly stretched out most fields into small groups and individuals riders.

In the Mens Masters (40+) Pro/1/2/3/4/5 race, four COS Racing riders – David Neis, Glen Larson, Ian Matteson, and Erik Hartel – competed against a sold-out field of mostly-elite level riders.  On the first lap, a group of seven created an early break which resulted in a brutally-fast start for the event as other teams chased to close the gap before the climb.  By the middle of the first climb up Pine Drive, the Masters’ field had largely exploded into a small lead group, multiple smaller chase groups, and a long line of stragglers.  David Neis was able to catch was able to bridge to the lead group before the summit and remained there throughout. On the same climb, Larson, Matteson, and Hartel fell off.  Larson and Matteson were able to hang with the lead-group stragglers until a second group coalesced around them.  Led by Larson, this group rode to a respectable mid-pack finish.  Neis stayed towards the front eventually finishing 17th overall.  Afterwards, looking a bit dazed, Neis stated, “I expected this race to be hard, but not that hard.”

COS Racing riders from the Mens 4/5 race expressed similar sentiments.  Riders Michael Brothers, Peter Jackman, George York, Ron Budhi, Tom Rathbun, Matt Payne, Mark Leenheer, Vladimir Dragomirov, and others competed in a full field of competitive riders.  Riding a gravel bike, Michael Brothers lost contact early, however most others remained with the lead group during what Budhi described as an easy first lap until the first climb up Pine Drive.  This climb attrited more than half of the lead group but left the majority of the COS Racing’s Cat 4/5 team intact.  On the second climb, Jackman led teammates Buhdi and Dragomirov in closing a gap to the attacking group of ten riders.  After the group came back together, the pace slackened for the much of the final lap in preparation for the final ascent.

“…from my perspective, the [final] shakeup happened around the fire station. I just kind of looked back and saw that there was a good-sized gap that had opened. I ended up cramping a bit so lost contact with the group of 10 or so, but got back on.”

– Peter Jackman, 5th in Mens Cat 4/5 race

Jackman sprinted to fifth place from a small lead group with the remainder of the COS Racing team finishing shortly thereafter.

Other COS Racing Riders Peter Tonn and Matt Brady, as well as Liz Woods and Marisa Faro ccompeted in the Men’s 3/4 race and the Women’s road race, respectively. More details will be published as results from those events become available.

Race, Race Report, Top Stories, Uncategorized

COS Racing Opens the Colorado Road Season at ‘Front Range Classic’

US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLORADO – During the first day of racing at the annual Front Range Classic, COS Racing riders notched up solid criterium performances against large fields and tough competition. Despite the cancellation of the earlier time-trials due to icy conditions, the morning sun quickly melted any winter residue left over from Wednesday’s blizzard and made for a great day of criterium racing.

Top-ten results included a second place, one fifth, and a seventh place on a fast .7mi criterium course at the US Air Force Academy. 

In the Men’s Masters (40+) Open Category, Dave Neis raced to fifth place against an strong field of Pro/1/2/3/4/5 racers, finishing just behind former US Hour Record Holder and US National Road Race Champion, Norm Alvis.  

In the Men’s Cat 4/5 race, five COS Racing riders lined up against a strong field of over 60 racers.  Racers Ian Matteson, Matthew Payne, and Vladimir Dragomirov succeeded in making it into the decisive move early in the race, when a group of 20 riders, driven by Ian Matteson, was able to open a gap on the remainder of the field.  Matteson held position near the front throughout the race and was one of the key animators on the climb.  With about seven laps remaining, Matteson’s efforts on the front had reduced the field to fifteen racers. Matthew Payne demonstrated smart tactics throughout remaining well sheltered in the lead pack.  With three laps to go, Dragomirov launched an attack that further strung out the lead group.  Matteson crossed the line in second, while Payne and Dragomirov sprinted to 7th and 13th positions, respectively. Riders Mark Leenheer and Ron Buhdi placed finished behind the lead group.

Additional COS Racing competitors included Matt Brady in the Men’s 2/3 Crit.  Matt rode a strong race, initially sticking with the lead group before getting separated and finding himself in one of the many chase groups. He finished 11th overall.

COS Racing is one of the co-sponsors of this race.  Over fifteen team members volunteered on day one to manage on-site registration, number pick-up, and course preparation.

Race Report, Top Stories, Uncategorized

MacFarlane Takes Second in 2018 BRAC CX Cup

COLORADO SPRINGS – COS Racing Team Member JohnMcFarlane took 2nd place in the individual 2018 BRAC CX Cup Point awards in the Men’s 40+ Category 4 Cyclocross (CX). John is a stellar CX and gravel rider who notched up multiple podium finishes this year. John’s outstanding season podium finish can be attributed to fast, solid, and consistent riding across the entire series.

John MacFarlane – 1st Place – 2018 Cross of the North – MM 40+ – 11 November 2018

Most notably, MacFarlane took the top step of the podium at this season’s Cross of the North and Salty Cross, placed 4th in Eldora, 6th in the State Championships, 7th at the Rocky Mountain Regional CX Championships, and
11th at Sienna Lake.

RESULTS

BRAC. “John MacFarlane Race Results – 2018.” – Results

RACE PHOTOS

Muncy, Ryan. “2018 Cross of the North Day 2 – Ryan Muncy Photography.” 2018 Cross of the North Day 2 Gallery RSS, Ryan Muncy Photography , ryanmuncyphotography.smugmug.com/2018-Cross-of-the-North-Day-2/.

Murphy, Brent. “8:55am – M40+4 / M50+4 .” 855am M40+4 M50+4 Gallery RSS, Brent Murphy Photography, www.brentmurphyphoto.com/2018-Cyclocross/2018-11-1011-Cross-of-the-North/2018-Cross-of-the-North-Sunday/855am/.

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