Cyclists have been known to refer to a ride of 100 miles as a “century.”
A century is a serious ride. It’s often an all-day affair for greenhorns. Think LoDo to Vail Village. On a bike.
Much like a marathon with runners, the century is a benchmark that separates the devotees from the enthusiasts.
And then there are the zealots.
Astride a roadbike weighing the equivalent of a pair of mittens with tires the width of a grown man’s index finger, pedaling over pavement for 100 miles is no mean feat. But for a small group of cyclists, it’s not nearly enough.
In downtown Breckenridge on Saturday, the second annual Breckenridge 100 Cross Country Mountain Bike Challenge begins at 6 a.m. The off-road endurance race takes mountain bikers along three different loops through the Colorado backcountry over 100 miles of trails, singletrack, double track, dirt roads, jeep roads and bike paths. In total, cyclists will cross the Continental Divide three times and climb a 12,400-foot pass while forging high-mountain streams and carrying their own supplies.
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BRECKENRIDGE 100
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Time is a good measure of just how grueling this event can be. Last year’s winner of the men’s title in the inaugural event was Josh Tostado, who finished the course in 9 hours, 13 minutes. The nearest competitor finished in just under 10 hours. And all racers are required to exit the course by 7:30 p.m. – 13 1/2 hours after the start.
The event also features duo and trio tag-team competitions as well as a 100-kilometer option for the first time. Take in the spectacle at Carter Park in Breckenridge, where riders convene for “fuel” at the aid stations as well as the awards presentation and party at 7:35 p.m.
An online exclusive that runs each Friday, examines the memorable, less visible and lighthearted aspects of Colorado’s sports landscape. DenverPost.com sports producer Bryan Boyle can be reached at bboyle@denverpost.com.
From the columns
“The most anticipated personnel move of the 2006 NFL season may not be Terrell Owens to the Dallas Cowboys or even Jay Cutler’s rookie season with the Broncos, but rather the debut of Tony Kornheiser in the booth of ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football.'”
From the mailbags
“I believe the Rockies have enough pitching to win the West – particularly if they add a bullpen arm like LaTroy Hawkins, Roberto Hernandez, Elmer Dessens or Jeremy Affeldt. On too many nights, they haven’t had enough offense. That’s reflected in the records of Jason Jennings and Aaron Cook.”
From the message boards
“Bye! Bye! Robbie! Back to LA from whence he came. Tanguay and now Blake. With the implementation of the salary cap, Colorado doesn’t appear to have a viable plan to put forth a competitive team in the coming years.” — BC Boy
From the online exclusives
The 2006 World Cup wrapped up Sunday with Italy’s victory over France in the finals. Click on this online exclusive to review the soccer extravaganza with a calendar, rosters, venue information, a quiz and much more.
A look back
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| Special / Pam Overend |
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. Durango’s Overend, who will turn 51 in August, shows no signs of slowing down. |
