The Colorado 'cross season's two big UCI events rolled into town last weekend, bringing some of the nation's best racers out to Boulder to test out their legs, lungs and the National Championship's course at Valmont Bike Park. The combination of the Colorado Cross Classic's sandy, flat reservoir course and Boulder Cup's relentless hills is a surefire way to find out who the top 'crossers are. The Evol team went toe to toe with these fierce fields and held their own—a few crashes notwithstanding.
On Saturday, Kate and Jess both netted top-30 finishes in a field that featured the reigning queen of 'cross, Katie Compton.
Ken and Grant weren't so lucky, as they got tangled in a crash at the start, which Josh narrowly avoided. Though they fought valiantly back through the field, they weren't able to hop on J-Pows train as former national champion Jeremy Powers skated his way back to the front of the race after a mishap of his own - a truly impressive feat.
With double team tents set up on pit row under gorgeous fall weather, Kristen Peterson kicked things off with a podium finish in the 3's at Valmont on Sunday, and from there, the team hit their stride. Kate and Jess both rode to top-25 finishes. The men's race saw Ken score his best-ever UCI placing at 19th, with Josh netting 35th from a field 65 riders deep. Grant took a tumble after hopping on to the sharp end of the field on the first lap, but he fought through to finish only a lap down, resplendent with a beer hand up from the roaring crowd on the 5280 stairs.
Though there's always a post-Boulder Cup hangover in Colorado, the team is amped to roll into mid-October. It's the golden hour of fall 'cross season. Plus, if you missed the action at Valmont, it'll be bigger and better in January when Nationals is held on that same track.
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