Rage in the Sage
Gunnison
May 27-31, 1996
Complete Results
By Tom Horrocks
Durango's Mike Skellion (Dean/Tange/Celestial Seasonings) and Sarah Wallick (Bouré) rode away from their respective pro fields to claim overall victories at the Rage in the Sage, the second race in the Bud Light/Cannondale Cup Colorado Off Road Points Series, June 1-2 in Gunnison.
The two-day stage race featured a two-mile loop circuit and a 21-mile loop cross country that rolled through thick sage singletrack. A downhill event was also added this year, it featured a 1,500-foot drop over three miles. Three more downhill will also be held at CORPS venues this season, with points being awarded for the overall title in the pro and expert divisions.
Circuit Race
Chantal Knapp, a former U.S. Ski Team member who holds a number of top-20 World Cup finished in the slalom, super-G and downhill, put on the days most impressive performance. She crushed the expert women's field by more than five minutes in the 10-mile first stage.
After sitting back on the first lap, Knapp rolled away from the combined pro/expert field, finishing with a time of 49 minutes, 46 seconds. Sarah Wallick (Bouré) was the top pro finisher at 4:44 off Knapp's winning time.
In the 14-mile pro/elite men's race, Skellion and Steamboat's Mike Volk (Moots) traded punches at the front, with Volk crossing the line first at 1:00:26. Skellion finished second at 0:02, followed by Volk's Moots teammate Whitney Johnson in third at 2:46.
For the first time in the 10-year history of the Rage in the Sage, the men's expert division was split into two age groups. Jorge Espinoza (Taya) won the 12-mile 19-26 race in 52:28, while Darin Schlake (Wolf Creek) won the 27-34 race in 54:44.
Cross Country Faced with one of the longest races of the season, the pro/elite men set a relaxing pace on the first of two laps over the 21-mile course that featured more than 2,000 feet of climbing per lap.
"It wasn't easy, but it wasn't brutal either," recalled Whit Johnson (Moots), who rode to a fifth-place finish in his first pro/elite race.
However, on the second lap, Volk attack on the first climb. "I think he was trying to feel me out on the first couple of climbs," Skellion recalled. "And then he turned it up a notch on the second lap."
Skellion was the only one to match Volk's pace and keep him within striking distance. "The last third of the course is pretty technical, and I knew that I could get him there," Skellion recalled.
With less than four miles remaining, Skellion made his move and held on for the victory in 3:02:26. Volk finished second at 0:42 back, followed by Christian McCarthy (Ventana) at 4:09.
Once again, Knapp, dominated the expert women's field in the 21-mile race. Knapp seemed to pull away effortlessly, leaving the rest of the field, including the pro riders, in her wake winning in 1:45:18. With Knapp off the front, the pro riders Deborah Kidd (Bouré) and Sara Wallick (Bouré) battled each other for the win, with Wallick powering away for the victory in 1:47:30
"She was in my sight most of the time, but I just couldn't get her on the climbs," recalled Kidd, who finished 1:32 back.
Last year Kidd finished third overall in the 10-race series, while Wallick finished second overall in the expert division. This year both are shooting for the overall pro title, but Kidd admits that it's a friendly competition.
"It helps to be teammates," she said. "We support each other out there, and no matter what happens, it looks good for Bouré."
DOWNHILL
The first CORPS downhill race of the season featured a bit of controversy as the course didn't quite meet riders expectations. Some complained that there was too much pedaling and too many uphill sections. However, one rider that didn't mind was expert winner Alex Morgan (Critter/BCO), who blitzed the field, including the pros, winning with a time of 7:44. Doug Rogers (Mtn. Bike Heaven) was the top pro finisher at 8:02.
Missy Giove (Volvo/Cannondale) and Elke Brutsaert (Schwinn) showed up to race, but they missed the registration deadline. However, they were allowed to fore-run the course. Angie Tetrault (Colorado Bike Service), who finished second at the Tour of the Canyonlands downhill was the favored pro rider with Giove and Brutsaert on the sideline, but a practice-run crash resulted in a broken collarbone. Nancy Reynolds (RVT/Blue Pig) won the expert class with a time of 8:55, While Diane Thorton (Team Biota/Amazon) won the pro class at 9:49.
Faced with tight constraints by the BLM and Western Stage College, race promoters had to settle with the downhill course handed to them. However, promoter Greg Morin says there will be some changes next year, including a better downhill course, and maybe elimination of the circuit race, which he dubbed a nightmare to stage.
Promoter: Gregg Morin
Address: 222 N. Main,
Gunnison, CO 81230
Phone: (970) 641-0285
