Ruby Canyon Classic

Fruita, Colorado

April 21, 1996

The Colorado racing season kicked off April 21 with the Ruby Canyon Mountain Bike Classic, and once again a Team Trek rider dominated the Pro men's race.

Durango's Daryl Price (Trek/Volkswagon) cruised to the pro victory as Laurie Brandt (Ross/Jeep) of Boulder showed her early season form was on, winning by almost two minutes in the pro women's race.

The 25.5-mile race featured lots of technical single track, double track and sections of gravel road while utilizing part of the famed Kokopelli's Trail that winds from Grand Junction, Colo., to Moab, Utah.

Last year, Trek's Travis Brown rode away from the strong pro contingent for the victory. This year, Price did the same, setting a blistering pace in the combined pro/elite race as the first three miles rolled over a wide-open dirt road.

Price held the lead into the single track as second-year pro Carl Swenson (BMW/Pro€flex) led the chase, followed by brother Peter Swenson (Ross/Jeep), Matt Smith (Mongoose), Kurt Masterson (Bouré), Brian Riepe (Ibis) and Sean Crotty (Schwinn/Grand West Outfitters) close behind. However, a Peter Swenson crash quickly strung-out the field. Price took advantage and increased his lead, riding to the victory in 1 hour, 25 minutes and 59 seconds.

"It was basically fast from start to finish," commented Riepe, who finished fifth, at 4:46 back. "It was such a short race that it was hard to make up time, even 30 seconds."

Carl Swenson finished second at 1:42, followed by Smith in third at 2:27. Crotty won the elite division in 1:30:34, a time that would have place him fifth in the pro ranks.

Brandt also set a quick pace from the start that was matched by Rene Marshman (Dean) and Karen Wilson (Jamis). However, Wilson flatted, and last years winner, Mia Stockdale (Vail Bicycle Services), slid into third.

Brandt increased her lead through the technical single track that overlooked the Colorado River, winning with a time of 1:42:49. Marshman settled for second at 1:58 back, while Stockdale finished third at 6:09.

In the women's expert class, Michele Keane (Team Algae) rode to the victory with a time of 1:52:38. However, Sandy Fee (Colorado Bike Service) relinquished her two-minute lead to Keane after falling victim to two flats and numerous mechanicals midway through the race. Tara Llanes finished second at 3:18, followed by Muffy Rite in third at 3:42. Fee settled for eighth, more than 30 minutes back.

Christian McCarthy rode to the victory in the men's expert race in 1:30:26, thanks to his superb technical skills.

"My chain fell off on the first technical section and Christian just rode through it," recalled Jeff Roy (Colorado Bike Service), who finished second at 2:14 back. "I thought I was going to be able to catch him on the climb, but he just pulled away. He was a lot more efficient on the technical stuff." Chris McGee finished third at 2:56.

Pro Men

25.5 miles


1. Daryl Price       Trek/Volkswagon     1:29:59
2. Carl Swenson      BMW/Pro-Flex
3. Matt Smith        Mongoose
4. Kurt Masterson    Boure
5. Brian Reipe       Ibis
6. Peter Swenson
7. Todd Wells        Specialized
8. Mike Volk
9. Daniel McNeil     Schwinn
10.Mark Logan

Laurie Brandt     Ross/Jeep
Rene Marshman     Dean
Mia Stockdale     Vail Bicycle Services
Abby Paulsen      Jamis
Deborah Kidd      Salsa/Boulder Beer
Jill Miller
Karen Wilson      Jamis
Nancy Reynolds

Sean Crotty       Schwinn/Grand West Outfitters
Stephen Harris    3D Racing
Jason Webster     Schwinn/Grand West Outfitters
Jerry Motacek     Mojo Wheels/Pro-flex
John Barth       
Frank Mapel
Kelly Servinski
Cory Forrest

Christian McCarthy   
Jeff Roy             Colorado Bike Service
Chris McGee          
Stefan Schiller
Jeff Mozingo
Jeff Montague
Scott Dunsmuir
Terry Wheeler
Aaron Small
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski

Michele Keane        Team Algae
Tara Llanes
Muffy Rite
Christina Begy
Michelle Grainger
Lani Dvorak
Barbara Baysenger
Sandy Fee

Ricky McDonald
Bart Adams
Rick Callies
Dawes Wilson
Russell Kappius
Robert Sibbald
Jesse Coldsmith
Keith Sanders
Jeff Watson
Rich McCreanol