Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Vitamin Cottage cyclocross racer Jonathan Baker posted an impressive 10th place at the UCI C1 CrossVegas race held on September 24th. Baker raced with the front group which contained all of the domestic 'cross stars, along with several international standouts such as Thomas Frischneckt and Christoph Sauser. Although mildly disappointed with his final placing, partially due to some drivetrain issues, Jon was optimistic afterwards that his fitness would lead to some big results in the future.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Jonathan Baker is preparing for national UCI circuit after winning all of the elite men's races in Colorado so far this season, including:
9/13 Pikes Peak Supercross #1 in Colorado Springs
9/14 Brecktobercross in Breckenridge
9/21 Mammoth 'Cross #1 in Golden
This Wednesday he travels to Las Vegas for the UCI C1 Race 'Cross Vegas (this race is sponsored by our own Denver/Boulder Couriers) to compete against the best in the nation. ‘Cross Vegas kicks off a circuit that will include UCI Racing in Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, Delaware, Pennsylvania culminating in the national championships to be held in Kansas City, Missouri in mid-December. After that it is on to the World Cup circuit, with races mainly held in Belgium and The Netherlands. This racing will serve as preparation for a bid at World Championships, held at Hoogeheide, NL, in early February.
Contact Jonathan:
720-323-6712
jbaker.beasys@gmail.com
Friday, September 19, 2008
In the 2008 road racing season, the Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team pb XP Companies took Colorado's Best All Around Team Competition in the men's pro-1-2 category for the fifth year running. With that title now in the books, attention turns to cyclocross.
Jon Baker notched a pair of wins to open up his cyclocross account for the Vitamin Cottage Cycling Team pb XP Companies. In prior years, Baker has had different team arrangements during the cyclocross season but will be racing in the familiar orange and purple in 2008.
Saturday, Sep 13 saw Bear Creak Park in Colorado Springs as the venue. Baker lapped all but second and third place on his way to victory in the men's elite race. Sunday, Sep. 14 provided some high-altitude cross in Breckenridge Colorado. Baker had to come back from a mid race mechanical problem but was still able to pull off the victory.
Next up its Cross Vegas for Baker and a team of special guests, including former VC rider and current Successful Living Pro Chuck Coyle. Cross Vegas is held in Las Vegas during the interbike trade show. Last year Baker held is own in the lead group of domestic and international cross stars and finished 7th on the day. Stay tuned for a race report.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Kirsten started racing more consistently in the junior women’s 10-12 category this year. She raced the past two seasons doing tandem races with her dad and the state TT on her own. After her first season of cyclocross she wanted to strike out on her own for road races. She especially wanted to compete in the Cherry Creek TT series. After winning two of those time trials Kirsten was hooked on bike racing. Halfway through the season out of curiosity she checked the BAR results and found herself in fourth place. She set her sights on moving up in the ratings and finished in first place!
Kirsten placed in the top 5 all year and had a long string of races where she was first or second. She won at the Wheels of Thunder, Longmont Criterium, and Rock the River races. The competition came down to the last weekend of racing. Kirsten needed to do well in both races to hold the lead position. She placed fourth in the Federal Center Circuit race and then sixth in the Bannock Criterium.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Baker wins Tour of Colorado, Gateway and Boulder Roubaix – Jon Baker continues to have a strong 2008 campaign. This past Saturday, Baker took out one of Colorado’s most prestigious races by winning a wet and muddy edition of Boulder Roubaix. The win was a sweet one due to the teamwork involved. Jon Tarkington went in a very early move with Alan Krughoff (Team Rio Grande) and put pressure on the field. When Tarkington was caught late in the race, Christian McCarthy took off on a solo move. Sheldon Taylor (Team Rio Grande) bridged up to McCarthy with only Baker in tow. Upon Taylor’s arrival at the McCarthy rear wheel, Baker launched a textbook attack and held it to the line for the win. McCarthy would finish third. Derek Strong continued a string of solid performances by finishing 6th and Dirk Friel took 7th. Tarkington hung on for 10th.
Baker finished 5th the following day at another Colorado Classic – the North Boulder Park Criterium. With that placing, Baker clinched the Tour of Colorado. In taking that title, Baker won a pair of climbing road races the prior weekend in Grand Junction, CO.
In women’s racing, Anne Lannan took 2nd in the North Boulder Park Criterium with VC teammates Renee Eastman, Lisa Strong and Jenna Allen taking 6th and 9th and 10th, respectively.
McCarthy racks up silvers – in other race news, VC strongman Christian McCarthy notched three-in-row second places in recent weekend races. In all three instances, McCarthy was second to some solid professional riders. McCarthy took second to Heath Blackgrove (Toyota United), Chris Baldwin (Toyota United) and Jason Donald (Garmin-Chipotle) at the Federal Center Circuit Race (Aug 2), Bannock Criterium (Aug 3) and Vic’s Prospect Criterium (Aug 9).
Pinkerton wins Nevada Masters State Championship – VC team manager and long time rider Bob Pinkerton recently took the Northern California/Northern Nevada State Criterium Championship in the 50+ Division at the Carson Valley Classic Criterium.
Kellagher, Barrowclough and Mapes – The Vitamin Cottage pb XP Companies team snagged a few recent victories of note. Bill Kellagher won the 45+ and James Mapes the Category 3 Boulder Roubaix race. Mathew Barrowclough won the Salida Criterium.
Monday, July 14, 2008
McCormack takes the win (photo by Lewis Geyer/Timescall.com)
Alan McCormack won the 2008 CO State Criterium Championship in a dramatic finish. While Dirk Friel's presence in a long breakaway looked promising for him to repeat as the state crit champ, with three laps to go, Friel was the last rider away after his three breakaway companions were swallowed up by the field. Friel held a narrow margin over the field, but with half a lap to go was caught. Never fear, as McCormack along with teammates Randy Reichardt and Christian McCarthy were well positioned for the sprint. McCormack took a close sprint over Reichardt in second with McCarthy finishing in sixth. Reichardt's second was impressive given that he crashed hard just 15 minutes earlier. For a full report, check out the Longmont news article from the timescall.com.
In Saturday's Rocky Mounts Criterium, Dirk Friel took second to team THF's Dan Schmatz.
The 08 State Crit podium (Byron Nix, Alan McCormack and Randy Reichardt)