Saturday December 4 greeted regional cyclocross racers with frigid temperatures and a challenging course for Colorado's state cyclocross championship put on by boulderracing.com. An exciting race that kept the hardy spectators on the edge of their seats came down to a 2-man sprint for the Colorado State Champion. Alex Coelho (Redline) and Jon Baker (Primus Mootry) approached the line together on the last lap, and it was Baker taking the state championship. Baker took 2nd in the race. Overall winner Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) was not eligible for the championship crown.
Vitamin Cottage had a strong presence in the selective field with four riders: Chuck Coyle, Christian McCarthy, Joe Taddeucci, and Jon Tarkington taking the start. Tarkington rode an inspired race to finish 7th among a who's who of Colorado Cyclocross. For more details on the race, see http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/9240.0.html.
With their results, Baker and Tarkington took over 1st and 2nd in the ACA's best-all-around rider category edging out Paul Esposti. Esposti had the lead by a few points prior to the state cross race.
If you can't beat em', join em'. Vitamin Cottage welcomes Jon Baker to its team for the 2006 road racing season.