Record Weekend for the Grand Junction Off-Road

Two of three Epic Rides Off-Road Series events are in the books and a sold out Carson City Off-Road awaits.

While Colorado’s high country thawed, the West Slope’s riding season welcomed mountain bikers with a selection of the country’s finest backcountry singletrack located in Grand Junction, CO’s Lunch Loops trail network. Ideal springtime weather and a record turnout helped the 4th Annual Grand Junction Off-Road deliver a memorable weekend celebrating the mountain bike for both riders and non-riders alike.

The pro races featured some interesting shakeouts as some of the world's best vied for the share of the $100,000 series purse, split evenly between the males and females. The Grand Junction event followed up last month's Whiskey Off-Road and precedes June's Carson City Off-Road where the series champions will be awarded a $10,000 bonus for their staunch efforts. Here's a look at what transpired this past weekend.

Navigating a heinous section of trail on Andy's Loop during the amateur ride of the Grand Junction Off-Road Saturday.

Minds blown and enjoying the moon-like scenery of Andy's Loop

The band Tight Thump performs during the men's Fat Tire Crit Friday in downtown Grand Junction.

In its second year of collaborating with the Downtown Music Festival, 18 bands filled the five block bike and gear expo + Sierra Nevada beer garden with tunes on three different stages. From local and regional acts, to national headliners on Friday and Saturday evening, there was no shortage of entertainment for all to enjoy along the city’s unique meandering Main Street.

Doug Simmons and his band played classic hits Saturday.

The Stone Foxes rocked as dusk settled in over Grand Junction Saturday.

Large crowds packed the streets of Grand Junction, dancing to the bluegrass sounds of Head of the Hills.

Pro Fat Tire Crits

As per usual at each Epic Rides Off-Road Series event, the pro's take to the crowd-lined streets on Friday night to do their best roadie impression as they duke it out for cash primes and call-ups for Sunday's main backcountry race.

The men's race takes off from the starting line Friday.

Katie Compton edged out Rose Grant in a photo finish Friday evening.

Todd Wells wins the men's Fat tire Crit as Barry Wicks chases close behind.

Results

Top 5 Women:
1. Katie Compton (Trek Factory Racing)
2. Rose Grant (Stan’s NoTubes - Pivot)
3. Alexis Skarda (Stan’s NoTubes Elite Women’s Team)
4. Serena Bishop Gordon (LIV Giant Schwalbe)
5. Courtenay McFadden (American Classic, Zones)


Top 5 Men:
1. Todd Wells (SRAM TLD Scott)
2. Barry Wicks (Kona, Maxxis, Shimano)
3. Cole House (Door County Brewing Company, Intelligentsia Coffee, FSA)
4. Benjamin Sonntag (Clif Bar, Niner, Maxxis)
5. Pablo Fernandez (Novamex, Bicycle Company El Paso, NoTubes NM)


Full Crit Results

Backcountry Race

While some "XC" races cater mainly to fitness and feature multiple loops on buffed out trails, the Grand Junction Off-Road requires equal parts strength to skill and provides a healthy dose of techy goods, all in a big loop format. Riders endure legitimate challenge on backcountry terrain, and at the end of the day can stake claim in calling themselves a bonafide mountain biker.

A rider swoops down Andy's Loop during the amateur race at the Grand Junction Off-Road Saturday.

Recent rains brought spring flowers to the dry desert.

Dropping into Andy's atop some well-placed rocks.

Pro Races

Grand Junction local Sparky Moir catches a breather on the downhill of Twist and Shout during Sunday's pro race.

Barry Wicks plows through a technical of the Tabaguache Trail followed closely by Eivind Røed during the pro race Sunday.

Todd Wells kept a solid lead while dropping into Andy's Loop. Wells won with a time of 03:01:48.

Troy Wells finds the clean line on the Tabaguache Trail Sunday.

Jennifer Smith takes in the expansive views on Twist and Shout during Sunday's pro race.

Rose Grant follows up her win at the Whiskey with a top place finish in Grand Junction.

Todd Wells wins the Grand Junction Off-Road with a time of 03:01:48 and takes command of the overall series.

With two of three events down, the Grand Junction Off-Road solidified ‪Rose Grant‬ and ‎Todd Wells‬ as contenders for the overall $10,000 series bonus. We'll have to wait for Carson City Off-Road to find out who wins the cash.

Backcountry Results

Top 5 Women:
1. Rose Grant (Stan’s NoTubes - Pivot) - 3:41:50
2. Alexis Skarda (Stan’s NoTubes Elite Women’s Team) - 3:47:11
3. Amy Beisel (Team RideBiker, Isoride, LIV) - 3:47:21
4. Mical Dyck (Stan’s NoTubes Elite Women’s Team / Cannondale) - 3:49:13
5. Courtenay McFadden (American Classic, Zones) - 3:49:36

Rose Grant took the top spot and $5,000 at this year's Grand Junction Off-Road.

Top 5 Men:
1. Todd Wells (SRAM TLD Scott) - 3:01:48
2. Benjamin Sonntag (Clif Bar, Niner, Maxxis) - 3:03:31
3. Nic Beechan (Trek Test Team, Shimano, Fox) - 3:10:03
4. Menso de Jong (Clif Bar, Niner, SRAM) - 3:10:56
5. Brian Matter (Team Wisconsin, Trek, Shimano) - 3:10:58

Todd Wells took the top spot and $5,000 at this year's Grand Junction Off-Road.

Full Backcountry Results

With great excitement, in its first year the Carson City Off-Road reached its registration capacity of 600 riders 6 weeks prior to event weekend. Hosted in Nevada’s Capitol city, the Carson City event holds the potential to up the ante once again for mountain biking with the Pro rider meeting being hosted at the Governor’s mansion, three different backcountry mountain bike courses offering all levels of mountain biker a legitimate trailside challenge and a 3-day downtown celebration on the town’s main street and at the foot of Nevada’s Capitol and Legislature’s sprawling lawns.

Needless to say, it's shaping up to be quite the party in Carson City.

See ya trailside.

---

MENTIONS: @epic-rides

---