Breck Epic: Stage 6, Gold Dust - Race Recap

Stage six – Gold Dust Trail. Perhaps the second most fun stage at Breck Epic, but only because there’s a DJ and a dance party at “Stage” “Seven.” Characterized by two, fast climbs and two wide-open, ripping descents, The Gold Dust stage caters to riders who are willing to roll the dice and let it all hang out.


Huck Seals the Deal, Nash Takes the Day

Erin Huck (Cannondale/3 Rox) came into the final day with more than 11-minutes between herself and second-place opponent, Katerina Nash (Clif Pro Team). Huck was in a comfortable place, just needing to follow Nash and sit on her wheel to maintain the lead. She did just that and she drank a beer.

“We traded the front a couple times and I caught her on the first descent,” said Nash who ended up winning the day. “She caught me on the (last) climb, and then I caught her on the last descent and we rode in together.”


Huck went through Aid 1 first but was caught by Nash on the final climb. Going through Aid 2, before dropping in for the final dive to the finish, Huck even took a beer feed from a spectator, and thus, fully-embracing the nature of the stage for most of the competitors.


Huck, who finished the day right behind Nash, thus sealing her overall win, said “I really just wanted to have fun and not suffer too much. So I just tried to keep up with Katerina on the downhill and race a little with Evelyn and I accomplished all those things. No mechanicals and no crashes. I was kind of conservative because if you have one flat tire, who knows how long it takes to fix, especially at this altitude.”


Grotts Takes the Stage and Overall

Starting the day third overall and 2:44 off the lead, Howard Grotts (Specialized) was a long-shot to regain the overall lead. Given the history of the final stage, racers finish in tight groups, but Grotts launched early on the day and was solo going through Aid 1 with a gap of three minutes on race leader Todd Wells (SRAM/TLD/Scott) and Geoff Kabush (Scott/Maxxis).


Coming up the second and final climb of the race, Grotts had a six-minute gap on Wells and Kabush. With a not-very-technical descent between himself and the overall win, Grotts need only to be cautious to the finish. Crossing the line in one hour and fifty-five minutes, Grotts hit the lap button on his Garmin computer and watched until it hit 2:45 — giving him the lead on the most important of days. Wells and Kabush finished in second and third, four minutes and 40-seconds down.

Jeremiah Bishop (Team Topeak Ergon) finished the day the in eighth, but retained his overall place of fourth, with Kyle Trudeau (CZ Racing) in fifth overall.

Wells, who looked to have a safe lead going into the final day, said “Usually we take it pretty chill. It’s usually a fun day and a chance for one of the other guys to get a win. Today we raced flat-out and it was fast all day.”


“I felt pretty decent, but Howie just did the ‘Howie thing’ and took off,” said Kabush, who moved on to the podium after his strong ride on stage five. “It felt like Todd and I were putting out some good horsepower, but Howie just disappeared. We worked well together and got’er done, but glad it’s over.”

“Oh, that was hard,” said Grotts after getting confirmation of his win. “I think everyone knew it was the last chance to gain some time. Just stoked to time trial it in for the win.”