Next NUE Series stop: Breckenridge 100

Image 1 of 2

By Sue George

Breckenridge will host stop number four of the National Ultra Endurance (NUE) series in Colorado. The fourth annual Breckenridge 100 will happen Saturday, July 19, beginning and ending in Carter Park, and will feature 100 mile race over three unique loops including backcountry trails, doubletrack, dirt roads and bike paths. Racers will cross the Continental Divide three times, climb 11,000 foot passes and forge high mountain streams.

The men's race is shaping up to be a battle between local resident Josh Tostado (Smith Optics) and Evan Plews (Capitol Subaru/Scott USA). Tostado has won the event the last three years, holds the course record of 9:03:08, and knows the high-altitude course well with his hometown advantage. He is ranked 11th currently in the NUE series.

Plews, who is sitting in second place in the overall NUE standings, will be looking for a win after a poorly timed flat a few weeks ago cost him a chance at the US Marathon National Championships, also held in Breckenridge on July 4.

Notably absent from the race are NUE series leader Jeff Schalk as well as third and fourth places in the standings, Chris Eatough and Harlan Price. Some East Coast racers may be choosing to attend the closer US National Championships in Mount Snow, Vermont, this weekend.

In the women's race, local Cat Morrison is the favorite. She won the Montezuma's Revenge the last time it was held, in 2006. The top three in the women's standings, Cheryl Sornson, Laureen Coffelt, Cricket Butler were not registered at the time of writing.

The Breckenridge 100 is also part of both a regional ultra series, and it will raise money for the TAME Foundation's hippotherapy program. Promoters are hosting a 32 mile race, new for this year, and a 68 mile race in addition to the 100 miler.

"This race course harkens back to the old school of mountain biking, where riders explored high alpine terrain, backcountry trails and dirt roads," said Thane Wright, Event Director. "Our goal is to provide a unique and rewarding experience in cross country competition. Racers will be both pampered and pushed to their limit."