Troy Wells (Cliff Bar) had a spot on the front row tonight(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Todd Wells (SRAM TLD) celebrates winning the Grand Junction Fat Boy Crit.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The Pro Men streak through the streets of downtown Grand Junction(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The Pro Men’s field was large and deep with talent.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Many riders raced on their full-suspension bikes that they would use in Sunday’s Off-Road event, but many traded their knobby tires for semi-slicks(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Due to the flatness of the course, a large group stayed together for much of the race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Garrett Gechar (Cliff Bar) hammers out of the saddle after one of the turns on the course(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Barry Wicks (Kona) was having one of his best races in recent memory(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Riders round the final turn on the course with two laps remaining(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Troy Wells (Cliff Bar) with a massive lead over the peloton(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
High winds tonight made drafting highly advantageous(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Prior to the pro men’s race, costumed riders took part in a “Klunker” race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ben Sonntag (Cliff Bar) leading the race with two laps togo as the sun was settting(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Troy Wels (Cliff Bar) was active early and challenging for the lead(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Todd Wells (SRAM TLD) took the hole-shot and led the men’s field into an immediate left hand turn(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ricky Creel (CZ Racing) leads a large group that includes Todd Wells through the final turn on the course(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ben Sonntag (Cliff Bar) finished second last year in the Grand Junction Off-Road(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Taylor Lideen (Pivot) briefly found himself alone between the leaders and the peloton(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Troy Wells (Cliff Bar) and Barry Wicks (Kona) had a good breakaway going mid-race but were finally caught(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Carl Decker (Team Giant) took a flier and held off the peloton for a lap or so(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Adam Bucklin (Team Rowanda) rounding a corner mid-race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Todd Wells (SRAM TLD) edges out Barry Wicks at the line to take the win(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
With one lap to go, the lead group was still huge.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Barry Wicks (Kona) found himself pulling the chase group behind leader Troy Wells(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
A race spectator trying to get a better view of the race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Deidre Morrison (Stages Cycling) descending into one of the many valleys on the course(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Isnaraissa Moir (Pivot) riding a rock drop(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Maghalie Rochette (Luna Pro Team) getting well behind her saddle on a technical descent(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Courtenay McFadden (American Classic) riding to a podium finish in her first big mountain bike race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
USA Marathon Champion Rose Grant (Stans Notubes-Pivot) wins the Grand Junction Off-Road and a check for $5,000(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The views on the course were spectacular(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
USA Marathon Champion Rose Grant (Stans Notubes-Pivot) celebrating her victory(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Twenty-five women competed in the 40-Grand pro race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Courtenay McFadden (American Classic) finishing fourth would collect $1,000 for her effort(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Amy Beisel (Team Ridebiker) has looked strong all season, but was riding with a chest cold this weekend(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Amy Beisel (Team Ridebiker) putting in a solid ride which netted her third place(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Alexis Skarda (Stans NoTubes) riding in second place early in the contest(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Accomplised cyclocross racer Courtenay McFadden (American Classic) was impressive on the mountain bike(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The trail dropping down into Andy’s Loop was highly technical(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
At one point Alexis Skarda (Stans NoTubes) reduced the lead to Rose Grant to 15 seconds(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Rose Grant (Stans Notubes-Pivot) riding a rock drop off the front of the race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Mical Dyck (Stan’s NoTubes) was having a podium ride. She finished fourth(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The racecourse in the mountains outside of Grand Junction is quite rugged(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The Grand Junction course was rocky from end to end(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jenny Smith (Stans NoTubes) riding a drop-off(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Isnaraissa Moir (Pivot) from nearby Fruita, Colorado was impressive all weekend(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Todd Wells (SRAM TLD) was certainly one of the pre-race favorites(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
USA Marathon Champion Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD-Scott) dropped the large peloton on the first climb and rode solo to victory. Ben Sonntag (Cliff Bar) finished second again this year while newcomer Nic Beechan (Trek) finished in third place.
USA Marathon Champion Rose Grant (Stans-Pivot) held off Alexis Skarda (Stans Notubes) to win the Grand Junction Off-Road. Skarda finished second and Amy Beisel (Team Ridebiker) finished in third place.
Full Results
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Elite men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Todd Wells (USA) SRAM TLD Scott
3:01:48
2
Benjamin Sonntag (USA) Clif Bar, Niner, Maxxis
0:01:43
3
Nic Beechan (USA) Trek Test Team, Shimano, Fox
0:08:15
4
Menso De Jong (USA) Clif Bar, Niner Bikes, SRAM
0:09:08
5
Brian Matter (USA) Team Wisconsin, Trek, Shimano
0:09:10
6
Cole House (USA) Door County Brewing Co , intelligentsia coffee , FSA
0:10:38
7
Payson Mcelveen (USA) RideBiker, Sho-Air, Kenda
0:10:56
8
Adam Bucklin (USA) Team Rwanda
0:11:35
9
Bryan Dillon (USA) Topeak, Ergon, Canyon
0:11:36
10
Kyle Trudeau (USA) CZ Racing, Go Tenac
0:13:01
11
Pablo Fernandez (USA) Novamex, Bicycle Co. El Paso, No Tube NM
0:14:22
12
Jay Henry (USA) Tokyo Joe's
0:15:14
13
Carl Decker (USA) Giant Bicycles, SRAM, Schwalbe Tires
0:15:57
14
Michael R Sampson (USA) Competitive Cyclist. Summit Bike Club. Pivot Cycles.
0:15:58
15
Josh Tostado (USA) Santa Cruz, Shimano, Maxxis
0:18:24
16
Mathieu Belanger-barrette (Can) Pivot Cycle - On the Edge Canada
0:18:50
17
Ernie Watenpaugh (USA) Jack Daniels, Telluride Venture Accelerator, BMC
0:19:15
18
Barry Wicks (USA) Kona, Maxxis, Shimano
0:19:36
19
Jason Donald (USA) Skratch Labs/Donkey Label/Foundry Cycles
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