Colorado Triple Crown: Inaugural Colorado High Country Double Century Recap

Steamboat Springs, CO is the final destination of the Colorado High Country Double Century

On Saturday, June 13, 2015, RMCCers tackled the inaugural Colorado High Country Double Century, the newest Colorado Triple Crown event. Inspired by the RMCC Colorado High Country 1200km brevet, the new course is a point-to-point route, venturing from Boulder, CO to Steamboat Springs, CO in the northwest part of the state. The course passes over the beautiful Horsetooth Reservoir to the west of Fort Collins. From Fort Collins, the course turns west up the spectacular Poudre Canyon. Perhaps the longest canyon along the Front Range, Poudre Canyon climbs over 5,000 feet in 60 miles to its summit at the stunning Cameron Pass. From Cameron Pass, the route drops down into the North Park Valley, where riders are at the mercy of the winds! Riders complete the route by climbing to the top of the relatively short but steep Rabbit Ears Pass and then make the blazing seven-mile plunge into Steamboat Springs. Participants had 16.5 hours to complete the course to receive an official finishing time and Colorado Triple Crown credit.

The upper portion of the beautiful Poudre Canyon (Photo by Tim Schaefer)

2015 Colorado High Country Double Century Summary:

Course:

207 miles, approximately 12,000 feet of climbing
3 categorized climbs:

Poudre Canyon to Cameron Pass (10,276 feet): HC
Muddy Creek Pass (8,772 feet): Category 5
Rabbit Ears Pass (9,426 feet): Category 3

Participants:

31 pre-registered riders
27 ride starters, 1 early withdrawals, 3 late withdrawals. Of the riders who started, 25 were men, 2 were women.
25 official finishers, successfully completing the course in 16.5 hours (12.55 mph avg speed), 2 DNFs
Speedsters Billy Edwards, Mark Lowe, Walter Zitz, and Bryce Walsh completed this challenging new course in 10 hours, 55 min. (19.0 mph).
Lisa Renee Tumminello of Steamboat Springs, CO posted the fastest women's time with a time of 12 hours, 32 min. (16.53 mph).

Special thanks to this year's volunteers! We could not have done this event without your help!!

Charlie Henderson
Penny Nelsen
Corinne Warren

Cameron Pass (Photo by Tim Schaefer)

Brief Results:

Name	Age	Hometown	Total Time
Edwards. Billy	37	Boulder, CO	10:55
Lowe, Mark	41	Arvada, CO	10:55
Walsh, Bryce	44	Boulder, CO	10:55
Zitz, Walter	29	Englewood, CO	10:55
Nelsen, Eric	42	Evergreen, CO	11:46
Miller, Tom	45	Denver, CO	11:47
Rudolph, Steve	55	Westminster, CO	11:47
Schaefer, Tim	49	Denver, CO	12:03
Horwood, Josh	35	Loveland, CO	12:11
Hulett Jeffrey	55	Golden, CO	12:22
Smith, Vernon	57	Colorado Springs, CO	12:22
Tumminello, Lisa Renee	45	Steamboat Springs, CO	12:32
Baker, Chris	44	Firestone, CO	13:03
Rupel, Ray	60	Centennial, CO	13:05
Strayer, Stephen	37	Noblesville, IN	13:10
Kaminski, Jason	45	Longmont, CO	13:21
Jensen, Keith	41	Windsor, CO	13:49
Schroer, Steve	46	Littleton, CO	14:00
Rosenthal, Harris	53	Denver, CO	14:07
Sendor, Jon	58	Denver, CO	14:07
Benoit, Diane	57	Morrison, CO	14:20
Barnes, Graham	41	Boulder, CO	14:38
Griffith, Scott	41	Albuquerque, NM	15:10
Grimm, Paul	46	Fredonia, AZ	15:21
Rainwater, James	46	Nederland. CO	16:04
Turkaly, Edward	43	Black Hawk, CO	16:04
Stefely, Ernie	58	Denver, CO	DNF
Turner, Jason	40	Monument, CO	DNF

Billy Edwards, Walter Zitz, Mark Lowe, and Bryce Walsh blistered the new Colorado High Country Double Century course in 10 hrs, 55 min (19.0 mph!)

Eric Nelsen, Steve Rudolph, and Tom Miller at the finish of Colorado High Country Double Century

Tim Schaefer successfully completes his first Colorado Triple Crown event! Congratulations, Tim!

After a season of trial and error, Triple Crown veteran, Josh Horwood, has his nutrition dialed in for this year's Triple Crown. Congratulations, Josh, on a great ride!

RMCC Colorado High Country 1200km course record holder, Jeffrey Hulett, and RMCC endurance veteran, Vermon Smith, at the conclusion of the inaugural Colorado High Country Double Century.

Ray Rupel looks relaxed and comfortable at the conclusion of this year's first Colorado Triple Crown event.

Relieved to be finished, Scott Griffith at the conclusion of the Colorado High Country Double Century

After getting off to a rough start, Paul Grimm managed to survive this year's first Colorado Triple Crown event.

Ed Turkaly and James Rainwater are relieved to have finished their first Colorado Triple Crown event .

Steamboat Springs speedster, Lisa Renee Tumminello, completes her first Colorado Triple Crown event of 2015. (C'mon, Lisa...you have to complete the entire series, especially if I agree to complete in the gravel grinder in Steamboat Springs in August! Just sayin'!)

Chris Baker successfully completes the first stage of the Colorado Triple Crown series. Great ride, Chris!

Indiana distance rider, Stephen Strayer, succesfully completes the Colorado High Country Double Century
and his first Colorado Triple Crown event!

After a several year hiatus, Colorado Triple Crown veteran, Jason Kaminski once again has Triple Crown aspirations!
Nice ride, Jason!

Keith Jensen at the conclusion of this year's Colorado High Country Double Century.
Great having you back out there, Keith!

Steve Schroer successfully completes the first Colorado Triple Crown event of 2015!

RMCCers, Jon Sendor and Harris Rosenthal, are both on their way to completing the 2015 Colorado Triple Crown. Great ride to the two of you...

Diane Benoit rides herself into Colorado Triple Crown form! Nice ride, Diane!

Graham Barnes looks comfortable at the end of the day's challenging ride! Great ride, Graham!

Tom Miller in action on Rabbit Ears Pass

RMCC president, Charlie Henderson, Penny Nelsen, and Corinne Warren (not pictured) provided fabulous support for this year's event! Thanks to all of you!!!