Photo cred: www.danieldunnphoto.com

This is gonna have to be quick, I'm on the Mountain Express shuttle from Breckenridge to Denver. I'll be catching the redeye and then making my way up to New Hampshire for the Hampshire 100 NUE Series race tomorrow. Jeremiah Bishop and Tinker Juarez will be there...more on that later. Maybe. 

The 2012 Breck Epic turned out to be an exciting race, thanks in large part to a few visitors from South Africa. In the Open Men's race Ben Melt Swanepoel made some big moves on the final stage, riding off the front with his super-strong teammate Matthys Beukes. Beukes and Swanepoel went over Boreas Pass with a couple minute gap. Unfortunately Beukes, who is as fast at going downhill as he is going up, flatted on the Gold Dust descent leaving Swanepoel to ride solo back up Boreas Pass into a stiff headwind. Boreas is a steady, sedate railroad grade which is perfect for pace-lining and the chasers behind Swanepoel were doing just that. GC leader Ben Sonntag looked to be doing most of the work as Calle Friberg of  Sweden and Rotem Ishay of Kazakhstan...or Israel...or Durango hung on. Sonntag was in danger of losing his GC lead, having gone into the stage with a far from comfortable five minute lead. 

Sonntag dodged a bullet on the Indiana Creek descent — Friberg lead in and dropped the group, getting a gap and then promptly flatting. Ishay followed suit, and, in an act of solidarity, I flatted as I chased Ishay with the GoPro. Jake Wells was able to capitalize on the "bad luck" (the combination of lightweight tires, high speeds, and pointy rocks doesn't equate to bad luck in my mind) of Ishay and Friberg, blowing past them and taking the third and final podium spot behind a flat-free Sonntag and a determined Swanepoel. 

Swanepoel would come up a couple minutes short of toppling Sonntag from the GC leader's spot but he would take another stage win for Squirt Lube. If Sonntag had flatted or if Beukes hadn't flatted and was able to help Swanepoel it might have been a different story. 

Yolandi Du Toit made the women's race equally as exciting on stage 6. She was well down in the overall next to Amanda Carey but she was determined to net herself another stage win. The Boreas stage definitely favors a climber over a descender it was the former that persevered. Carey tried to follow Du Toit, but couldn't match her pace on the wide open climbs. Carey wold win the GC lead by more than twenty minutes. I'm personally a huge fan of Amanda, I've seen her win a lot of races with very little trouble, I have to say it was good to see her have a bit of a fight on her hands. If Yolandi gets some downhilling in this off season...watch out. 

Brady Kappius went into the final stage with a five minute deficit to SSSRWC (Singlspeed Stage Race World Championship) leader Macky "Mad Man" Franklin and he decided he would try to hack that lead away right from the gun. He went up the first climb like he was shot out of a cannon, riding the berms going up hill. Kappius had decided to run a larger gear which may not have been the best choice — he cracked afer his vailiant attack and went backwards.Perennial third place finisher Dax Massey caught and passed Kappius to jump up onto the second step of the podium for the day while Kappius would easily hold onto second overall. 

The deal with the SSSRWC was that the winner had to shave his man-bits and the loser would then have the clippings glued to his face. Macky did show up to Stage 7 at the Gold Pan bar, and he did shave the few short and curlies he had. Although the harvest was deemed inadequate so Rich Dillen augmented the pube pile with some of his un-man-scaped man-muff. It does seem strange for a man who shaves his arm pits and legs to allow the fields of his netherlands to grow out into something that resembles Garth Prosser's unkempt dread-locked head. I cannot confirm at this point whether the gluing occurred or not. 

For some reason the same punishment was not doled out to the women's SSSRWC loser. Andrea Wilson confided in me that she had gone "all natural" for months just in case she won and Breck Epic promoter Mike Mac decided to apply the same rules to the women's SSSRWC as he had the men's race. 

"If I win somebody's in trouble — it looks like Buckwheat is giving me a shoulder ride down there. "

- Andrea Wilson


 Photo cred: www.danieldunnphoto.com

Solo Open Men

1 Benmelt Swanepoel 2:05:20
2 Ben Sonntag 0:03:55
3 Jake Wells 0:04:31
4 Calle Friberg 0:05:25
5 Josh Tostado 0:06:33
6 Nick Truitt 0:10:00
7 Matthys Beukes 0:10:14
8 Nathan Brown 0:11:26
9 Ryan Clark 0:11:28
10 Rotem Ishay 0:12:17
11 Ezekiel Hersh 0:14:17
12 Shawn Bunnin 0:15:07
13 Colby Pearce 0:15:50
14 Sloane Anderson 0:16:21
15 Vandendaele Thomas 0:18:49
16 Taylor Lideen 0:18:59
17 Peter Watson 0:20:20
18 Matt Woodruff 0:23:26
19 Erik Bakke 0:24:40
20 Logan Vonbokel 0:25:17
21 Brent Steinberg 0:38:27
22 Warren Stephenson 1:07:34
23 Derek Oldfield 1:22:56
24 Alex Tibwitta 1:32:06

Solo Open Women

1 Yolandi Du Toit 2:33:02
2 Amanda Carey 0:00:55
3 Ciara Macmanus 0:16:06
4 Laura Gleason 0:44:28
5 Stephanie Wilkinson 1:04:40
6 Cindy Bonhage 1:11:38

Solo Singlespeed Men

1 Macky Franklin 2:13:39
2 Dax Massey 0:07:00
3 Brady Kappius 0:07:01
4 Michael Melley 0:14:40
5 Dan Durland 0:16:42
6 Nate Miller 0:17:34
7 Vince Anderson 0:17:57
8 Hayes Charlie 0:24:40
9 Eric Davis 0:29:42
10 Scott Upton 0:29:50
11 Dean Cahow 0:33:38
12 Montana Miller 0:59:48
13 Donald Powers 1:04:34
14 Birtch Dejay
15 Aaron Shelmire
16 Ian Palermo
17 Rob Lochner
18 Jeremy Palermo
19 John Odle 1:04:41

Solo Singlespeed Women

1 Andrea Wilson 3:03:57
2 Jennifer Wilson 0:00:01
3 Sarah Musick 0:09:43
4 Melissa Liebling 0:27:48

Solo 30 Men

1 Johannes Huseby 2:21:26
2 James Meyer 0:04:19
3 Ian Mills 0:06:19
4 Joshua Roeser 0:21:39
5 Philip Thompson 0:26:24
6 Amit Dutta 0:26:26
7 Andrew Jauquet 0:31:26
8 Wu Jeff 0:49:20
9 John Heffner 0:56:47

Solo 40 Men

1 Jason Sumner 2:31:54
2 Jeff Cospolich 0:00:02
3 Mike Driver 0:02:10
4 Ken Thorp 0:02:11
5 Shawn Lortie 0:05:22
6 Michael Quinn 0:12:48
7 Stephen Ushy 0:13:20
8 Brian Neyt 0:15:56
9 Chris Mckillican 0:20:53
10 Brad Shield 0:29:56
11 Tom Boo 0:31:18
12 Lennie Moon 0:35:31
13 Charles Gauvin 0:35:58
14 Chris Castilian 0:38:52
15 John Arguello 0:44:11
16 Craig Mcghee 0:44:27
17 David Mccormick 0:46:19
18 Joel Doctor
19 Farhy Nolan 0:49:12
20 Ty Garber 1:03:05
21 Moishe Lettvin 1:16:00

Solo 50 Men

1 Russell Kappius 2:30:47
2 Frost Jeffery 0:04:46
3 Bruce Wilson 0:11:53
4 Mike Kane 0:27:18
5 Carl Gable 0:44:17
6 Mark Halwa 0:53:18
7 Stan Mayer 0:55:47
8 Michael Bowen 1:04:52
9 Rick Metzger 1:07:09
10 Brooks Dean 1:14:07
11 Stephen Ostrander 1:15:08
12 Lindsay Gauld 1:31:38

Solo Clydesdale

1 Kreidl Ken 3:10:46

Solo 40 Women

1 Julie Kelly 3:07:22
2 Tina Martinez 0:00:01
3 Laureen Coffelt 0:00:02
4 Julie Urlaub 0:15:58
5 Lori Halwa 0:37:52
6 Mindi Hoffmaster 0:37:54

Duo Open Men

1 Blake Harlan & Bryan Alders 2:19:18
2 Rich Dillen & Peter Keiller 0:58:55

Duo Men 80+

1 Mike Hogan & Thomas Dooley 2:31:36
2 Tim Brezsnyak & Michael Piker 0:15:28
3 Jason Morgan & Russell Henderson 0:15:29
4 Kervin Quinones & Michael Trimble 0:15:32
5 Scott Baca & Sean Fay 0:17:10

Duo Men 100+

1 Russ Asleson & Mark Gourge 2:52:40
2 David Reed & John Pougiales 0:16:22
3 Joso Dias Da Chunha & Jorg Damas 0:26:43

Duo Women

1 Mary Davis & Rebecca Bruno 3:29:56
2 Carthy Chan & Linda Green 0:05:05

Duo Coed

1 John Bliss & Michele Bliss 3:03:43
2 Elden Nelson & Lisa Nelson 0:01:52
3 Karen Rishel & Alan Rishel 0:12:20

Team Challenge

1 1-Speed Willas Wheels 2:41:56
2 Got Gears Willas Wheels 0:51:19

Gran Fondo

1 Mike Blewitt 2:24:07
2 Karen Jarchow 0:20:48
3 Chris Bryce 0:28:25
4 Bradley Schmalzer 0:49:20
5 Alexa Storoniak & Alexa Storoniak 1:22:07
6 Rick Foutch 2:17:18
7 Pete Biedenharn 2:58:12

Solo Open Men final general classification

1 Ben Sonntag 18:00:40
2 Benmelt Swanepoel 0:02:03
3 Matthys Beukes 0:24:06
4 Josh Tostado 0:32:19
5 Calle Friberg 0:50:05
6 Nick Truitt 0:50:32
7 Rotem Ishay 0:51:38
8 Ryan Clark 1:27:45
9 Ezekiel Hersh 1:40:44
10 Jake Wells 1:43:29
11 Sloane Anderson 1:48:56
12 Shawn Bunnin 2:06:10
13 Nathan Brown 2:23:29
14 Peter Watson 2:35:31
15 Matt Woodruff 2:57:37
16 Colby Pearce 3:27:44
17 Vandendaele Thomas 3:28:46
18 Taylor Lideen 3:55:11
19 Brent Steinberg 4:58:39
20 Logan Vonbokel 5:35:46
21 Erik Bakke 6:02:06
22 Derek Oldfield 10:26:00
23 Warren Stephenson 10:44:37
24 Alex Tibwitta 15:19:41

Solo Open Women final general classification

1 Amanda Carey 22:21:56
2 Yolandi Du Toit 0:22:53
3 Ciara Macmanus 3:36:20
4 Laura Gleason 9:04:48
5 Stephanie Wilkinson 10:12:26
6 Cindy Bonhage 10:28:44

Solo Singlespeed Men final general classification

1 Macky Franklin 19:11:37
2 Brady Kappius 0:11:52
3 Dax Massey 0:50:33
4 Michael Melley 1:37:04
5 Vince Anderson 2:00:51
6 Dan Durland 2:05:53
7 Hayes Charlie 3:13:22
8 Nate Miller 3:18:48
9 Eric Davis 4:21:32
10 Scott Upton 4:27:23
11 Montana Miller 4:34:20
12 Donald Powers 5:03:19
13 Dean Cahow 5:13:14
14 Birtch Dejay 6:29:28
15 Aaron Shelmire 6:31:02
16 Ian Palermo 6:54:06
17 Rob Lochner 7:48:43
18 John Odle 8:23:14
19 Jeremy Palermo 8:55:02

Solo Singlespeed Women final general classification

1 Jennifer Wilson 24:32:51
2 Andrea Wilson 1:34:41
3 Sarah Musick 4:41:23
4 Melissa Liebling 6:27:09

Solo 30 Men final general classification

1 James Meyer 20:23:06
2 Johannes Huseby 0:49:07
3 Ian Mills 1:27:52
4 John Heffner 3:41:26
5 Amit Dutta 4:27:40
6 Joshua Roeser 5:22:50
7 Andrew Jauquet 6:20:41
8 Wu Jeff 7:44:38
9 Philip Thompson 8:58:01

Solo 40 Men final general classification

1 Jeff Cospolich 21:50:09
2 Mike Driver 1:01:43
3 Ken Thorp 1:15:20
4 Stephen Ushy 1:35:24
5 Shawn Lortie 1:52:19
6 Jason Sumner 2:18:34
7 Michael Quinn 2:32:18
8 Charles Gauvin 4:02:05
9 Brian Neyt 5:09:14
10 Tom Boo 5:17:30
11 Chris Mckillican 5:40:10
12 Brad Shield 5:51:41
13 Lennie Moon 6:04:34
14 Chris Castilian 6:35:15
15 David Mccormick 6:47:40
16 Craig Mcghee 8:54:59
17 Joel Doctor 9:23:07
18 John Arguello 10:06:50
19 Farhy Nolan 10:11:23
20 Ty Garber 10:50:14
21 Moishe Lettvin 12:13:31

Solo 50 Men final general classification

1 Russell Kappius 21:03:56
2 Frost Jeffery 1:51:08
3 Bruce Wilson 2:36:11
4 Mike Kane 3:56:43
5 Rick Metzger 7:08:50
6 Carl Gable 7:57:35
7 Stan Mayer 9:04:05
8 Mark Halwa 10:26:26
9 Michael Bowen 11:49:01
10 Lindsay Gauld 11:55:42
11 Brooks Dean 12:55:56
12 Stephen Ostrander 13:41:06

Solo Clydesdale final general classification

1 Kreidl Ken 27:11:03

Solo 40 Women final general classification

1 Tina Martinez 26:29:30
2 Julie Kelly 0:15:31
3 Laureen Coffelt 0:43:41
4 Julie Urlaub 5:44:44
5 Lori Halwa 6:20:03
6 Mindi Hoffmaster 7:22:52

Duo Open Men final general classification

1 Blake Harlan & Bryan Alders 19:33:21
2 Rich Dillen & Peter Keiller 9:22:26

Duo Men 80+ final general classification

1 Mike Hogan & Thomas Dooley 21:53:45
2 Kervin Quinones & Michael Trimble 0:26:58
3 Tim Brezsnyak & Michael Piker 0:44:02
4 Jason Morgan & Russell Henderson 1:29:45
5 Scott Baca & Sean Fay 3:12:11

Duo Men 100+ final general classification

1 Russ Asleson & Mark Gourge 25:00:14
2 David Reed & John Pougiales 3:42:54
3 Joso Dias Da Chunha & Jorg Damas 4:12:35

Duo Women final general classification

1 Mary Davis & Rebecca Bruno 32:35:14
2 Carthy Chan & Linda Green 0:03:09

Duo Coed final general classification

1 Karen Rishel & Alan Rishel 28:41:54
2 John Bliss & Michele Bliss 0:41:15
3 Elden Nelson & Lisa Nelson 2:02:55

Team Challenge final general classification

1 1-Speed Willas Wheels 23:57:18
2 Got Gears Willas Wheels 8:37:22