TransRockies
Stiff Start Expected at Trans Rockies
Cory Wallace / 09.08.2009
This year marks the first time the event will have a solo category as over 80 riders from 8 countries will take part in the TR3 version of the event which covers the first 3 stages of the wilderness epic. Mixed in togethar with over 200 hundred team riders the race will head towards K2 ranch in the Columbia valley for the first stage finish.
To welcome the riders to the event the organizers will send them straight up the Panorama ski hill (3rd largest vertical in North America) into the alpine meadows, across scree slopes and then down a narrow valley to the finish. All this is 45km but with 2200m of vertical this day will surely blow some lungs.
Tonight the feeling was pretty relaxed as the riders took part in the opening meeting and then had the option of a full buffet dinner or a nice BBQ out on tha patio. After dinner a live band kept the riders entertained as they chatted to each other and took care of last minute race preps.
A few riders warmed up on the course and came back wide-eyed as apparantly the opening few km is a pretty stiff ascent which is gonna get the heartbeats up to full throttle in a hurry.
Having done a few stage races in other countries (Breck Epic in the USA, La Ruta in Costa Rica, and the Transmexicana) I am no stranger to these events but I must say I'm pretty stoked to have the opportunity to do one so close to home which has such a strong tradition already under its belt.
The story is gonna start tommorow so I better get off to get some shut eye as the adrenalin will soon be taking over for the week.
SleepMonsters
