 Sept. 5 — Team Kaos’ Jarred Berger didn’t let his "flatlander" status get in the way of some impressive results at the Colorado State Championship weekend. Berger finished fourth in the Colorado State Time Trial Championship, 14th in the State Criterium Championship and ninth in the State Championship Hill Climb. No other rider from outside Colorado placed as high. "Pretty impressive for a guy who doesn’t have any mountains to train on," said Kaos Team President Marco Vasquez.
Berger, the reigning Nebraska State Time Trial and Criterium Champion, was most impressive in Saturday’s 26-mile time trial that started in Gypsum, Colo., and ended at Beaver Creek Resort Village. The course gains more than 1,500 feet of elevation, ending with a 2.8-mile steep uphill finish. Jeff Hartman of Boulder was one of only two riders to break the hour-mark, finishing in 58:41. Berger’s time was 1:01:52.
 Tom Zirbel of Team Sports Garage climbs Strawberry Park Road Monday during the Colorado State Championship Hill Climb in Beaver Creek. Zirbel went on to win the race.
Tom Zirbel of Team Sports Garage, who won Sunday’s criterium and Monday’s hill climb, said the time trial was the most difficult race of the three. "The hardest part of the weekend for me was the time trial," said Zirbel. "To finish the last two-and-a-half miles or so on an uphill stretch is brutal." After his 14th place in Sunday’s 70-minute criterium, Berger was ready to return to racing on roads that pitched uphill. Monday’s State Championship Hill Climb was only 5.25 miles long. But the mass start race featured an average grade of 6.9 percent, starting at Beaver Creek’s Strawberry Park (elevation: 7,465 feet) and ending at Daybreak Ridge (9.378 feet). Few riders carried water bottles and "granny gears" got a lot of use. "I had my 27th gear, the very smallest gear I have, and I was still wishing I had a smaller gear during the last kilometer," Zirbel said. "I knew the profile of the course, but it doesn’t prepare you for what you’re up against." Berger finished 3:14 behind Zirbel, who clocked a time of 23:35. Jonathan Baker, who raced for Team Kaos at the Tour of Puerto Rico and won the King of the Mountains jersey on the way to a second place finish overall, finished second to Zirbel.
Jonathan Baker (fifth from left in blue helmet) leads Team Kaos’ Jarred Berger (grey sleeve and red shorts visible) up the Colorado Cup State Championship Hill Climb. Baker went on to finish second while Berger was ninth.
With 1200 meters left in the race, Zirbel made an attack to move ahead of Jay Henry, who finished third. Baker, the race’s defending champion, finished 13 seconds back."For a while, a couple of mountain bikers attacked, and then I attacked, and caught up to them," Zirbel said. "But Baker closed the gap a little bit because I was dying."
Colorado Cup State Time Trial Championship
Saturday, Sept. 3
40 km at Beaver Creek Resort, Beaver, Colo.
1, Jeffrey Hartmann, Pro Peloton Racing/Paketa, Boulder, Colo., 58:41. 2, Tom Zirbel, Sports Garage, Boulder, Colo., 58:46. 3, Rowdy Clagg, Sports Garage/SOMA, Westminster, Colo., 1:01:39.
Team Kaos placer: 4, Jarred Berger, Lincoln, Neb., 1:01:52.
Colorado Cup State Championship Criterium
Sunday, Sept. 4
70 minutes At Gypsum Air Park Business Center
1. Zirbel. 2, Lance Sulzen, Team X Cycling, Littleton, Colo. 3, Brent Dickerson, (team, hometown unknown).
Team Kaos placer: 14, Berger.
Colorado Cup State Championship Hill Climb
Monday, Sept. 5
5.25 miles at Beaver Creek Resort
1, Zirbel, 23:35. 2, Jonathan Baker, Pro Peloton, Louisville, Colo., 23:48. 3, Jay Henry, Ford/Specialized, Avon, Colo., 24:09.
Team Kaos placer: 9, Berger, 26:49. |
