The race started at 7,540 feet in front of Clear Creek Middle School and climbed to Echo Lake, where the course turns and climbs to the summit (14,264 feet). More than 500 racers participated in the 42nd annual event.

"The pace was crazy from the start as Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel Pro Cycling) was attempting the record," Gray said. "My goal was two hours and I felt like I crushed it with a 1:58:08."

His Team Kaos teammates, Matt Landen, and Mark Merritt were 33rd and 38th, respectively, finishing in 2:11:51 and 2:15:56.

Danielson was challenged all the way to the top by Scott Moninger, the two-time defending - and six-time overall - Mt. Evans Hill Climb champion who rides for the BMC Professional Cyling Team. The Discovery Channel rider won in 1:43, with Moninger second and veteran pro Michael Carter third.

"It was a beautiful day," Gray said. "It was a little windy once you got past the tree line, but that’s normal."

Gray said Landen was still feeling fatigued from five days of racing last week at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

"He felt OK," Gray said, "but he wished he would have done a little better. Cascade took a lot out of us."

The race is named for Bob Cook, who held the course record from 1975 to 1980. The present record holder is Danielson, who rode a time of 1:41:20 in 2004.

The Senior Women's course record is held by France's Jeannie Longo with a time of 1:59.19.