In a thrilling display of cycling prowess, Sam Brown emerged victorious in the Beaver Creek Bash, the fifth event in the Vail Recreation District’s mountain bike town series. With over 150 riders converging on the course on July 24, Brown clinched his second win of the season, adding to his previous triumph at the Davos Dash in June.
“I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been, and I was surprised by the effort I was able to put in,” Brown stated. He expressed satisfaction with the alignment of his racing schedule and the competitive field that added excitement to the race. “The strong field makes these races more enjoyable.”
The men’s pro division at Beaver Creek Bash was exceptionally competitive. Brown, fresh off a career-best 12th-place finish at the 120-mile FoCo Gravel race just three days earlier, faced stiff competition. Runner-up Josiah Middaugh and sixth-place finisher James Kirschner had recently competed at XTERRA Quebec, while Aiden Brown and Landen Stovall, who completed the podium in third place, had just raced at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals in Pennsylvania. Road specialist Mack Dorf, now with the University of Virginia and EMPYR Cycling, also added to the race’s depth.
Despite the high-caliber competition, Brown described the race’s start as “the most chill” of the season. The field stayed together up the Lost Buck climb, with Middaugh setting a brisk pace. By Daybreak Road, Brown planned to test the group.
“I made a 10-second attack, with only Josiah able to follow. I let him come to the front, allowing Landon and Mack Dorf to catch up,” Brown explained. He noticed that Landon appeared less fatigued and launched another short burst. Only Middaugh responded, leading to a series of attacks that eventually gave Brown a decisive lead.
Brown maintained his effort throughout the 16-mile course, which featured over 2,500 feet of climbing, finishing in 1 hour, 6 minutes, 35 seconds. Middaugh followed in 1:08:45, with Stovall coming in at 1:10:05. Dorf finished fourth, 97 seconds behind.
In the women’s pro/open category, Haley Dumke, who recently won the Life Time Silver Rush 50 MTB, secured a solo victory with a time of 1:23:12.
Age-group competitions were equally intense. Jason Rosener claimed the men’s vet sport (35-49) title in his debut at the event. “It was tougher than expected but a fantastic track,” Rosener remarked. His summer highlights include wins at the Davos Dash and the AC/DC crown.
Tianna Hill, a senior financial accountant for EastWest Hospitality, celebrated her first cross-country mountain bike race victory in seven years. “It feels great to push myself and see improvements,” Hill said, appreciating the supportive VRD community.
The series will continue with the Camp Hale Cup on August 14 and conclude with the Vail Grind on August 28. Brown will miss the next race as he competes in the Breck Epic, aiming to improve on his seventh-place finish from last year. Rosener is focusing on the Park City Point 2 Point race over Labor Day weekend, hoping to finish in under eight hours and secure the overall age-group title in the Vail series.
“This series is fantastic,” Rosener concluded. “The fun races, awards, and camaraderie with friends make it special.”
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