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Hey all,
After two stages for the 1s and 2s, only, today's 'killer' climbing stage will see the other cats getting started, in what promises to be some pretty cold, wet racing. The Cooper Spur circuit race is very tough, with ~19-mile laps run on the northeast shoulder of Mt. Hood. Starting at 3400' elevation, a twisty descent through the woods into Parkdale preceedes a rising rate climb back up to the KOM/ start-finish at Cooper Spur Mt. resort. The 1,2 men do 95 miles and 9000', the masters, women's Pro 1-3 and men's 3 do 'just' 56 miles and 5400' and the 4s and women's 3,4s do 38 miles and 3600'.
Yesterday's racing, on a new additional stage for the pros, saw bunch-sprint finishes after average race speeds of ~26mph for both the men and women's 1,2s. Current GC leaders are Nathan O'Neil of Health net (he's the Aussie nat. TT champ) and Dotsie Bausch of Colvita light cooking. So far, the time margins are close..probably change after the coming climbing stages. This morning it is raining down here in the Gorge, so it'll probably be quite cold and unpleasant up on the mountain race course, which starts with a long steep descent. The forecast is for improving conditions. Tommorrow's stage is the downtown Hood River Crit., always a big crowd-pleasing 'happening' with loud music and lotsa primes awarded at the start finish, right in front of the Full Sail Ale brewery in the middle of *cutesie* little Hood River.
Sunday's classic mountain stage, the '3-Summit road race' will close out the event with 3 significant climbs and one pass crossed, to a summit finish, again at the Cooper Spur resort. So, if you need a little road trip and are inclined to be a spectator....
More coverage can be seen on the frequently updated event website at:
mthoodcycleclassic.com. Event organizers, the Discover Bike shop of Hood River
are doing a very good job with the race, as usual.
Don Hanson
After two stages for the 1s and 2s, only, today's 'killer' climbing stage will see the other cats getting started, in what promises to be some pretty cold, wet racing. The Cooper Spur circuit race is very tough, with ~19-mile laps run on the northeast shoulder of Mt. Hood. Starting at 3400' elevation, a twisty descent through the woods into Parkdale preceedes a rising rate climb back up to the KOM/ start-finish at Cooper Spur Mt. resort. The 1,2 men do 95 miles and 9000', the masters, women's Pro 1-3 and men's 3 do 'just' 56 miles and 5400' and the 4s and women's 3,4s do 38 miles and 3600'.
Yesterday's racing, on a new additional stage for the pros, saw bunch-sprint finishes after average race speeds of ~26mph for both the men and women's 1,2s. Current GC leaders are Nathan O'Neil of Health net (he's the Aussie nat. TT champ) and Dotsie Bausch of Colvita light cooking. So far, the time margins are close..probably change after the coming climbing stages. This morning it is raining down here in the Gorge, so it'll probably be quite cold and unpleasant up on the mountain race course, which starts with a long steep descent. The forecast is for improving conditions. Tommorrow's stage is the downtown Hood River Crit., always a big crowd-pleasing 'happening' with loud music and lotsa primes awarded at the start finish, right in front of the Full Sail Ale brewery in the middle of *cutesie* little Hood River.
Sunday's classic mountain stage, the '3-Summit road race' will close out the event with 3 significant climbs and one pass crossed, to a summit finish, again at the Cooper Spur resort. So, if you need a little road trip and are inclined to be a spectator....
More coverage can be seen on the frequently updated event website at:
mthoodcycleclassic.com. Event organizers, the Discover Bike shop of Hood River
are doing a very good job with the race, as usual.
Don Hanson
