Jerry McBride/Durango HeraldErin Huck leads the peloton on Saturday through the valley during the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's race. Huck would go on to win the race, while Durango’s Sarah Sturm, second row back, took second and Evelyn Dong, second row front, finished third.
Jerry McBride
Sturm can’t defend but shows well in high-end field
Under blue skies in Silverton, professional mountain biker Erin Huck of Boulder held off 2019 champion Sarah Sturm of Durango to win the 49th Iron Horse Bicycle Classic professional women’s race with a time of 2 hours, 43 minutes, 17 seconds to hold off a charging Sturm, who was only five seconds back.
After an early morning start at Animas City Park in Durango, the women’s peloton rode a relaxed pace through the Animas Valley to start the 47-mile race that features 5,700 feet of climbing.
The pace picked up as the course headed north toward Purgatory Resort, but the group of contenders stayed together until the attacks began on Coal Bank Pass.
“I took advantage of kind of a tailwind and put in an attack,” the 39-year-old Huck said. “Sturmy and I were together for a bit. She backed off the pace, and I kept going, but she caught me on the descent before Molas, and then we rode Molas together.”
With the decisive climb of Molas Pass, boasting a summit elevation of 10,912 feet, Sturm, a mountain biker, cyclo-cross racer and rising gravel star, and Huck, a 2021 Olympic mountain bike hopeful, challenged each other and matched pedal strokes.
“Sarah and I were kind of taking turns on the suffer bus,” said Huck. “I was feeling good on Coal Bank and she was suffering, and then up Molas, she was feeling good and I was suffering.”
Jerry McBride/Durango HeraldErin Huck crosses the finish line Saturday to win the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's road race in Silverton. She finished five seconds in front of defending champ Sarah Sturm.
Jerry McBride
At the top of Molas Pass, Huck went faster thanks to her more-refined descending skills, letting gravity pull her down into the Silverton caldera.
“I think I just sent it on the downhill and was able to get a little bit of a gap and suffered through to the finish,” Huck said.
Sturm, 31, said she isn’t used to descending on a road bike because she primarily races off-road at races like the Belgian Waffle Ride or Co2uT Desert Gravel race, where she placed second just seven days earlier in the 190-mile jaunt through the high desert.
“I’m just not used to descending on road bikes, and she corned a long stronger than I did in that last corner,” Sturm said. “Then, I just tried to go as hard as I could, but I knew how long the finish straight is.”
Jerry McBride/Durango HeraldSarah Sturm placed second in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's road race Saturday in Silverton.
Sturm said ahead of the race that she’d prefer the race didn’t come down to a sprint, however there was a brief moment on Greene Street that she thought she could beat Huck on the final drag. Her legs had a different answer.
“I saw her stand up, and I was like, ‘Yeah that’s it.’” Sturm said.
The field was dominated by riders who primarily race off-road. The third spot on the podium went to Evelyn Dong (2:44:45) of Utah, who is also a regular at mountain bike and gravel events throughout the country.
Dong held on as Huck and Sturm surged ahead on the climbs but eventually couldn’t match her fellow riders’ pace. Dong said the high-altitude course, which reaches higher than 10,500 feet above sea level twice, was challenging.
The women’s peloton, with Durango’s Lauren Aggeler focused in the center, in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
“I think it’s pretty easy to tell what your limit is,” she said. “There’s only so hard you can go.”
Madigan Munro, 19, of Boulder placed fourth (2:46:30), while Durangoan Ruth Holcomb rode over the line in fifth (2:48:52).
“Sarah and Erin really lit it up, and me and Madigan and Evelyn tried to go with them but didn’t quite have that pace,” the 18-year-old Holcomb said. “I probably went out a little too hard on Coal Bank but was able to pull it back by the top. I attacked again on Molas and was able to get away until a quick sprint finish at the end.”
Many of the riders in the women’s field will race the mountain bike race in Horse Gulch Sunday as a part of the Queen of the Mountain omnium competition, where points are tallied from both of the weekend’s races to title a victor.
Jerry McBride/Durango HeraldUtah’s Evelyn Dong got a big hug from Durango’s Sarah Sturm after she placed third in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's road race Saturday in Silverton.
It will be a challenge for the riders after racing nearly 50-miles and climbing more than 5,000 feet in elevation at a high pace. The course features tough terrain, including the steep climb up Telegraph trail.
Sturm won’t contest the mountain bike race Sunday, but Dong, Munro and Holcomb will try to challenge Huck.
“I’m kind of nervous about it because I think it’s going to be really hot and dusty,” Huck said.
Sturm and Holcomb both noted how exciting it is to compete in their hometown bike race.
“This is probably my favorite race of the year,” Holcomb said. “It’s always the hardest race of the year also, but having everyone cheering the whole way up and always hearing my name and everything, just finishing and being around everyone I know is super fun.”
The women’s peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday makes its way up to Silverton. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Sturm was in good spirits, despite losing grasp of the road race title in the last stretch of the race.
“I’m really proud of myself. I think I’m stronger this year than I was a couple years ago,” she said. “There was just more competition, and I’m really really pleased to be so close to Erin and Evelyn because they’ve been racing full gas, and Erin’s trying to get to the Olympics, so I’m rooting for her for sure.”
Jerry McBride/Durango HeraldSarah Sturm placed second in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's road race in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- The 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on Saturday morning in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango HeraldEvelyn Dong placed third in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's road race in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- The 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on Saturday morning in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- The 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on Saturday morning in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Riley Amos winner of the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on Saturday morning in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- The 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on Saturday morning in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Ned Overend placed seventh in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on Saturday morning in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango-Ron Wysocki gets ready to lead riders out of Durango on Saturday during the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Riley Amos of Durango crosses the finish line on Saturday winning the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race in Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Spectators watch the peloton pass by during the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic as they ride up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The women's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The women's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The women's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango-Scott Simmons rides in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race on Saturday.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The men's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The women's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The men's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Erin Huck crosses the finish line on Saturday winning the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's race in Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Erin Huck leads the peloton on Saturday through the valley during the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's race.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Three riders break away from the peloton during the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in the Animas Valley on their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The men's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up Molas Pass on their way to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday on their way to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The men's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Riley Amos this years 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race winner climbs Molas Pass on Saturday by himself.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The women's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The women's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- The men's peloton in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday make their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
05-29-21 DurangoJerry McBride/Durango HeraldHoward Grotts places second in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race on Saturday on their way to Silverton. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Joseph Bacala rides up Coal Bank Pass in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on Saturday morning in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- U.S. Highway 550 is closed for the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday morning at Purgatory Resort.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Jeff Smith gets ready to ride in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race on Saturday morning in Durango.
Jerry McBride/Durango HeraldErin Huck crossed the finish line Saturday to win the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro women's road race in Silverton. She finished five seconds in front of defending champ Sarah Sturm.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Riley Amos, center, winner of the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race, talks with Fortunato Ferrara, who placed third on Saturday morning in Silverton.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race gets ready for the start on Saturday morning in Durango.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Riley Amos this years 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race winner flies down Coal Bank Pass on Saturday with fingers on on brake just in case he'd have to slow down.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango-Riders get ready on East Second Avenue near 32nd Street on Saturday for the start of the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race starting on
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango-Riders get ready on East Second Avenue near 32nd Street on Saturday for the start of the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race starting on
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango-Riders get ready on East Second Avenue near 32nd Street on Saturday for the start of the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race starting on
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango-Riders get ready on East Second Avenue near 32nd Street on Saturday for the start of the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race starting on
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday on their way to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Three riders break away from the peloton during the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in the Animas Valley on their way up to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday on their way to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday on their way to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday on their way to Silverton.
Jerry McBride
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday on their way to Silverton. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday on their way to Silverton. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21- Durango- Riders in the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro mens race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday on their way to Silverton. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald05-29-21-Durango-Cycling lovers watch as riders get ready on East Second Avenue near 32nd Street on Saturday for the start of the 2021 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race starting on
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