Elevation gain
photos by Todd Newcomer

The 3rd annual Durango MTB 100 returned to the San Juan Mountains for another lung-busting grunt on the trails surrounding Durango Mountain Resort. Approximately 50 riders willingly signed up for what is advertised as the hardest 100-mile mountain bike race in the country. An additional group of hardy cycling enthusiasts joined in on the action, competing in the 50K and 100K divisions. Heavy rains the night before the race and intermittent showers the day of made for a wet, exhausting race course. Durango local David Drake powered through the course and won the 100-mile race for the second consecutive year, finishing in 9 hours and 54 minutes. Christy Kopasz won the women's 100-mile division in 12 hours and 29 minutes.

Racers begin the 100-mile haul from Durango Mountain Resort at 6:30 a.m., well before the sun peaks through the rain soaked clouds. David Drake makes his way through the lush meadow on the first of three laps in the 100-mile competition. Riders make their way up the slippery base of Durango Mountain Resort just after the early morning start. Daniel Murray, of Telluride, fastens a can of compressed air onto his frame before heading out on his final lap. Julises Salas takes in the thin air above Bolam Pass on his way to a second-place finish in the 50K race. Ingrid Erkman makes her way through the picturesque race course at the beginning of the 100K course. Unicyclist Thomas Miller foregoes the second wheel, completing the 50K course in just more than six hours. Mitch Moreman wastes no time as he refuels for the final lap enroute to his second place finish in the 100-mile race.