photos by David Halterman

As legend has it, European road cyclists in the early 1900s would often race each other from town to town, using the roads, trails and farm fields in between, giving birth to modern cyclocross racing. Arriving in the States in the mid-70s, cyclocross has been gaining in popularity ever since, and Sunday morning marked the second annual Squawker Cross, hosted by the Fort Lewis College Cycling Team. Racers ran the gamut from weekend bike warriors to some of the top riders in the world, leaving no shortage of talent or entertainment. And just in case that wasnt enough, the beer garden made sure fans remained, er, enthusiastic.

Competitors get branded with their racing numbers as the sun crests the ridge Sunday morning. Ducking under a limb, a racer enters the backside of the course, designed by David Hagen. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory team completes the necessary paperwork in the registration tent. A racer maneuvers along a rather twisty section of the course. Joe Burtoni, with the Durango Wheel Club, keeps his pace along the course Sunday morning. Local Olympian Todd Wells does some Q&A after taking gold in the Mens Elite competition. A racers shadow is cast as he makes his way through the beginning of the course.