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Jun 13, 2023

Saying it’s harder to win races overseas, Australian relishes victory at Emerald Mountain Epic

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The trails at Emerald Mountain see a high volume of use every weekend in the summer, but maybe none is as busy as the Emerald Mountain Epic Weekend.

The Epic is a two-day weekend event at Emerald Mountain consisting of a 50-mile mountain bike race Saturday and a marathon and half marathon through the mountainous terrain Sunday.

Saturday’s 50-mile mountain bike race winner, Tasman Nankervis, came to the U.S. from Australia for a five-month bike race tour. The 28-year-old completed the ride in 4 hours, 9.53 minutes, and he compared Emerald’s terrain to the alpine region back in Australia.

The familiarity played a role in his dominance.

“We had a group of three of us going from the start,” Nankervis said. “Two of them actually got away quite quickly, but I like to go at my own pace. I’m quite experienced at these longer races so I let them go and slowly reeled them back in.”

As Saturday morning rolled along, there was a noticeably high amount of riders who ran into mechanical issues with their bikes. Some had flat tires, others broke their pedals and some struggled with brake issues.

According to Nankervis, a lighter bike with less suspension has a higher chance of an incident. He said the more someone rides, the easier it becomes to look after their tires and equipment, but long races through the mountains can lead to any number of issues, no matter how well prepared a rider may be.

“I broke a spoke on my back wheel in the second lap, and I was worried my back wheel was going to let go at any point but it held together the whole time,” Nankervis said. “The second lap I went a little slower on the downhills and tried to make up for it on the uphills.”

Another rider who struggled with bike issues was 15-year-old Eva Minotto of Steamboat. Minotto crashed into a fence and battled mechanical problems throughout the day, but still managed the third-fastest individual time in the women’s Duo Relay category at 2:38.09.

The duo relay consisted of a pair of riders splitting the race into 25-mile rides each. Minotto took the first leg of the race while her partner, Anna Rhodes, took the second. Minotto said they both wanted to ride first, so they flipped a coin to determine the order.

“It’s less heat,” Minotto said. “There’s also the con of there being a bunch of people that you’re started with, but my strategy was to stay chill up the first half of it up to Wild Rose and then go hammer it up Beall.”

Steamboat’s Jace Rabesa rides at the start of the Emerald Mountain Epic in the Men’s Duo Relay on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Ryan Boyd pedals hard into the first ascent up the side of the ski jumps at Howelsen Hill in the Solo Clydesdale division of the Emerald Mountain Epic on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Willis Wodnik, a men’s Duo Relay racer in the Emerald Mountain Epic, pedals hard through the opening mile. He had 24 more to go. Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Nick Resignolo gets slight relief from a short downhill before a major ascent in the Emerald Mountain Epic on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Grant McCannon feels the burn up the early ascent of the Emerald Mountain Epic on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Sam Miller flies up the side of Emerald Mountain in the men’s Duo Relay of the Emerald Mountain Epic on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Co-Ed Duo Relay rider Joe Laliberte pushes himself up a hill during the Emerald Mountain Epic on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

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Minotto acknowledged having a major advantage in this race from knowing the Emerald trails so well. Rhodes came with similar experience and the two rode themselves to third overall in the women’s Duo Relay.

Minotto recalled catching up to and passing several riders in the tricky areas around Quarry Mountain.

“Quarry Mountain descent is super tight with roots, and tight trees and tight corners down Ridge,” Minotto said. “I have the advantage because I know what to look out for. I train here five days a week so I ride these trails a lot.”

Just ahead of Minotto and Rhodes came the tandem of Steamboat local Abby McLarnon and her partner Kira Mullins, who took first overall in the women’s Duo. Other top finishers of the day included Jill Sorensen in the women’s Pro/Open division, Renee Swischuck in the women’s Citizen, John Peters in the men’s Citizen, Sergio Sandoval in the Clydesdale and Mitch Westall in the men’s Singlespeed.

This was an especially meaningful victory for Nankervis, who loves riding in the U.S. but does not always have so much success.

“There are not easy wins and especially going overseas it feels nicer,” Nankervis said. “I’ve been racing bikes for a long time coming overseas and I haven’t won many races overseas. It is always hard to do, so winning overseas feels really good.”

To reach Tom Skulski, call 970-871-4240, email [email protected].

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