Junior Varsity riders begin their ascent during the Cloud City Challenge in Leadville Sept. 10th.

LEADVILLE— On September 10th the new Rio Grande Rattlers High School Mountain Bike Team traveled to Leadville to compete in the Cloud City Challenge which was their second race of the season.

Freshmen riders competed in the first race.  Cameron Roberts (Monte Vista) finished in 10th place out of a field of 130 with a time of 1:03:29 for the 12 mile race. Ryan Astalos finished in 116th place with a time of 1:38:04.  Landon Tolsma (Sargent) pulled out of the race after the first lap. Daniel Macias (Monte Vista) was unable to race. Sophomore Kristen David (Sargent) also had to pull out of the race due to a crash.

Junior Varsity rider Devin Arellano (Alamosa) finished in 103rd place out of out 143 riders with an 18 mile time of 2:00:36.  Jackson Mumper (Alamosa) and Rand Kidd (Sargent) finished in 125th and 131st place respectively, just missing the time cut for the third lap.

Devin Arellano (2122) at the starting line in Leadville. Arrellano took 103rd place out of 143 riders completing 18 miles in just over two hours.

Overall series results showed Arellano in 85th, Mumper in 111th and Kidd in 114th place in the Junior Varsity completion. David took 28th place as a Sophomore Girl.  In the Freshmen standings Roberts placed 6th,  Astalos finished 102nd, and Tolsma wound up in 145th place. Arellano, Astalos, Kidd and Roberts helped prepare the trails during the Del Norte Trail Organization work day on Saturday Sept. 9th.  

The Rattlers hit the trails again during the Grandby Ranch Round-up in Granby, Colorado Sunday, Sept. 24th.

Trail workers begin breaking ground in preperation of 12 Hours of Penitence race on October 14th in Penitente Canyon, San Luis, Colorado.

Also upcoming is the 12 Hours of Penitence Mountain Bike Race on Saturday October 14th.  Proceeds from this event support Youth on Bikes including the Rattlers Team.