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Ravelo back on the mountain bike, will race at Vail Rec District Camp Hale Hup

Illustrating one of the great truths of the Davos Dash — that down is better than up — Cristhian Ravelo has some fun on his way down the hill after the grueling race.
Matt Munson | Special to the Daily |

CAMP HALE HUP
Wednesday, July 26

The races will take place at historic Camp Hale off of Highway 24, and the race start/finish will be at the intersection of East Fork and Resolution Creek Rd., 0.5 miles east of the Nova Guides lodge. The KidSport Youth Series will kick off at 4:45 p.m. with races for riders ages 8 to 17. All youth racers will complete either a 2.2-, 4.4- or 6.6-mile short course. The East West Destination Hospitality adult series will kick off at 5:45 p.m.

EAGLE-VAIL — Cristhian Ravelo is back home after competing around the country on his road bike this summer, and being home is making him want to get back on his mountain bike.

Ravelo has confirmed he will return to take on the historic Camp Hale course at the Vail Recreation District’s East West Destination Hospitality Mountain Bike Race Series on July 26. The Camp Hale Hup takes riders along paths traveled by WWII soldiers as they were training to fight in the mountains of Italy.

Ravelo’s first big win as a professional cyclist came at the Camp Hale race two years ago, he took down local professionals Josiah Middaugh, Jay Henry and Jake Wells to ride away victorious.



“There’s a good amount of road section,” Ravelo said of the Camp Hale race. “So road tactics do come into it, that may be the advantage that I have, although the tough local riders also have road experience.”

Now competing mainly as a road biker, Ravelo rides with the Boulder-based amateur team the 303 Project. They competed at nationals earlier this month in Louisville, Kentucky, where Ravelo finished 18th in the criterium.

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“Unless you win or one of your teammates wins, you’re always going to be frustrated,” Ravelo said after that race. “I’m not disappointed with it; it’s a sport where things take, especially at this level.”

UPCOMING REGIONAL RACES

Ravelo, 24, was the youngest rider in the top 10 at the renowned Leadville 100 mountain bike race in August of 2016, and used his time on the road to tune up for that race. It was the Salida Road Race, a 70-mile battle an hour to the south of Eagle County, where a strong finish made Ravelo realize he may be competitive heading into Leadville. The 100-mile Leadville race is near the Salida race in geography and length. Leadville, however, is mainly on dirt trails.

“After taking fourth down in Salida I really started training and thinking about Leadville,” Ravelo said this week. “Last year, Salida was three weeks before Leadville, and this year it’s only two.”

This year the Salida Road Race will double as the state championships. It will take place on July 27 through 29 and include a Friday time trial, a Saturday crit and the actual road race will be on Sunday.

“It should be a fun weekend down in Salida for anyone who wants to come cheer us on,” Ravelo said.

Following the Salida race, Ravelo says he will also take on the Davos Dash on Aug. 2.

The Leadville 100 mounting biking race will be on Aug. 12.

“That’s going to be the biggest race of the season for me,” Ravelo said. “I’m really hoping to do well.”


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