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Swindlehurst, Broeder take Ecology Center opener in Montana

By Joe Zauner
Published: May. 23, 2003

Burke Swindlehurst (Navigators) and Becky Broeder (Intermountain Cycling Organization) won the first stage of Montana’s Ecology Center Classic Friday in a race that was cut short after support vehicles ran out of spare wheels.

The 100-mile Pintler Road Race stage near Phillipsburg, Montana, about 40 miles southeast of Missoula, included a seven-mile stretch of newly graded gravel road called Rock Creek Road - and 25 wheel changes on that section alone, almost all the result of punctures.

The race had been slated to cover Rock Creek Road once more, but after support vehicles for both the men and women’s races ran out of rear wheels, race organizers and officials decided to abbreviate the stage.

“To run a second lap would have been a disaster,” said race director Jeff Crouch. “We were pretty sure we didn’t have enough wheels to support it. We went through the feed zone begging for wheels and we still had only 10.”

The Rock Creek Road had been easily rideable, but was recently graded, according to Crouch. By Friday, the road was covered with rocks - many the size of golf balls - of which riders were jockeying over for position at 30 mph.

In the men’s race Swindlehurst caught and then rode clear of Colby Pearce (5280-Subaru) on the final 2.5-mile climb. In the early miles of the race a four-man break was established that included Mick Walsh (Saturn for Seattle), Eric Pardyjak (First Endurance), Jason Bethel (Aurora Cycling Club) and Matt Weyen, riding unattached.

These four held a three-minute advantage prior to Rock Creek Road. Once on Rock Creek, Bethel and Pardyjak punctured and were absorbed by the bunch, while Pearce was bridging to the leaders. Behind him, about a third of the 56 riders who started the race were, at some point or another, standing on the side of the road waiting for replacement wheels.

Pearce caught Walsh and Bethel on the milelong feed climb and dropped them halfway up. Then, after nearly 40 miles of racing officials announced to the riders that their race would be shortened to 50 miles.

“They told us the race would end in about five or six miles when we thought we had 40 miles to catch Colby,” said Swindlehurst “I knew Colby had a very good chance of making it if we didn’t start chasing hard at that point.”

Swindlehurst attacked on the feed hill along with Rusty Beall (Health Net). They hit the foot of the final climb about 45 seconds behind Pearce. Swindlehurst dropped Beall about a mile into the climb. He caught Pearce soon after and won by a 35-second margin. Beall was third.

In the women’s race, Broeder (Intermountain Cycling Organization) survived Rock Creek Road along with about 10 of the 22 starters. She attacked on the feed hill and was later joined by Sima Trapp (Goldy’s), Eva Karau (Team Stampede-Five Valley Velo) and Liza Rachetto (Intermountain Cycling).

But Broeder rolled clear of the group near the top of the feed hill and established a lead she never relinquished. She finished 2:58 ahead of Rachetto. Karau held on for third (3:09). Marry Kneeland (Intermountain Cycling) was fourth (3:12) and Trapp was fifth (4:11).

The Ecology Center Classic, an NRC race, continues Saturday with the Perma Road Race, run on a 52—mile loop (one lap for women, two for men). Sunday brings the 8.3-mile Missoula Bicycle Works time trial and the Frenchtown Circuit Race, on a 15.8-mile loop. The race concludes Monday with the Missoula Criterium, on a figure-eight course around Bonner Park.