Over 500 cyclists — from 8 to 85 years of age — competed across 85, 50 and 20-mile events at the third-annual Bighorn Gravel race last Saturday in Gypsum. Co-founders Mike Brumbaugh and Jake Wells were “humbled and honored” by the “sense of pride and community involvement.” “The stoke level was at an all-time high,” Brumbaugh said.
“People were stretched but nobody was broken.” After placing fourth and second in his last two tries, Boulder cyclist Eric Brunner claimed an eight-minute win in the premier Ram’s Horn Escape race. After covering the 85-mile loop in 4 hours, 56 minutes and 8 seconds, Brunner called his title “satisfying.
” “At this point, it’s one of the bigger races in Colorado, so I’m proud both to be on top of the podium but also about my process in the race,” he said. “I think that my own performance was an improvement in a lot of ways. I was fitter, paced it better, ate more, and liked my tire choice better.
” Durango cyclists Cobe Freeburn (5:04:22) and Cody Cupp (5:10:07) rounded out the men’s podium and locals Sam Brown (5:12:53) and Landon Stovall (5:14:17) placed fourth and sixth, respectively. “Although it was probably one of the hardest races I’ve done this year, it was such a great event and I look forward to returning next year,” Freeburn said after his Bighorn Gravel debut. “I am happy with how it played out and I felt like I raced to the best of my ability.
” Riding with mountain bike tires on her grave.