Mount Evans Hill Climb

Last updated
Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb
Race details
DateJuly
RegionMount Evans, Colorado, USA
English nameBob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb
Nickname(s)Mt. Evans Hillclimb
DisciplineRoad race
TypeOne-day race
History
First edition1962;62 years ago (1962)
Editions54
First winnerStuart Baillie and Adolph Weller (tie)
Most winsFlag of the United States.svg  Scott Moninger  (USA) (6 times)

The Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Hill Climb or Mount Evans Hill Climb is a bicycle race situated on Mount Blue Sky near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Begun in 1962, [1] the race has been held every year since except for three cancellations. In 1981, it was renamed in honor of five-time race winner Bob Cook, who died of cancer at the age of 23. [2] The race is 27.4 miles (44.1 kilometers) in length and ascends 6,590 feet (2,010 m).

Contents

The race takes place on the highest paved road in the United States, starting at an altitude of 7,540 feet (2,298 meters) and terminating at 14,130 feet (4,306 meters), 130 feet (39 meters) below Mount Evans' summit. [3] Due to the altitude, the event is sometimes marked by inclement weather.

Over the years, the race has attracted significant professional riders. Riders come from all over the United States and in the past the race has had riders from France, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia compete. The age range of the participants is from nine to eighty-five years. The race is also supported by volunteers from the Colorado cycling community who help marshal, drive support, officiate and work the picnic. The event includes categories for all levels of racing and encourages riders of all abilities. Between six hundred and a thousand riders compete each year in a number of categories.

In 2024, the name of the race changed to Blue Sky Hill Climb, due to the name change of Mount Blue Sky. [1] The race will not occur in 2025 due to road construction. [1] [4]

Course records

Bob Cook held the course record from 1975-1980. The first three years he held the record he was a junior. The present men's record is held by Tom Danielson, set in 2004 with a time of 1:41:20. [5] The women's course record is held by Jeannie Longo of France at 1:59:19. [2]

Canceled years

The race was canceled three times: twice due to snow and once when the race director was in Atlanta at the 1996 Summer Olympics.[ citation needed ]

List of winners

Women competed in the race beginning in 1976. The winners of the race are: [6]

YearMen's WinnerTimeWomen's WinnerTime
1962Stuart Baillie/Adolph Weller2:28 [note 1]
1963Stuart Baillie2:24 [note 1]
1964Stuart Baillie2:08:07 [note 1]
1965Michael Hiltner2:09:55
1966Stuart Baillie2:14
1967 [note 2] [note 2]
1968Mike DennisN/A
1969Stan Justice2:19:23
1970Kalman Halasi2:22:49
1971Kalman Halasi2:14:35
1972Bob Poling2:11:41
1973Jack Janelle2:05:32 [note 1]
1974Jack Janelle2:05:09 [note 1]
1975Bob Cook2:02:55 [note 1]
1976Bob Cook1:57:50 [note 1] Robin Deily2:44:58 [note 1]
1977Bob Cook1:55:43 [note 1] [note 2] [note 2]
1978Bob Cook1:54:27 [note 1] Margaret Nettles1:18:44 [note 3]
1979 [note 4] [note 4] [note 4] [note 4]
1980Bob Cook1:54:55Margaret Nettles2:41:10 [note 1]
1981 Alexi Grewal 1:57:36Martha Stafford2:29:54 [note 1]
1982Don Spence1:58:12Jan DeYoung2:28:33 [note 1]
1983Todd Gogulski1:53:43 [note 1] Ann Chernoff2:24:37 [note 1]
1984 Alexi Grewal 1:47:51 [note 1] Denise Yamagishi2:23:45 [note 1]
1985 Ned Overend 1:49:53Barb Dolan2:15:58 [note 1]
1986 Ned Overend 1:49:22Catherine Porter2:22:58
1987Todd Gogulski1:54:07Vanessa Brines2:26:03
1988Tom Resh1:51:56Darien Raistrick2:19:46
1989 [note 4] [note 4] [note 4] [note 4]
1990 Alexi Grewal 1:46:29 [note 1] Darien Raistrick2:13:59 [note 1]
1991Mike Engleman1:51:41 [note 1] Darien Raistrick2:23:10
1992Mike Engleman1:45:30Linda Brenneman2:15;24
1993Mike Engleman1:56:57Jan Bolland2:32:21
1994Mike Engleman1:50:35Eve Stephenson2:25:43
1995Mike Engleman1:46:32Linda Jackson2:13:28 [note 1]
1996 [note 5] [note 5] [note 5] [note 5]
1997 Jonathan Vaughters 1:53:54 [note 6] Julie Hudetz2:18:22
1998 Scott Moninger 1:52:16 Jeannie Longo 1:59:19 [note 7]
1999 Jonathan Vaughters Emily Robbins2:09:58
2000 Scott Moninger 1:49:42 Kimberly Bruckner 2:09:00
2001 Scott Moninger 1:46:56Karen Bockel2:22:15
2002 Scott Moninger 1:50:20 Kimberly Bruckner 2:05:31
2003 Jonathan Vaughters 1:49:29Allison Lusby2:09:29
2004 Tom Danielson 1:41:20 [note 8] Ann Trombley 2:19:03
2005 Scott Moninger 1:52:50 Mara Abbott 2:20:10
2006 Scott Moninger 1:49:52 Mara Abbott 2:11:55
2007 Tom Danielson 1:43:04 Michelle Steiner 2:22:04
2008Kevin Nicol1:53:21 Jeannie Longo 2:10:10
2009 Tom Danielson 1:42:09Jennifer Slawta2:15:58
2010 Peter Stetina 1:50:20Tammy Jacques-Grewal2:15:07
2011 LeRoy Popowski 1:57:36Tammy Jacques-Grewal2:13:24
2012 LeRoy Popowski 1:51:02Tammy Jacques-Grewal2:08:08
2013 Christopher Carr 1:57:16Annie Toth2:19:30
2014Fortunato Ferrara1:51:22 Mara Abbott 2:14:12
2015 Lachlan Morton 1:48:05 Mara Abbott 2:19:16
2016 Chris Butler 1:50:19Annie Toth2:17:40
2017 Chad Haga 1:43:39 Mara Abbott 2:16:35
2018 Gregory Daniel 1:49:51Flavia Oliviera2:16:26
2019 Keegan Swirbul 1:43:53Annie Toth2:16:05

Race notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 New record time
  2. 1 2 3 4 Race was held, but no results are available.
  3. Race finished at Echo Lake.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Race not held (snow).
  5. 1 2 3 4 Race not held (organizer at 1996 Olympic Games).
  6. Mat Anand, a Canadian National Team member was the first across the line, but was relegated to second place for ‘hooking’ Jonathan Vaughters in the final sprint.
  7. Current Record
  8. Current Record

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mount Evans Hill Climb gets a new name — but the ride won't return in 2025". The Denver Post. 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  2. 1 2 "FROM INSIDE PELOTON: CLIMBING MT. EVANS". Velo. 2018-12-14. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2008-04-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Road to summit of Mount Blue Sky, highest paved road in North America, will not open in 2025". The Denver Post. 2024-05-02. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  5. VeloNews.com (2004-07-25). "North American Roundup - Danielson smashes Mt. Evans record; Nav's in China". Velo. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  6. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2008-04-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)