Second'place finisher David eves
relaxes on one of the transfer tr "Is.
very year, the Ute Cup entices
entrants from all over North
Ame rica with promises of
splendid mountain scenery.
unpredictable alpine weather.
unmatched trail systems and close competition. The two -day event is recognized aro und the world as one of the
prem iere high-altitude competitions and,
although It is a non -Nat ional event
geared toward the club rider, typically
draws the top riders from the United
States and Canada.
Well, this year 's Ute Cup. now In its
34th year. may have surpassed its own
hype . For 2004 , the Rocky Mountain
Trials Association chose the beautiful
Hayden Creek Recreational Area. midway between Salida and Canon City, as
the starting point. The loop used consisted mainly of rocky and tight single-track
and wound its way along the famed and
E
scenic Rainbow Trail to an altitude of 9800
feet in the Sangre de Cristo range of the
Rocky Mountains. The event featured
deep water crossings and grand vistas,
and to top that off, after riding 60 miles of
trail (which on a trials bike is a lot) and 68
sect ions over the course of the two -day
event , defending Ute Cup champ Geoff
Aaron edged Spaniard David Chaves by a
single clean in one of the closest fi nishes in
Ute Cup history.
Participants rode a morn ing loop and
an afternoon loop each day. and at the
end of Saturday's competition , Aaron,
Chaves and Kansas young-gun Jake
Wieland shared the lead, each finishing
with three points lost. Aaron took a one
when his front wheel tucked under after
dropping over a slippery log in section
seven and two more points in the final
section of the day when his rear tire went
nat. Wieland also took a one and a two,
34 SEPTEMBER 8,2004 • CYCLE NEWS
