Quanah Moseley celebrating his victory on the top of the podium on Saturday at the La Tierra Torture in Santa Fe, NM.
Cullen McLean finishing strong on Saturday. Cullen aced the 8-mile field besting all but four of the adult competitors. Courtesy photo.
James Tyldesley finding a good position in the mass start. Courtesy photo.
Morgan Allen taking the last tight corner before heading to the finish line. Courtesy photo.
BY PAULA KNEPPER
Coach
Los Alamos Youth Mountain Bike Team
La Tierra Torture returned to Santa Fe on Saturday, August 27 after a multi-year hiatus attracting over 200 cyclists thrilled to participate in a local mountain bike race. The Core Crew which is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to producing high-quality off -road sporting events in the Santa Fe area hosted another outstanding community event.
Four Los Alamos youth cyclists made up the field of nearly 100 youth athletes. In addition to youth competitors, Los Alamos Youth Mountain Bike Team coaches and Los Alamos cyclists punished themselves by testing their aerobic fitness at La Tierra on Saturday.
Los Alamos athletes were not deterred by the threat of a torturous race nor racing alongside the more experienced adult competitors. Athletes competed between 8 and 24 miles over sandy and slick single track. Several high-speed tight corners left riders on the ground, but the Los Alamos athletes muscled around the corners safely reaching the finish line.
Morgan Allen, sophomore at Los Alamos High School, earned a 3rd place in the junior women age 12-15 category. James Tyldesley, senior Los Alamos High School, earned a second place on the podium in the junior men 16-18 age category, and bested his father, Jim Tyldesley by nearly a minute. Cullen McLean, 6th grader Mountain Elementary School, found himself on the top of the podium for the junior men 11-12 age category. Quanah Moseley, 4th grade Mountain Elementary School, earned the top spot for the junior men 8-10 age category. Cullen McLean racing on the same course as adults schooled his coaches and mother defeating them by 3 seconds.
Los Alamos bike team coaches Mary Grow, Jim Tyldesley and Paula Knepper joined in the fun with the youth competitors on the race course. In addition, Shannon Allen and Mark Wald-Hopkins of Los Alamos competed in the women 40-49 category and expert men 50+ category, respectively.
Coach Jim Tyldesley sprinting across the finish line. Courtesy photo
The Los Alamos women made an impressive clean sweep of the podium in the 40-49 age category. Paula Knepper in 1st place, Mary Grow in 2nd place and followed closely by Shannon Allen in 3rd place owned the podium on Saturday. Jim Tyldesley earned 1st place in the men 50-59 age category and Mark Wald-Hopkins earned a 3rd place in the expert men 50+ category.
For more details about the Los Alamos Youth Mountain Biking team including practice times, event schedule, and registration information, click here to read the team Welcome Letter or email layouthmtnbiketeam@gmail.com
For more information about the La Tierra Torture mountain bike race, Core Crew nonprofit, and full list of results please see https://www.core-crew.com
Los Alamos women sweeping the podium at La Tierra Torture on Saturday are, from left, Head Coach Mary Grow, Coach Paula Knepper, and Shannon Allen. Courtesy photo