The Echo Basin "Pedal in the Pines" mountain bike race, which was held Sunday, June 18, will certainly be considered a success when all said is done.

Some 70 mountain bicycle riders from all over the Four Corners area competed at the first annual event. The weather cooperated fully. It was cool but not cold and partly cloudy throughout the day. Race coordinator Jennifer McWilliams, director of Mancos Recreation Department, said she was pleased.

The course started and ended at the Echo Basin Dude Ranch. The Beginner Classification riders raced 7.2 miles, Sport riders rode 13.5 while the Expert/Pro riders covered 22.2.

Allen Tewell won the boys Junior (18-and-Under) with a time of 33 minutes, 01 seconds. Ian Burnett came in second in 36:14, Donnie Grotts finished third in 38:56, followed by Jeron Plotnik 39:02, and Teddy Guillen in 39:56, rounding out the top five. Megan Doty won the girls’ division in 36:04 and Lindsay Countryman finished next in 43:21.

In the Beginners Veteran Class (35-44), Thomas Estrada won the men’s bracket in 34:16, Patrick Mitchel took second in 39:53, and Kevin Millikin third in 43:19. Winning for the women were Kim Memecek in 39:19, Nancy Wagnar 39:26, and Melissa Countryman 49:02. There were no riders in the Beginners Seniors Class.

Doug Doty won the Masters (45-plus) in 35:20 and Chris Smarona was next in 37:29.

A majority of the racers competed in the Sport Class, a more competitive division.

DOUG ECKERT (no. 808) crosses the finish line during the Sport Senior Men’s Division at the first Echo Basin "Pedal in the Pines" on Sunday.

Adam Stephnovic took the Juniors Class in 1 hour, 27 minutes flat, Sheldon Sandoval came in next at 1:30.24 and Drew Blair third 1:39:35 in the men’s division. There were no female riders in that age group.

Doug Eckert captured the Sport Seniors (19-34) Men’s Division with a time of 1:11:98. Keith Lawyer took second in 1:12:43 while Scott Claw grabbed third in 1:21:41, Clayton Stephenson fourth 1:23:54 and Brian Benfield 1:25:26. Tina Wood won the Sports Seniors Women’s bracket in 1:28:10.

Mike Clinton captured first place in the men’s division of the Sport Veterans Class (35-44) with a clocking of 1:12:46. Jim Casey took second in 1:16:36, Peter Emery third 1:19:61, Christopher Caldwell 1:19:27, and Pat Caldwell 1:20:10. The top women finishers were Emily Deitz in 1:29:28, and Sandy Crites 1:40:02.

Keith Barbeau took first in the men’s bracket of the Sport Masters Class with a time of 1:23:47. Doug Call grabbed second in 1:25:28, Dan Dunn third 1:25:55, Chris Burnett 1:26:32, and Dennis Polsfut 1:27:30. There were no women riders in that age group.

Only a few finished in the Expert/Pro Class. They were Brant Landers in 2:08:18, and Boo Burner in 2:09:51 in the junior division; Aaron Potts 1:48:58, and Matthew Oelhafen in 1:59:45 in men’s Senior, and Susan Grandjeau in 1:45:39 women’s Senior; David Peters 1:59:18 and Craig Campbell 2:16:50 in men’s Veteran; and Daryl Crites in 2:07:42 in men’s Masters.

A special Children’s Race kicked the day off. Participating were Jessica Montoya, 5; Elisa Mullikin, 8; Marshall Marona, 9; Jesse Countryman, 10; Brian Countryman, 10; Charles Chavez, 10; and Casey Stephenson, 11.

The Echo Basin "Pedal in the Pines" race was a stage of the Four Corners Cup series.

The Four Corners Cup is a mountain bike point series held in conjunction with 10 races held throughout the Four Corners area. Points are awarded for each race finished, but racers need to enter the series in order to accumulate points. Farmington’s race, The Battle of the Badlands, was held in April, a race was held in Bayfield and at Cove, Ariz., last month. Cortez and Dolores are also planning races as part of the series.

Entry fee into the series is a one-time fee of $10, $5 less than last year. The fee, paid at the time of registration, provides the racers with registration forms for each race, point updates at each race, and awards for point winners following the final race of the series in Pagosa Springs on Sept. 24.

Each city/race director is responsible for its won race awards, entry fees, routes, etc. Racers can enter the series at any time before the last race and collect points all subsequent races entered.

Beginner, youth, first time racers and non-NORBA (National Off Road Biking Association) racers are welcome to enter.

For more information, phone Call (970) 264-4151. All local bike shops have race and series entry forms along with lists for municipal recreation offices around the area.

Five more races remain on the schedule. The Blue Mountain Mountain Bike Race is set July 8 near Monticello. Phone Eddie Allred for more details at (435) 587-2029. The Purgatory Resort Mountain Bike Race is slated July 29. For information, phone Kim Stone at 247-9000, extension 149. The Escalante Days Race is set for Dolores on Aug. 12. Phone Rhonda Landcaster at 882-7720. The Durango Dirt Rally is set Aug. 27. Phone Rick Callies at 385-2950. The finals race is the Pagosa Mountain Challenge Sept. 24. Phone Call at 264-4151.

In other mountain bike news, Purgatory Resort and the National Off-Road Bicycle Racing Association (NORBA) announced the resort has been selected to host a Union Cyliste Internationale World Cup Series mountain bike triple event July 14-15. The UCI is the international governing body for the sport of cycling, while NORBA serves as the national governing body in the United States.

A triple event features all three major disciplines of mountain bike racing: cross-country, downhill and dual slalom. This is one of only four events held world-wide.