Tamarancho Dirt Classic XC
September 30, 2012
Fairfax, CA
With a trip to the San Francisco area for the 100-mile Levi’s Gran Fondo, team rider Jeff Kerkove took advantage of the 4-day trip to get in some solid training in the Bay Area. The plan was to ride the 100-mile Levi’s Gran Fondo on Saturday and then race the Tamarancho Dirt Classic XC in Fairfax, CA on Sunday. The Tamarancho race was a fundraiser for the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League.
With record heat in the Bay Area and a punchy course, the Tamarancho XC would be a tough test. The Pro and Expert fields would race together and do 3 laps on the 7-mile course. Jeff would have a slow start carrying fatigue from the 100-mile effort the day prior. “The local racers went off hard! I couldn’t go their pace on their home trails.” stated Jeff after the race. Settling into a conservative pace, Jeff would ride consistent laps all day.
On the third and final lap, Jeff would pass the 2nd place rider, who was fixing multiple flat tires after the opening descent. Later in the lap, Jeff would connect up with the lead rider from Jamis on the very steep Dead Heifer climb. Jeff following his finish, “He was walking and I still had some juice to pedal up the climb. I was able to get a small gap and keep it.”
Jeff would take the victory after chasing the leaders all afternoon. Jeff in the post race interview, “It wasn’t easy at all! The local riders are very strong and stuck it to me all day on their home trails. I got lucky with pacing and mechanicals!”
Results
Jeff Kerkove, 1st Place, Pro Men
Race file posted on Strava