The Mellow Johnny’s Classic is back for 2013. Like past editions the event is part of USA Cycling’s
PRO XCT and a UCI Category 1 event awarding top points to participants. Back for 2013 is Flat
Creek Crossing Ranch as the race venue and we're thrilled to once again have Georgetown of Subaru as our title sponsor.
Located near Juan Pelota Ranch
on the Pedernales River, Flat Creek Crossing was a long-time favorite of
Texas Mountain Bike Series, and features 8+ miles of prime singletrack
and facilities for the race. We would like to thank the owners Child
INC, for opening the venue to us.
Held over the weekend of
March 2-3, 2013, the event will kick-off once again with a kick-off
party at Mellow Johnny’s on Friday March 1, at 7pm. The event will offer attendees a chance to meet
participating pro men’s and women’s teams and interact during Q & A
session at 7:45pm.
Registration opens February 1, 2013 and our first pre-ride day is scheduled for February 3, 2013 so come join us. Our 2nd Pre-ride date is February 23, 2013 from 12-4.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Plaxton and Pendrel Score Wins at 2012 Mellow Johnny’s Classic
Canadian riders Max Plaxton (Specialized) and Catharine Pendrel (Luna ) kicked-off their season with victories at the 2012 Subaru of Georgetown Mellow Johnny’s Classic. Under blue skies and mild temperatures the women’s race got underway with Georgia Gould (Luna) leading a group of five during the first of four laps.
As the lap unfolded, Gould accelerated and created a gap with her teammate and World Champion Catharine Pendrel and Judy Freeman (Crank Bros Racing Club) in tow. Shortly after Gould suffered what she termed an “off the course moment” and found herself chasing the pair. As the race unfolded Katie Compton (Giant-Rabobank Off Road) and Pua Mata (Sho-Air) were able to pass Gould. On the final lap Mata, an endurance race specialist, was able to overtake Compton who’d only spent a week training on an MTB coming off her cyclocross racing season in which she finished ranked 1st in the world. The ride of the day went to Freeman, racing her first season with her new team, and it was her highest PRO XCT finish ever.
In the men’s race 73 racers lined up for five laps of the rocky, twisty course. Like the women a strong group at the front pushed the pace led by Canadian rider Geoff Kabush (Scott-3 Rox) and fellow Canadian and 2-time MJC winner, Max Plaxton (Specialized). The pair were also joined by Plaxton’s teammate Todd Wells and By the beginning of the 2nd lap the trio had opened a gap over 4th place rider Derek Zandstra (Scott-3 Rox).
As the laps ticked down Kabush continued to push the pace and opened a small gap to Wells, but as he has in past editions, Plaxton patiently waited and then put in a hard effort to gap Kabush. At the start of the final lap, Plaxton held just a 15-second gap but was able to extend his lead and cross the line with 3 fingers in the air signifying his perfect 3-for-3 record at the MJC. Behind him Geoff Kabush was able to best Todd Wells, with Zandstra in 4th, and Subaru-Trek rider Sam Schultz nudged Jeremiah Bishop (Cannondale) at the line to round out the top 5.
During the day amateur racers were also treated to racing before the pro’s went off and also got to relax in the vendor expo area checking out the latest in Subaru vehicles from Subaru of Georgetown and eating BBQ from Rudy’s BBQ and Country Store. Amateur racing also continued Sunday with visiting pro’s able to join the Texas pro riders in a longer loop of Saturday’s pro race.
Several of Saturdays participants chose to stay over and use the chance to get an early season tune-up including Sam Schultz (Trek-Subaru), who won the men’s event, while Kelli Emmett (Giant Factory Off Road) bested Heather Irmiger (Subaru-Trek). Emmett who had suffered an untimely mechanical during Saturday’s Pro only event, commented it was nice to have fresh legs and rebound after the disappointing Saturday.
Men
1. Max Plaxton (CAN/Specialized Racing)
2. Geoff Kabush (CAN/Scott-3Rox Racing)
3. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing)
4. Derek Zandstra (CAN./Scott-3Rox Racing)
5. Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont./Subaru-Trek)
Women
1. Catherine Pendrel (CAN/Team LUNA Chix)
2. Judy Freeman (Littleton, Colo./Crankbrothers Race Club)
3. Monique Mata (Westminister, Calif./Sho-air-Specialized)
4. Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Giant-Rabobank)
5. Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna Pro Team)
Full results from all pro and amateur categories can be found HERE.
As the lap unfolded, Gould accelerated and created a gap with her teammate and World Champion Catharine Pendrel and Judy Freeman (Crank Bros Racing Club) in tow. Shortly after Gould suffered what she termed an “off the course moment” and found herself chasing the pair. As the race unfolded Katie Compton (Giant-Rabobank Off Road) and Pua Mata (Sho-Air) were able to pass Gould. On the final lap Mata, an endurance race specialist, was able to overtake Compton who’d only spent a week training on an MTB coming off her cyclocross racing season in which she finished ranked 1st in the world. The ride of the day went to Freeman, racing her first season with her new team, and it was her highest PRO XCT finish ever.
In the men’s race 73 racers lined up for five laps of the rocky, twisty course. Like the women a strong group at the front pushed the pace led by Canadian rider Geoff Kabush (Scott-3 Rox) and fellow Canadian and 2-time MJC winner, Max Plaxton (Specialized). The pair were also joined by Plaxton’s teammate Todd Wells and By the beginning of the 2nd lap the trio had opened a gap over 4th place rider Derek Zandstra (Scott-3 Rox).
As the laps ticked down Kabush continued to push the pace and opened a small gap to Wells, but as he has in past editions, Plaxton patiently waited and then put in a hard effort to gap Kabush. At the start of the final lap, Plaxton held just a 15-second gap but was able to extend his lead and cross the line with 3 fingers in the air signifying his perfect 3-for-3 record at the MJC. Behind him Geoff Kabush was able to best Todd Wells, with Zandstra in 4th, and Subaru-Trek rider Sam Schultz nudged Jeremiah Bishop (Cannondale) at the line to round out the top 5.
During the day amateur racers were also treated to racing before the pro’s went off and also got to relax in the vendor expo area checking out the latest in Subaru vehicles from Subaru of Georgetown and eating BBQ from Rudy’s BBQ and Country Store. Amateur racing also continued Sunday with visiting pro’s able to join the Texas pro riders in a longer loop of Saturday’s pro race.
Several of Saturdays participants chose to stay over and use the chance to get an early season tune-up including Sam Schultz (Trek-Subaru), who won the men’s event, while Kelli Emmett (Giant Factory Off Road) bested Heather Irmiger (Subaru-Trek). Emmett who had suffered an untimely mechanical during Saturday’s Pro only event, commented it was nice to have fresh legs and rebound after the disappointing Saturday.
Men
1. Max Plaxton (CAN/Specialized Racing)
2. Geoff Kabush (CAN/Scott-3Rox Racing)
3. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing)
4. Derek Zandstra (CAN./Scott-3Rox Racing)
5. Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont./Subaru-Trek)
Women
1. Catherine Pendrel (CAN/Team LUNA Chix)
2. Judy Freeman (Littleton, Colo./Crankbrothers Race Club)
3. Monique Mata (Westminister, Calif./Sho-air-Specialized)
4. Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Giant-Rabobank)
5. Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna Pro Team)
Full results from all pro and amateur categories can be found HERE.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Post Race Update and Thanks
We're still recovering a cleaning up, but wanted to send out a huge thanks to all of you that came out racing, cheering and otherwise. Max Plaxton and Georgia Gould repeated as mens and womens winners. Some good coverage here and lots of video coverage here.
We were able to raise over 25k for LIVESTRONG and 2k for the Texas High School Mountain Bike League.
We were able to raise over 25k for LIVESTRONG and 2k for the Texas High School Mountain Bike League.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Mellow Johnny's 6-Hour Race Report
11-14-2010
Ben Bostrom and Shontell Gauthier cruised to victory at the inaugural Mellow Johnny’s 6-Hour mountain bike race. Held on Lance Armstrong’s Juan Pelota Ranch outside of Dripping Springs, Texas, the event was the largest 6-hour turnout in Texas history. Cool morning temperatures greeted riders, but gave way to nearly perfect riding conditions under clear skies.
Men’s Open
Utilizing a LeMans style start (on foot) the men got underway with ranch owner and 7-Time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong taking an early lead. He was joined by professional motorcycle racer Ben Bostrom (Sho Air-Specialized) and Yuki Saito (Topeak-Ergon) during the first lap. The trio managed to separate themselves from chasers and came through the start/finish on lap 1 separated by about 5 seconds each.
During lap two Bostrom was able to extend his lead to 30 seconds over the chasing Armstrong, who by then had separated himself from Saito. By the beginning of lap 4 Bostrom’s lead was 2 minutes over Armstrong. When Bostrom rolled through start finish area for the start of lap 5 it was Saito that was in second place, and word came that Armstrong had pulled out with knee issues related to a recent increase in his running mileage.
With Armstrong out, Bostrom kept the cruise control on and turned out 11 steady laps to win during the 6 hours, while behind local rider Tristan Uhl (Austin-Tricyclist) completed 10 laps and finished second. It was an impressive charge in the final laps by who Uhl moved from the fourth and fifth place positions he held much of the day. Yuki Saito finished third. “I got in late last night due to some flight delays so today was the first time I saw the course, but I loved it, the singletrack was a lot like I train on at home (Malibu, Ca) but with less climbing,” commented Bostrom.
Women’s Open
In the Women’s Open it was a two-person race between Shontell Gauthier (Colavita/Baci) and Alex Robinette (RGM Advisors) who both fought through physical and mechanical issues throughout the race. Robinette, who started the race suffering from badly bruised ribs from a training crash earlier in the week, took the lead on lap 1 over Gauthier, only suffer a twisted chain on lap 2 that lost her the lead.
Gauthier took over and never relinquished the lead to complete 8 laps, while Robinette was able to repair her chain and ride back into second place finishing 8:16 behind Gauthier. Third place went to Sara Krause (Bicycle Sport Shop). Gauthier told the crowd from the podium the course was rough enough to warrant full suspension bike which she didn’t have, and ibuprofen which she did.
Wrap-up
Juan Pelota Ranch will next host the fourth stop of USA Cycling’s 2011 Pro XCT Cross-Country racing series. The event will be held on April 30 and is the second year straight year for the event. The 2010 event hosted over 1100 racers. No date has been set for the 2011 Mellow Johnny’s 6-Hour, but the event will return.
Full results can be found here.
Ben Bostrom and Shontell Gauthier cruised to victory at the inaugural Mellow Johnny’s 6-Hour mountain bike race. Held on Lance Armstrong’s Juan Pelota Ranch outside of Dripping Springs, Texas, the event was the largest 6-hour turnout in Texas history. Cool morning temperatures greeted riders, but gave way to nearly perfect riding conditions under clear skies.
Men’s Open
Utilizing a LeMans style start (on foot) the men got underway with ranch owner and 7-Time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong taking an early lead. He was joined by professional motorcycle racer Ben Bostrom (Sho Air-Specialized) and Yuki Saito (Topeak-Ergon) during the first lap. The trio managed to separate themselves from chasers and came through the start/finish on lap 1 separated by about 5 seconds each.
During lap two Bostrom was able to extend his lead to 30 seconds over the chasing Armstrong, who by then had separated himself from Saito. By the beginning of lap 4 Bostrom’s lead was 2 minutes over Armstrong. When Bostrom rolled through start finish area for the start of lap 5 it was Saito that was in second place, and word came that Armstrong had pulled out with knee issues related to a recent increase in his running mileage.
With Armstrong out, Bostrom kept the cruise control on and turned out 11 steady laps to win during the 6 hours, while behind local rider Tristan Uhl (Austin-Tricyclist) completed 10 laps and finished second. It was an impressive charge in the final laps by who Uhl moved from the fourth and fifth place positions he held much of the day. Yuki Saito finished third. “I got in late last night due to some flight delays so today was the first time I saw the course, but I loved it, the singletrack was a lot like I train on at home (Malibu, Ca) but with less climbing,” commented Bostrom.
Women’s Open
In the Women’s Open it was a two-person race between Shontell Gauthier (Colavita/Baci) and Alex Robinette (RGM Advisors) who both fought through physical and mechanical issues throughout the race. Robinette, who started the race suffering from badly bruised ribs from a training crash earlier in the week, took the lead on lap 1 over Gauthier, only suffer a twisted chain on lap 2 that lost her the lead.
Gauthier took over and never relinquished the lead to complete 8 laps, while Robinette was able to repair her chain and ride back into second place finishing 8:16 behind Gauthier. Third place went to Sara Krause (Bicycle Sport Shop). Gauthier told the crowd from the podium the course was rough enough to warrant full suspension bike which she didn’t have, and ibuprofen which she did.
Wrap-up
Juan Pelota Ranch will next host the fourth stop of USA Cycling’s 2011 Pro XCT Cross-Country racing series. The event will be held on April 30 and is the second year straight year for the event. The 2010 event hosted over 1100 racers. No date has been set for the 2011 Mellow Johnny’s 6-Hour, but the event will return.
Full results can be found here.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Race Week News
ALL LAST MINUTE UPDATES VIA TWITTER follow @mellowjohnnys or on web WWW.TWITTER.COM/MELLOWJOHNNYS
Race week is here and online race registration closes Wednesday at 5pm. If by chance you missed registration online you can late register on site Friday from 1-5, or Saturday 7:30-9:30.
Here is Schedule of Events.
Friday, Nov. 12th 1-5PM:
Pre-ride, Early Packet Pick-up, late registration at ranch.
NOTE: if you are registered for the 2010 Mellow Johnny's 6-Hour race, you do not need to also sign up for this Fun Ride below. Just show up and sign your athletes release form and have fun pre-riding the course.
Non-race participants can sign-up for the fun ride here:
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?EventID=11973
Saturday Nov. 13th Schedule: RACE DAY
$5 Per car entry fee (Waived if there are more than 3 people in car, Carpool!)
7:00AM – Ranch Gates Open
7:30AM-9:30AM – Registration
10:00AM – Race Start
3:59:59 PM - Last chance to leave for another lap
5:30PM – Awards Ceremony
7:00PM – Ranch Gates Locked
Pre-riding the course:
Race week is here and online race registration closes Wednesday at 5pm. If by chance you missed registration online you can late register on site Friday from 1-5, or Saturday 7:30-9:30.
Here is Schedule of Events.
Friday, Nov. 12th 1-5PM:
Pre-ride, Early Packet Pick-up, late registration at ranch.
NOTE: if you are registered for the 2010 Mellow Johnny's 6-Hour race, you do not need to also sign up for this Fun Ride below. Just show up and sign your athletes release form and have fun pre-riding the course.
Non-race participants can sign-up for the fun ride here:
http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?EventID=11973
Saturday Nov. 13th Schedule: RACE DAY
$5 Per car entry fee (Waived if there are more than 3 people in car, Carpool!)
7:00AM – Ranch Gates Open
7:30AM-9:30AM – Registration
10:00AM – Race Start
3:59:59 PM - Last chance to leave for another lap
5:30PM – Awards Ceremony
7:00PM – Ranch Gates Locked
Pre-riding the course:
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Media Wrap-Up
Let us start by giving a huge thanks to the team effort this weekend from our staff and volunteers. Next, thanks to all of the fans and racers that helped create such a great atmosphere. We loved all of the positive energy that everyone on the ranch brought. It is infectious and certainly helps us keep pushing to make the even bigger and better for next year. Yes, we'll be back. Until then check out some media coverage.
http://bicycling.com/blogs/mbword/2010/05/31/gould-and-plaxton-scorch-lances-ranch/
http://gallery.me.com/ildille1#100009
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/race-tech-mellow-johnnys-classic
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/us-pro-xct-3-mellow-johnnys-classic-1/amateur-cross-country/results
http://singletrack.competitor.com/2010/06/race-results/video-wrap-up-mellow-johnnys-classic_8477
http://singletrack.competitor.com/tag/mellow-johnnys-classic
http://bicycling.com/blogs/mbword/2010/05/31/gould-and-plaxton-scorch-lances-ranch/
http://gallery.me.com/ildille1#100009
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/race-tech-mellow-johnnys-classic
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/us-pro-xct-3-mellow-johnnys-classic-1/amateur-cross-country/results
http://singletrack.competitor.com/2010/06/race-results/video-wrap-up-mellow-johnnys-classic_8477
http://singletrack.competitor.com/tag/mellow-johnnys-classic
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Final Push
Hard at work at race hq as we make the final push for the Mellow Classic 2010. We'll be hosting a big kick-off party Thursday from 7-10 PM at the shop. Our friends from Cielo, Rapha, and Beloved Cycles with be hosting. The ladies of the Luna Chix Pro Cycling team will be coming as well. Please come by and tell all of your friends.
The weather report looks good and though it will be warm (upper 80's)our friends from Nuun will be stepping up to help keep you hydrated. We'll have our Juan Pelota coffee truck for your caffeine needs. On the food front we'll have Hat Creek Burgers and Wahoo's Taco Truck out. We'll have beer and plenty of stuff to do to keep you occupied in your spare time.
Our media response has been good and most of the major cycling publications and websites will be coming in to cover.
The weather report looks good and though it will be warm (upper 80's)our friends from Nuun will be stepping up to help keep you hydrated. We'll have our Juan Pelota coffee truck for your caffeine needs. On the food front we'll have Hat Creek Burgers and Wahoo's Taco Truck out. We'll have beer and plenty of stuff to do to keep you occupied in your spare time.
Our media response has been good and most of the major cycling publications and websites will be coming in to cover.
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