Results: John Gaston wins Snowmass 50 mountain bike race for third straight year

The sixth annual Audi Snowmass 50 mountain bike race made its way to Snowmass Ski Area on Saturday. Produced by Aspen Skiing Co. and formerly dubbed a “Power of Four” race, the 50-mile affair is among the most prestigious of the local mountain bike races each summer.

For a third straight year, Aspen local John Gaston took top honors, winning the 50-mile race in 4 hours, 23 minutes, 31.9 seconds. The 37-year-old, who is also a national star in ski mountaineering, finished with a 20-minute cushion on runner-up Brian Elander (4:43:52.4) of Evergreen. Third overall was Ricky Creel of Basalt in 4:44:46.9.

The top female finisher was Snowmass local Caroline Tory. She was 12^th overall in 5:38:12.7. Vail’s Bayli McSpadden was second among women (6:04:33.8, 15^th overall) and Aspen’s Jenya Berino was third (6:35:11.2, 20^th overall).

The terrain featured many of the Snowmass area’s IMBA Gold-Level rated trails. This included 5,000 feet of elevation gain per lap (riders made two 25-mile loops).

In the 25-mile single lap race, Aspen’s Miguel Sancheztuda was first to finish in 2:38:44.6. He was followed closely in second by Snowmass local Charles Burrus (2:39:06.4) and in third by Basalt’s Josh Gaube (2:44:04.2).

Basalt’s Katherine Keel took the women’s 25-mile solo win in 3:23:02.5 for 23^rd overall. She was followed by Carbondale’s Manasseh Franklin in second (3:29:30.7, 30^th overall) and in third by Vermont’s Leah Skypeck (3:34:28, 34^th overall).

There was also a 50-mile team option, with each rider completing a single 25-mile loop. The co-ed win went to Ethan Ash and Sofia Waite in 5 hours, 11 minutes. The men’s team winners were Sami Inkinen and Ryan Koster in 4:51. The women’s team winners were Rachel Beck and Courtney Knott in 6:16.

Complete race results can be found online.