By Nate Gibby — SUNDANCE, UT (August 13, 2016) — In what is beginning to have a familiar sound, Robbie Squire and Nicole Tittensor won the elite men’s and women’s categories respectively of the final X-country race of the Intermountain Cup series on August 13th at Sundance, Utah. The tandem also won the previous Intermountain Cup X-country race at Snowbird in July.
Holowesk-Citadel racer Squire edged out Chris Holley of Kuhl, Racers Cycle Service by just over one minute, in what turned out to be a battle throughout the entire race. “Holley, gave me a real run for the top step as he was able to close down the gaps I made on the climb throughout the rolling course.” said Squire. “Once I realized that I wasn’t going to be able to lose Chris [Holley] on the climbs, I let him take over at the front where he had to battle the head wind and I could catch somewhat of a draft behind him. Fortunately this plan paid off as I was able to counter attack him for the victory towards the end of the last lap that he led.”
On the women’s side, Jans/Scott/Reynolds racer Tittensor dominated by completing the three laps in four and half minutes above KC Holley of Kuhl and Racer’s Cycle Service. “I knew K.C. Holley would be hard to beat,” said Tittensor. “[Sundance] is her ‘home course’ in a way and she knows it very well. I went for the lead going into the single track and my legs felt amazing, so I just kept pushing it from there.”
“(Tittensor) took off from the line, I was able to go with her for a few moments, but it didn’t take long for her to create a gap. It steadily grew throughout the race,” said Holley. “I hoped that my knowledge of the course would work in my favor on the descent, but I never really saw her other than glimpses here and there in the distance.”
With the majestic Timpanogos looming in the background, the Sundance course is one of the most beautiful backdrops to the race that featured a seven-mile loop with approximately 1,100 feet of vertical climbing per loop. “The Sundance course has the best views of the whole year,” said Tittensor. “It is one of the more technical courses in the Northern Utah races and ends up being one of the longer races of the year as well.”
After what she describes as “years and years of getting beat by some of the fastest girls around,” Tittensor has begun to experience some of the fruits of her persistence. With wins at both the Sundance and Snowbird in the Intermountain Cup X-country series, Tittensor also garnered a top-10 finish at the XC national championships at Mammoth Mountain in July. “Wins don’t happen over night and you have to take many losses before you start being able to go with the top competitors,” she said.
About the I-Cup
Founded in 1991, the Intermountain Cup consists of X-country and endurance MTB races throughout Utah. With seven X-country races of approximately 25 miles and four endurance races of approximately 50 miles, the series covers some of the most pristine and difficult rides in the state. For more information, visit IntermountainCup.com
