Boulder Peak is the Olympic distance non-drafting classic which drew A-list pros who could get a catered speed workout at altitude in their summer home and test themselves with a 1,000 feet of climbing – 600 feet all at once on Olde Stage Road. The list of winners includes world champions like Jackie Gallagher, Simon Lessing, Craig Alexander, Leanda Cave, Tim O’Donnell, Joanna Zeiger and competitors included famous triathletes like Laura Bennett, Mary Beth Ellis and Peter Robertson. When it was an independent entity, the race could get by with minimal prize money, but now that it is part of the 5i50 series, a purse of $35,000 is an even bigger draw for international stars.
This year the 5i50 version of Boulder Peak drew yet another superstar, Sweden’s Olympic silver medalist and ITU World Triathlon Series champion Lisa Norden, who was taking time off from the ITU circuit and enjoying the pleasures of the North American non-drafting races. Several others were flying in after a daunting test at the Kitzbühel WTS race whose peak 23 degrees of climb made the once daunting Olde Stage Road look by contrast as if it was downhill. While Denis Vasiliev of Russia remained jet-lagged and not in top form on his way to 9th place at Boulder, Nicky Samuels of New Zealand followed her 5th place at Kitzbühel with a solid runner-up to Lisa Norden at Boulder. Other athletes chose a closer-to-home double as Lauren Goss followed her runner-up finish at the Minneapolis Life Time Fitness race on Saturday with a 3rd place at Boulder.
Thanks to road construction that forced a detour that lopped an estimated 2 or 3 kilometers off Boulder Peak’s classic, longer-than-standard 42-kilometer bike course, race records were set. Tim O’Donnell took 3:04 off his 2011 race record with a final time of 1:48:48.
Whatever the distances, Colorado amateurs used a home court advantage to post some impressive results. Women’s 30-34 winner Hayley Benson finished 9th overall an ahead of several famous pros, as did 45-49 winner Steph Popelar, who was 12th overall. Marathon legend and Boulder resident Colleen De Reuck was 2nd in 45-49 and placed 14th overall in a time of 2:16:03, capped off by a 38:41 run.
Boulder Peak 5i50 Triathlon
Boulder, Colorado
July 14, 2013
S 1.5 k / B 23k / R 10k
Top Men
1. Timothy O’Donnell (USA) 1:48:48
2. James Seear (AUS) 1:50:06
3. Josh Amberger (AUS) 1:50:43
4. David Thompson (USA) 1:51:44
5. Brian Fleischmann (USA) 1:52:01
Top Women
1. Lisa Norden (SWE) 1:59:30
2. Nicky Samuels (NZL) 2:02:37
3. Lauren Goss (USA) 2:04:02
4. Flora Duffy (BER) 2:05:21
5. Jeanni Seymour (RSA:05:33
All photos © Timothy Carlson
Jeanni Seymour (L) and Flora Duffy (R) dueled most of the way on the run until Duffy prevailed by 12 seconds to take 4th place.
Alex Willis stretches before the start – the Leadville, Colorado resident finished 17th but posted a race-best 34:20 run.
Famed Boulder cycling and triathlon coach Neal Henderson was aerodynamically suited up and ready to go on a relay team.
Nicky Samuels of New Zealand took 2nd, 3:07 behind Norden.
Paul Ambrose finished 11th but his thick white paste won the SPF contest.
Tim O’Donnell was in a good mood before winning his 4th Boulder Peak victory.
The first age group save of the day took off at 7:05 AM.
Two age group competitors exit the swim.
Time for a chap stick application in T1.
Women pros charge into Boulder Reservoir.
Nicky Samuels was the first woman pro out of the water in 21:03.
Lisa Norden took the lead shortly after summiting Olde Stage Road.
The scenic Olde Stage climb.
Ivan Vasiliev rides up Olde Stage.
Drew Scott on the bike leg.
Matty Reed won this race in 2008, but had an off-form 12th this day.
James Seear of Australia was on form and finished 2nd, 1:12 back of O’Donnell.
Josh Amberger of Australia had a short lead after the swim, rode close to O’Donnell and fell victim to Seear’s run and had to settle for 3rd overall.
Tim O’Donnell ran a 5th-best 34:57 on his way to the win.
Lisa Norden finished in 1:59:30 for the win.
