Last weekend, Sunday March 11, 2012, was the first \"mass start\" road event for the 2012 season in Colorado. I was shooting freelance on spec. This race was held at the Stazio ballfields in Boulder, Colorado and hosted by the University of Colorado cycling team in an effort to raise funding for their 2012 campaign to win collegiate nationals this spring. The weather was a chilly 30\'s F during the AM hours to a balmy upper 60\'s F by mid afternoon...with mostly sunny conditions. The turnout was one of the best for a March race. The following is a compilation of images taken during the course of several races, both collegiate and United States America Cycling (USAC). Races are separated by \"categories\" based on gender and ability. There is a long history of bike racing at Stazio. The Stazio course has a small, but painful hill, and is approximately 1.17 mi per lap, is adjacent to the Valmont Buttes where a historic uranium processing plant sits idle, and old native american burial ground, and Cadel Evans once race...before winning the Tour de France.
One more thing, I was trying out a Honl light modifier during this race. I have indicated which images I used the Honl. I would like your opinion on these / use. I was trying to isolate a particular rider with a group of riders for the most part.
2) This is what it looks like from on top the hill looking west...the white capped Rockies and Boulder. During the mens Pro race. I used a ND grad to balance out the exposure.
3) I took this image during the mens SM 35+ race...a race for guys like me & others who still race Pro & elite amature, but got a bit older, wiser (I think) and have a mortgage. This is the winning breakaway. I was trying a few different things this day. On this shot, I use a Honl light modifier to focus the flash on the ride pulling the break.
4) Scott Moniger pulling and stringing out the Pro 123 field in an attempt to chase down a soloing rider...I don\'t thing he realizes he is towing the field along. Anyways, Moniger is now \"retired\" fro fulltime racing and is one of North America\'s winningest Pro\'s...and has won several races at Stazio.
5) Mens Pro 123 race. Scott Tietzel, Juwi Solar, soloing off the front for several laps. The field is getting a little uneasy with Scotts effort...so the chase by Moniger begins to real him in.
6) Moniger, Colby Pearce, and Eric Young during a chase to bring back a rider off the front. Colby Pearce is another \"retired\" Pro and has been to the Olympics & World Track Championships numerous time. Eric Young is an active Pro, riding for Bissell, and is the current US Pro Criterium Champion.
7) Mens Pro 123 race. A Mix 1 rider making his was around a sweeping turn on top the climb.
8) Race unknown. A Mix 1 rider on the descent.
9) The mens Pro123 field winding its way along the top of a small, but painful climb for a March race. The riders are racing past the Valmont Buttes where an abandoned uranium processing facility is visible in the background.
10) Mens Pro 123 race. Just a different perspective of the field crusing through a downhill corner.
11) Womens Pro 123 race. A rider making her way through a corner just before the base of the small climb. I used a Honl light modifier to isolate lighting on a portion of the rider. I think the riders face was a little overexposed...
12) Mens Pro 123 race. An unknown Whole Foods rider trying to make a bridge to the winning breakaway during the final laps of the race. Again, I used a Honl light modifier.
Thanks!
Dejsn
Mar 15, 2012 at 06:57 AM
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