It was a busy weekend for Carmen Small of Durango.
First, on Friday, she got married at the La Plata County Courthouse to fellow pro cyclist Ben Sonntag; Saturday, she came in fourth in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race; Sunday, she replicated that finish in the mountain bike race; Monday, she was named Queen of the Mountain.
In her first weekend back in competitive cycling after a crash that knocked her off her feet for a week, Small finished the road race and mountain bike course at the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in a combined time of 4 hours, 22 minutes, 14 seconds.
I crashed at (Tour of) Gila and compacted my legs and pelvis, Small said. I wasnt walking for seven days and off the bike for 10 (days).
Erin Huck of Boulder finished runner-up with a time of 4:26:58, and Shannon Gibson, another Durango native, finished third in 4:44:50.
Small also competed in the pro womens time trial Monday morning, finishing third.
Then, she and her husband headed off to more bicycle racing commitments.
It was my first time in the Iron Horse (road race), Small said earlier.
I had fun; it was a great event, she said.
Small, a 1997 graduate of Durango High School, is the daughter of Alan Small of Durango and Donna Nazario of Hesperus.
On the mens side, Durango cycling legend Ned Overend took the top spot yet again. Overend won the first two King of the Mountain titles in 1985 and 1986 as well as a third title in 1990.
Overend was surprised to hear he had won his fourth title.
Thats news to me, Overend said after learning of his win.
I just assumed Howard (Grotts) won it after his great weekend.
Grotts competed in category 2/3 in the road race and in the pro category in the mountain bike race, leaving him ineligible for the King of the Mountain title.
Howard (Grotts) was so dominant in the mountain bike race and was out to win it in the road race. I think he deserved it, Overend said.
Ill have to make this up to him. Ill buy him a burger or something.
Roland Gonzalez finished second with a time of 3:48:32, one minute and 98 seconds off of Overends overall time. The other half of the newlywed couple, Sonntag, capped off his busy weekend with a third place finish and a time of 3:48:55.
Overend, who won the road race for a record fifth time Saturday, was happy to see mountain biking back on the billing for this years IHBC.
They put a lot of work into the course... they were able to showcase all the great trails we have right in town, Overend said.
Ive been racing 20 years and havent seen anything like what was going on though Steamworks. No one has races going through buildings, and it was technical with the ramps, it was great.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
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