The Colorado High School Cycling League kicked off its 2026 season over the weekend with racing split across the high country. While other divisions took on the Cloud City Challenge in Leadville, the Platte and Yampa Divisions lined up at the Frisco Peninsula Recreation Area for the Frisco Bay Invitational. The weekend’s team spirit was in full force across the pits, featuring temporary tattoos and generous coatings of body glitter.
The Venue & Course Breakdown Riders contested a 5.95-mile circuit starting at 9,097 feet elevation and packing roughly 512 feet of climbing per lap against the backdrop of a visibly low Lake Dillon. Early morning waves enjoyed cool mountain temperatures and prime hero dirt before the track baked into loose, dry singletrack for the afternoon fields. The loop linked classic peninsula trails and dirt connectors—including Balfonz Blitz, Buzz Saw, and Excelsior—demanding a mix of punchy technical climbing and sweeping descents. Freshman, Sophomore, and JV waves completed two laps (11.9 miles), while Varsity fields tackled three full laps totaling 17.7 miles. A total of 396 racers crossed the line in the Platte Division field.
Top 5 Finishers (Northern Colorado & Southern Wyoming Teams) Congratulations to the local Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming riders who earned top-five finishes:
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1st Place – Emmaline Jarnevich (Rocky Mountain) – Varsity Girls (1:23:41.98)
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1st Place – Avery Castelli (Poudre) – Sophomore Girls (1:03:31.53)
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1st Place – Ben Zukowski (Rocky Mountain) – Freshman Boys (53:48.02)
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2nd Place – Autumn Moore (Fossil Ridge) – Freshman Girls (1:04:11.81)
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4th Place – Julian Crum (Rocky Mountain) – Sophomore Boys (51:48.55)
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5th Place – Jackson Murray (Fort Collins) – Sophomore Boys (51:48.65)
Beyond the podiums, the weekend was defined by strong efforts and personal milestones across the entire contingent from Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain, Fossil Ridge, Poudre, Cheyenne, and Laramie. From freshmen making their high school racing debut to returning upperclassmen navigating high-altitude pacing, the depth and determination across all waves set a solid tone for the season.
A huge thank you goes out to the SendTown and Ciclismo coaching staffs, dedicated parents, feed zone crews, and volunteers who handle the logistics and support that make race weekend possible.
Next Up on the Calendar
The Platte Division travels to Steamboat Springs next for Race #2, the Showdown in the Boat, on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
More Information
Fort Collins
• 5th – Jackson Murray (Sophomore Boys) – 51:48.65
• 8th – Theodore Von Fischer (Sophomore Boys) – 54:43.25
• 13th – Jackson Powelka (Freshman Boys) – 1:02:54.58
• 21st – Carter Poppema (Sophomore Boys) – 1:01:09.28
• 28th – Max Devincenzi (Freshman Boys) – 1:07:04.84
• 28th – Rowan Christiansen (Varsity Boys) – 1:23:44.80
• 29th – Rowan Smith (Sophomore Boys) – 1:02:27.39
• 36th – Jack Farley (Sophomore Boys) – 1:04:54.54
Rocky Mountain
• 1st – Emmaline Jarnevich (Varsity Girls) – 1:23:41.98
• 1st – Ben Zukowski (Freshman Boys) – 53:48.02
• 4th – Julian Crum (Sophomore Boys) – 51:48.55
• 8th – Lucy Porter (JV Girls) – 1:06:10.40
• 11th – Maks Spezzano (Sophomore Boys) – 57:34.89
• 19th – Rio Blank (Sophomore Boys) – 1:00:11.15
• 19th – Greyson Spruell (JV Girls) – 1:13:27.07
• 22nd – Benjamin Brown (JV Boys) – 57:00.57
• 23rd – Ethan Hawley (JV Boys) – 57:01.07
• 23rd – Conner Jackson (Sophomore Boys) – 1:01:26.79
• 25th – Carter Vigil (Freshman Boys) – 1:06:39.00
• 34th – Shane McDill (Varsity Boys) – 1:25:05.10
• 39th – Tyndall Wuertz (Sophomore Boys) – 1:04:57.08
• 39th – Keegan Lusczakoski (Freshman Boys) – 1:09:31.56
• 42nd – Owen Forster (Freshman Boys) – 1:10:44.80
• 85th – Cohen Ring (JV Boys) – 1:08:31.05
• 85th – Jacob Duffy (Freshman Boys) – 1:32:22.07
Poudre
• 1st – Avery Castelli (Sophomore Girls) – 1:03:31.53
• 6th – Elijah Winner (JV Boys) – 53:00.93
• 31st – Lark Lerner (JV Boys) – 58:49.85
• 32nd – Dylan Jaynes (JV Boys) – 59:19.63
• 51st – Lee Villarreal (JV Boys) – 1:02:58.71
• 61st – Cedar Feinstein (Sophomore Boys) – 1:13:17.18
Fossil Ridge
• 2nd – Autumn Moore (Freshman Girls) – 1:04:11.81
• 6th – Keira Fitzsimmons (Freshman Girls) – 1:11:15.87
• 9th – Nils Holmes (Varsity Boys) – 1:17:40.00
• 11th – Jerome Rondeau (Freshman Boys) – 1:00:41.14
• 12th – Reese Karam (Freshman Girls) – 1:18:04.47
• 17th – Julia Cubbage (Freshman Girls) – 1:25:25.14
• 18th – Mason Watkins (Sophomore Boys) – 1:00:07.79
• 22nd – Peter Domanski (Sophomore Boys) – 1:01:26.67
• 27th – Grant Girdler (Varsity Boys) – 1:23:18.40
• 32nd – Elias Wright (Sophomore Boys) – 1:03:18.84
• 34th – Josephine Kinney (JV Girls) – 2:02:17.70
• 38th – Miles Clary (Sophomore Boys) – 1:04:55.50
• 69th – Zachary Roecker (Sophomore Boys) – 1:20:36.04
Cheyenne
• 13th – Jace Trujillo (Sophomore Boys) – 59:00.49
• 27th – Ziggy Behringer (Freshman Boys) – 1:07:03.58
• 31st – Ayden Sturtevant (Sophomore Boys) – 1:03:10.18
• 79th – Trenten Condon (JV Boys) – 1:07:37.07
• 94th – Boden Rieman (JV Boys) – 1:12:30.51
• 97th – Dawson Gordon (JV Boys) – 1:14:07.41
Laramie
• 8th – Ward Rynders (Freshman Boys) – 59:47.68
• 20th – Dylan Rowe (Varsity Boys) – 1:20:22.46
• 24th – William Walsh (Sophomore Boys) – 1:01:41.45
• 27th – James Drever (JV Boys) – 58:30.87
• 53rd – Felix Gernant (Sophomore Boys) – 1:09:11.34
• 105th – Tavish Hegeman-Davis (JV Boys) – 1:17:52.85
YGR’s coverage of the 2026 High School Moutanin Bike season is brought to you by Trailcraft Cycles, born and raised right here in Fort Collins, Colorado. Trailcraft now offers 29-inch full-suspension and hardtail mountain bikes in a full range of adult sizes. Check out the new carbon 120/120 Maxwell full-suspension and the Timber hardtail at trailcraftcycles.com.
How NoCo Athletes Participate
Local athletes race for their high school. However, if a student is homeschooled, attends a private school, or their high school does not have a mountain bike team, they race for the high school closest to their home address. This policy allows students from other cities to join Fort Collins high school teams if their local area doesn’t have a program.
All NoCo athletes train together and are supported by SendTown Bike Club’s Ciclismo Racing program. On race day, they race for their high school, wearing their high school kit, but all hang out and support each other under the SendTown tents.  SendTown provides comprehensive support, including organizing practices, paying coaches, and managing all race-day operations. The Ciclismo Racing program has a robust network of 60+ athletes and roughly a dozen coaches and staff who work to develop training plans and foster a supportive team environment.
Races and Categories
The league’s race format includes different categories for both boys and girls: varsity, junior varsity, sophomore, and freshman. This tiered system ensures fair and competitive racing for riders of all experience levels.
Throughout the season, Platte Region races are held at various locations, including Leadville, Steamboat, Frisco, Canyon City, Eagle, and Nathrop, culminating in the State Championships in Glenwood Springs. The league’s popularity is evident in its numbers, with around 1500 high school athletes participating in the opening-weekend races alone.
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