SEASIDE >> Lingering rain has proved a challenge for the NorCal Cycling League’s race series, which had to move its April 8 race from a rain-soaked Vacaville course to Fort Ord National Monument near Monterey, which is blessed with sandy soils that drain well and stand up in inclement weather.
Fort Ord also hosted the league’s first race of the season, so the course was changed up a bit, resulting in a 6.5-mile loop with a 600-foot elevation gain. Depending on division, riders completed two to four laps (13-26 miles).
Among the highlights, senior Jeffrey Morton of Clear Lake High School reached the medal podium for the first time in the varsity division, placing third.
“I love this course,” Morton said. “Stepping up onto the podium was definitely worth missing prom for.”
Among the girls, Kia Kohler of Kelseyville High School had the best finish among Lake County’s contingent of riders, taking 11th out of 26. Other local riders competing were Zoe Cramer of Clear Lake, Edina Balazs of Kelseyville and newcomer Rachel Harvey of Middletown.
In the junior varsity boys’ division, Solano Dominguez of Clear Lake placed ninth. Christian Lindsey of Kelseyville wasn’t as fortunate. In fifth place after lap one, Lindsey suffered a mechanical breakdown when one of the spokes on his rear tire broke and got wedged into his gearing, which brought him to an abrupt halt. By the time he had diagnosed and fixed the problem, Lindsey had lost a great deal of ground and could do not better than 17th place.
Seth Spitzer, an independent rider from Middletown, came in 14th and Justin Perez of Kelseyville was 15th.
Also competing from Lake County were Tanner Morton of Clear Lake, Zack Kemp of Kelseyville and Jacob Young and Michael Murhpy of Middletown.
Lake County’s mountain bikers were in action Saturday in Petaluma at the league’s custom-built Five Springs Ranch.
For more information about the NorCal Cycling League, visit its website at www.norcalmtb.org or you can follow the local riders on Facebook at Lake County High School Mountain Bike Teams.
