September 11-12 | Breckenridge, CO
STXC, HC, XC, Stage Race
- Endurance Stage Race Series Finals
- Click here to register for the Fall Classic!

OVERVIEW

THE HISTORY

The Fall Classic started way back in the day...back before suspension forks, oversized aluminum, and Camel Baks. Back before mountain bike racing was even a sport. 1984 to be exact. A bunch of Summit County hardasses lined up on the street and discussed where the race should go.  

After much debate a course was finally decided upon and the race started with Scott Yule(Scott is still an avid racer and took the Expert Men 50+ title in the local series this year) talking trash and Elwood "Chip" Barrett snickering. The Fall Classic was born! No one in the group wore a helmet...simply never occurred to them. No rules, no nuthin'! Over the next 15 years it grew from a ragtag bunch of hardcore mountain goats into a racing spectacle. A hill climb and a circuit race were added making The Fall Classic the first ever MTB Stage Race in Colorado.  It became the customary final stop on the former Colorado Off Road Points Series (the predecessor to the predecessor of the MSC Series). Stories are still told about the day Tinker Juarez puked at the top of the Humbug Hill Climb (don't worry, no Humbug Hill in this year's race). And then there was the year it snowed a couple inches the night before the XC stage and Rishi Grewal broke trail for the rest of the field on the Little French Flume(still don't worry, no Little French this year). After a break of 6 years or so we brought it back. We ran the race for three years from 2002-2004, got snowed out in 2006, and now it's back for the 3rd consecutive year as the Endurance Finals for the Mountain States Cup Series!  In a word, we're "psyched" to wrap up the racing season here in Breckenridge by hosting the Mt. States Cup Endurance Finals!  Read on for more details and see you in Breck!

THE FORMAT

Three Races in Two Days!

Stage 1 is a Circuit Race at the Breck Nordic Center located on Ski Hill Road.  Stage 2 is a Hill Climb Individual Time Trial from Carter Park up to Sallie Barber Mine.  Stages 1 and 2 are both on Saturday September 11.  Stage 3 is a big XC on Sunday September 12.  Results from Individual Stages AND the Overall GC (General Classification/3 Stages combined time) will be uploaded to the MSC rankings. So if you step up for the Stage Race you have the opportunity to score 4 races in one weekend.

Not up for the whole Shebang? Then pick and choose which Stages suit you.

MAVERICK OPEN MEN AND WOMEN CLASSES

Maverick Open Men and Women classes are designed for the CAT 1 level racer not in possession of a USA Cycling Annual License.  There are many racers that rarely participate in MSC races.  They've expressed a desire to participate yet realize they'd be sandbagging the CAT 2 ranks if no other option was available.  We've created Maverick Open classes which may compete on One Day licenses so that the integrity of the fields are maintained.

AWARDS AND POST EVENT PARTY!

Awards will be presented to all 34 categories in the GC.  Single Stage awards will NOT be presented however single stage results will be posted on site and will be uploaded to the MSC Rankings.

Awards will begin at approximately 1:00 on Sunday September 12 at Carter Park.  We will then go directly into Season Overall Awards.

There will be a complimentary BBQ on Sunday for all racers that participate in the GC or Sunday's Stage 3 XC.  

Wahoo's will be providing tacos for all podium finishers and staff! Thanks Wahoo's!!
Colorado Native will be providing the beer!

COSTUME CONTEST

Since The Fall Classic started in the 80's we're bringing back the styles from that forgettable era in Mountain Biking Fashion.  Wear your 80's garb during Stage 1(we figure it's a short race and I certainly wouldn't want to wear something funky during a long XC Stage).

Contest judges are Kim Fisher, Keith Darner, and Jeff Westcott

The winner will be awarded Two Complimentary Entries into the 2011 Imperial Challenge. 

Costume Contest winners announced on Sunday during the Awards Ceremony!

What's the Imperial Challenge? The coolest pseudo triathlon in the mountains and the best measure of who can come "off the couch and onto the podium" to start the summer season.  Bike from the Breck Rec Center to the Base of Peak 8, skin or snowshoe or hike to the very top of Peak 8, ski or board down to the finish at the Base of Peak 8! Scheduled for April 16, 2011.

FALL CLASSIC REGISTRATION

The best way to register for the Fall Classic is online here ! Online registration deadline is Thursday, September 9 at 7 a.m. You can also download the Fall Classic Registration Form . Forms mailed in must be postmarked by Saturday, September 4, or received by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it no later than Wednesday, September 8 at 5 p.m. No faxes please (they just aren't reliable).

If you don't make it in during online pre-registration, you can still register on-site up to 1 hour before your start wave. 

SPECIAL SUMMIT MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE PRICING!

In an attempt to entice many of the 200+ local Summit Mt. Challenge competitors into this year's Fall Classic we are offering special pricing to any 2010 Summit Mt. Challenge participant.  Your name will be on a list at registration and the prices are:

ADULTS 19+-$90 for all 3 Stages or $30each for Individual Stages

JUNIORS 18 & Under-Prices as published, $75 for all 3 Stages, or $25each for Stages 1 and 2, $30 for Stage 3

To take advantage of this promotion please register on Friday, September 10 on-site at the Breck Nordic Center from 4:30-7:00pm OR Register on race day at least one hour before your published start time. DO NOT PRE-REGISTER ONLINE OR VIA EMAIL!

STAGE 1, CIRCUIT RACE, September 11

BRECKENRIDGE NORDIC CENTER

Directions:

From Denver take I-70 west to Exit 203 in Frisco

Take Highway 9 south for 9 miles to Breckenridge

At the Main St./Hwy 9 split bear right continuing on Hwy 9 south/N. Park Ave

Go straight through one traffic light at Airport Road.

At next traffic light, approx. 3/4 mile, turn right onto Ski Hill Road.

Go up Ski Hill Road, around a big switchback.

1/4 mile after switchback look for Breck Nordic Center on your right.

If parking lot is full there will be supplemental parking on Grandview Drive.  Please follow parking marshals' instructions!

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course is a 2.2 mile loop on both two-track and singletrack. One section is on the Pence Miller Ditch, an old Flume from the mining era. This trail is lined with aspen trees and we hope the foliage is cooperative.

CIRCUIT RACE COURSE MAP

CIRCUIT RACE COURSE ELEVATION PROFILE

STAGE 1 CIRCUIT RACE START TIMES

4 LAPS

8:00  CAT 2 Women 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+ 

8:01 CAT 3 Women 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+, Junior Women 14 & Under

4 LAPS

9:00 CAT 3 Men 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+, Junior Men 14 & Under

5 LAPS

10:00 Pro Women

10:01 CAT 1 Women 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+

10:02 Singlespeed Women, Maverick Open Women

5 LAPS

11:00 Pro Men

5 LAPS

12:00 Singlespeed Men, CAT 1 Men 15-18, 19-29

12:01 CAT 1 Men 30-39, Maverick Open Men

12:02 CAT 1 Men 40-49, 50+

4 LAPS

1:15 CAT 2 Men 15-18, 19-29

1:16 CAT 2 Men 30-39

1:17 CAT 2 Men 40-49, 50+

STAGE 2, INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL HILL CLIMB, September 11

DIRECTIONS FROM BRECK NORDIC CENTER

BY BIKE:

Take Ski Hill Rd toward town.

Go straight through light at Park Ave./Hwy 9

Go straight through light at Main St.(You are now on Lincoln Ave)

Go straight through Stop Sign at French St.

Go two more blocks on Lincoln and turn right onto High St.

Take High St. to the end.

Start Line for the Hill Climb TT is in the Field

BY CAR:

Take Ski Hill Rd toward town.

Go Right at Light onto Park Ave/Hwy 9

Go Right at Light onto Main St. continuing on Hwy 9 south

Turn left at Light onto Boreas Pass Road.

Go ¼ mile and turn right into Stephen C. West Ice Arena

Park in the easternmost section of the Lot

RIDE BIKE FROM HERE TO START AT CARTER PARK

On Bike go out Ice Arena parking area onto Sunbeam Drive.

Bear left onto Sunbeam Trail Singletrack

Take Sunbeam Trail to Carter Park

Start Line for Hill Climb TT is in the Field

COURSE DESCRIPTION

3.6 Mile//1010' Vertical Gain

Start in soccer field, east side of Carter Park.

Ride up Carter Park switchbacks to Moonstone Trail

Ride up Moonstone, cross paved open road with marshal support.

Trail becomes Barney Ford Trail continuing uphill

At top of Barney Ford Trail bear left onto Sallie Barber Road.

Ride uphill to Sallie Barber Mine and Finish.

To get back to town and NOT INTERFERE with remaining racers on course, please head down Sallie Barber Road to the north, merge onto French Gulch Road and roll to town. Thanks!!

HILL CLIMB COURSE MAP

HILL CLIMB COURSE ELEVATION PROFILE

STAGE 2 HILL CLIMB START TIMES

(30 Second Intervals start order based off results from Stage 1 fastest to slowest)

12:30 Pro Men

12:45 Pro Women, CAT 1 Women 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+, Singlespeed Women, Maverick Open Women

1:00 CAT 2 Women 15-18. 19-29, 30-39, 40+

1:15 CAT 3 Women 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+, Junior Women 14 & Under

1:30 CAT 3 Men 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+, Junior Men 14 & Under

1:45 Singlespeed Men, CAT 1 Men 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+, Maverick Open Men

2:15 CAT 2 Men 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+

STAGE 3, BIG XC, September 12

BIG XC COURSE MAP

BIG XC COURSE ELEVATION PROFILE

SMALL XC COURSE MAP

SMALL XC COURSE ELEVATION PROFILE

STAGE 3 BIG XC START TIMES

BIG COURSE= 32 Miles

10:00 Pro Men and Pro Women

10:02 CAT 1 Men 19-29, 30-39, Maverick Open Men

10:04 Singlespeed Men, CAT 1 Men 40-49, 50+

10:06 CAT 1 Women 19-29, 30-39, 40+ Singlespeed Women, Maverick Open Women

NOT AS BIG (SHORT) COURSE= 16 Miles

10:08 CAT 1 Men 15-18, CAT 1 Women 15-18

10:10 CAT 2 Men 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+

10:12 CAT 2 Women 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+

10:14 CAT 3 Men 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+, Jr. Men 14 & Under

10:15 CAT 3 Women 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40+, Jr. Women 14 & Under

DIRECTIONS FROM STEPHEN C. WEST ICE ARENA TO STAGE 3 START

THERE IS NO PARKING AT THE XC START

BY BIKE:

Turn left out of Ice Arena Parking

Go Right onto French St.

Continue on French through 4 Stop Signs.

Turn Right onto Wellington

Take Wellington 1 Mile to French Gulch Rd

Start area is just ahead

TECH/EXPO SPACE, VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES & CONTACT INFO

If you're interested in volunteering, tech/expo space or finding out about sponsorship opportunities, please give us a shout at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .