Northern Colorado shows heart in Colorado Springs Classic Criterium

Sara Harper doesn’t let much get between her and a grueling day on the bicycle. Not even severe asthma.

But when a nasty sinus infection sidelined the Northern Colorado sophomore for nearly three weeks, she debated not racing in Saturday’s Colorado Springs Classic Criterium, known for its sweeping downhill, intense climb and 180-degree turn.

Harper decided to give it a go anyway. Then, she realized her body wasn’t ready and saw an alarming number on her heart-rate monitor to back it up.

It was a personal best, but not the way the 20-year-old native of Strongsville, Ohio, envisioned it.

“My monitor read 215,” she said. “That’s the highest I’ve ever been, and that can’t be a good thing. I started seeing spots. I did the only smart thing I could do by dropping out. As cyclists, we like pain and misery. I must really like this if I’m willing to race the way I’ve been feeling.”

The race is part of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference series, which returns to Colorado Springs next weekend for the two-day Front Range Cycling Classic at the Air Force Academy. The criterium, sanctioned by USA Cycling and organized by the Colorado College cycling team, also had open divisions for top professional riders.

Last year, Crosby Nordblom took part in the race — which consists of several loops on the 0.8-mile course at CC.

On Saturday, the CC sophomore gave it his best shot as event coordinator.

“This really opened my eyes,” Nordblom said. “There’s a lot to organize.”

From securing USA Cycling sanctioning to getting cooperation from the city to shut down streets with police protection, Nordblom plans on writing an event manifest for future organizers. He’s headed to Switzerland next year for a semester abroad.

“This was my first time doing this and, if anything, it teaches you do be on the ball,” the New Hampshire native said.

Starting at 9 a.m. today, the scene and intensity undergo a drastic change at the Cheyenne Canon Hill Climb, a 3.1-mile ascent that gains 1,250 feet of elevation at Cheyenne Canon State Park.

“You won’t be able to draft or work with your team,” said sophomore cadet and first-year competitive racer Nathan Seibt of Flushing, Mich. “It’s more of an individual event right after one that’s high in intensity.”