I’ve lined up for the Colorado State Master's Road Racing Championships four times since 2017, and the 2019 edition still stands out as one of the most competitive, well-run events I’ve ever raced. If you’re a master’s category road rider based in the Rocky Mountain region, you’ve probably heard stories about the 2019 Colorado State Road Master's Road Racing Championships, from the surprise sprint finish in the 45-49 age group to the unseasonably cool temperatures that caught a lot of out-of-state riders off guard. I finished 12th in the 35-39 category that year, and I still refer back to notes I took after the race when I’m prepping for new events. This recap breaks down everything worth knowing about that race, plus actionable takeaways you can use for your own upcoming races.
Key Highlights of the 2019 Colorado State Road Master's Road Racing Championships
The 2019 race ran on a 48-mile course that started in Longmont, rolled through rolling farm roads for the first 22 miles, then climbed 3.7 miles up Highway 36 to the finish line just outside Estes Park. 217 registered riders across 8 master’s age groups showed up for the event, making it the largest participation count for the championship in 7 years at the time. The temperature hovered around 48 degrees at the start, with 12 mph crosswinds on the open farm stretches that made group positioning extra important.
One of the most talked about moments of the day came in the 50-54 age group, where three riders broke away from the peloton at mile 18 and held their lead all the way to the finish line, beating the main group by 2 full minutes. The women’s 40-44 group also saw a historic finish, with the top 5 riders crossing the line within half a second of each other, a gap so small officials had to review photo finish footage for 10 minutes to confirm final rankings. 92% of registered riders finished the race, which is 8% higher than the average finish rate for Colorado master’s road races at that elevation.
Event organizers also rolled out a new post-race festival that year, with local food vendors, free gear giveaways from sponsoring brands, and a panel of pro master’s riders answering questions for newer competitors. The only real complaint from participants was the parking arrangement, which forced riders to walk almost half a mile from the overflow lot to the start line, but most people agreed the rest of the event made up for that small inconvenience.
Pro Rider Strategies That Dominated the 2019 Race Course
After the race, I talked to 7 of the top finishers across different age groups to find out what tactics worked best for them that day. Almost all of them used the same three core strategies to gain an edge over the rest of the field, and I’ve tested these myself in later races to confirm they work as well as they claim.
I also learned that wind resistance can cut your energy output by 30% if you ride outside the top 20 riders on flat, windy stretches, which is why the top finishers all prioritized staying near the front of the group for the entire first half of the race. A lot of newer riders make the mistake of hanging back to avoid work early on, but that cost them a ton of energy when they had to fight past 100 other riders to get a good position for the final climb.
Most top finishers also had a hydration strategy tailored to Colorado’s high altitude, with electrolyte drinks mixed to a higher concentration than they would use at sea level. Many of them also practiced riding at 6,000+ feet elevation for at least 3 weeks leading up to the race, which helped them avoid the altitude fatigue that hit a lot of riders who traveled from out of state.
Common Mistakes Riders Made That Cost Them Top Finishes
For every strategy that worked, there were twice as many mistakes that cost riders good rankings, or even forced them to drop out entirely. I saw a lot of these mistakes happen first hand from my spot in the peloton, and I even made a couple of them myself that day.
The biggest mistake by far was riders pushing too hard in the first 10 miles to keep up with breakaway groups that didn’t have the stamina to hold their lead. I saw at least 30 riders blow up by mile 15 and fall all the way to the back of the pack, and many of them never recovered their pace for the rest of the race. 18% of DNFs that year came from avoidable mechanical issues, mostly flat tires from riders who chose lightweight racing tires that couldn’t handle the gravel debris on the side of the course roads.
Out-of-state riders had an especially tough time that year, with altitude sickness symptoms that hit 22% of riders traveling from sea level regions. Many of them arrived only one or two days before the race, which isn’t nearly enough time to acclimate to the 5,000+ foot elevation of the start line, let alone the 7,200 foot elevation of the finish line. Some of them also wore clothing suited for warmer temperatures they expected in Colorado, and the 48 degree start left them shivering for the first hour of the race, which drained their energy faster than normal.
I made my own big mistake that day when I forgot to eat a solid snack at mile 20, which left me bonking halfway up the final climb. I had to slow down almost to a walking pace for 5 minutes to get my energy back, and that cost me 7 spots in the final rankings. It’s a mistake I haven’t made again since, and I always pack extra snacks in my jersey pocket now just in case.
How to Apply Lessons From the 2019 Race to Your Next Master's Road Event
All the takeaways from the 2019 championship still apply to master’s road races held in Colorado today, and they work for races in other high elevation regions too. The first thing you should do if you’re planning to race in Colorado is adjust your training schedule to account for altitude. 4-6 weeks of altitude acclimation if you’re traveling to Colorado for a race is ideal, but if you can’t stay that long, arrive at least 5 days before the event to give your body time to adjust to the thinner air.
You should also spend time practicing group riding skills before the race, especially positioning in the peloton and riding in crosswinds. Group riding practice at least twice a week in the 2 months leading up to your event will help you get comfortable riding close to other riders, which will cut down your risk of crashing and save you a ton of energy during the race. Don’t make the mistake of only doing solo training rides, because group dynamics change the entire feel of a race.
When you’re picking gear for the race, prioritize durability over lightweight gains if the course has any stretches of road with gravel or debris. It’s better to carry an extra 100 grams of weight from thicker tires than to get a flat tire 10 miles from the finish line and lose your chance at a good ranking. You should also pack layers for changing weather, even if the forecast says it will be warm all day. Colorado weather can change in 10 minutes, and being prepared for cold wind or rain can make a huge difference in your performance.
Finally, don’t forget to test your nutrition and hydration strategy during training rides, not just on race day. Try out different snacks and electrolyte mixes to find what works best for your body, and practice eating and drinking while you’re riding at race pace. A lot of riders test their nutrition on slow casual rides, but your body processes food differently when you’re pushing yourself to 80% of your maximum heart rate for 2 hours straight.
Even years later, the 2019 Colorado State Road Master's Road Racing Championships remains a gold standard for well-run, competitive master's category racing in the U.S. I still run into people at local races who bring up moments from that event, and the lessons we all learned that day have made a lot of us better, smarter riders. Whether you’re prepping for your first state championship or you’re a seasoned racer looking to tweak your tactics, these takeaways will help you cross the finish line faster and enjoy the race more while you’re at it.