Cares cruises to stage win ahead of race leader Ramirez

Riders hit 12,500 feet in elevation in today's stage after a brief jaunt on the ski area sent them, up, up and up some more via the Burro, Spruce Creek and finally, the infamous Wheeler Trail. Wheeler is one of those rides that every local does once a year and promptly says "never again!". We make our folks do it every year.

Leading the charge up Wheeler were Colin Cares, who rebounded from a wrong turn at the start to take the eventual stage win, Lico Ramirez from Costa Rica (second) and local billy goat Josh Tostado rounding out the podium.

On the women's side, the podium once again repeated itself with Sonya Looney taking first and locking up her stranglehold on the overall, Selene Yeager in second, and Katie Ericksen rounding out the podium in third.

Tomorrow could be called the joyous counterpart to today's pain. A spin up Moonstone, Barney Ford, Nightmare and then Baker's Tank before riders head out to the Section House on Tomorrow's Gold Dust stage will preface a big ring giggle-fest on the Gold Dust Trail. They'll then head up Boreas Pass Road, passing the aid station placed at the Section House before descending Indiana Creek to the Blue River Trail, finishing on the social trails behind the hockey rink.

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