Friberg and Carey win Breck Epic stage 2

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At the 30 second countdown to the start, the rain that was threatening over the mountain began falling. Today earned the Breck Epic its name in every sense.

Coming in to aid station 1 about 14 miles, Yeti Pactimo Pro XC rider Nick Truitt was in the lead with Sweden's Calle Friberg on his wheel. Rolling through tight pines on loamy dirt that had not yet turned to mud, the two moved in sync, riding smoothly through technical terrain. The leaders had a two-minute gap on Rotam Ishay (Team Jamis) and Squirt Lube rider Matthys Buekes. Yesterday's second place racer, Ben Sonntag was chasing back in fifth, with the race leader after stage one Ben Melt Swanepoel in sixth.

On the initial descent down Colorado trail, Friberg let Summit County local, Truitt, lead the descents. Eventually, Friberg put in a couple of pedal strokes and rode away for the win in a fast 3:11:25. Sonntag and Matthys Buekes moved up to finish second and third respectively, with Buekes only two seconds back. Truitt rolled in fourth at 3:18:00. Jake Wells (NoTubes) had a respectable stage and finished seventh after a bottom bracket issue in yesterday's stage.

Amanda Carey (Kenda) had a comeback day after yesterday's second place finish to win the women's race by a respectable 12 minutes ahead second place Karen Jarchow (Yeti Beti) rolled in. Carey looked strong 17 miles in, smiling as the cameras flashed by. Jarchow had a strong race as well, chasing up to second. Catching the second rider, yesterday's stage winner Yolandi Du Toit (Squirt Lube) on the descents, Jarchow made up for multiple flats and a crash in stage 1.

In the singlespeed race for world champ stripes, men's race leader, Macky Franklin (Oskar Blues/Reeb) finished 23 seconds behind yesterday's second place finisher Brady Kappius (ClifBar), narrowly retaining his lead by just seconds.

In the women's singlespeed race, Jen Wilson and Andrea Wilson stayed in first and second, while Yeti Beti’s Sarah Musick finished third today.

At the finish, racers were imagining hot tubs and warm showers rather than the ice baths of yesterday's dreams. Conditions deteriorated to slippery and treacherous. Glasses became useless just minutes in and fingers became stiff appendages rather than supple machines. At the finish, riders were so covered in mud, they were unrecognizable save for their number plate.

By five hours into the race, finishers were unrecognizable under the mud splatter and most ignored outside stimulus, focused only on making it down to town. Those that made it to aid 2 after five hours in the rain were shuttled to town-hypothermia was too real of a possibility. As race director, Mike McCormack always ensures, a fair time penalty was awarded to those who did not finish due to weather conditions. They will be allowed to keep racing in the coming days.

Holly Wade, the women's three day open race leader, was the last to pass aid 2 to the finish.

Announcers and spectators did not let some summer rain get them down. Announcer Larry Grossman made it out to aid station one with his PA and began announcing racers as they came through with accompanying music, while showing off his YMCA dance moves out in the wilderness.

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