Grant and Aardal win Breck Epic

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Day 6 was a Breck Epic-light stage for tired racers. At only 28 miles and with moderate climbs, the day is one for celebrating new friendships and taking beer feeds, though whiskey had already been served on day five.

In many categories the top spot of the podium was already secured, but second, third and fourth were close enough to change today. As the countdown began, spectators were cheering and ringing cow bells. The racers were just a couple of hours away from nabbing the Breck Epic belt buckle.

As the top men crested the hill, 12 miles in to the race, they were once again in a tight group with Alex Grant huddled safely in the middle. Bryan Dillon once again stayed with the lead group, as well as Taylor Shelden, which on this road-heavy day, was not a surprise. After the lead group was through, racers trickled through solo or in pairs, spinning smoothly through the first aid station on their way to some of the best singletrack of the entire race. Marlee Dixon soon rolled through, pushing hard, trying to make up a couple of minutes to move from third overall to second.

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As time ticked, the later riders began coming through at a more relaxed pace and as they crested the summit, they started looking around for a beer feed. Photos were snapped as racers threw shots of beer back and off they went for their singletrack descent.

Before the entire field came through the feed the first time, the men's leaders were back over the top and now they were gunning for the finish line. Kyosuke Takei came through first, looking strong. Soon the rest of the field flew over the top and down to the last descent of the race. In the end, Takei rolled through the finish line first, but Carl Decker took the official win. Taylor Shelden took second on the day, just 11 seconds off of Decker and Grant was third, nine seconds off of Shelden.

In the women's field, Marlee Dixon took her third win of the race, with Catherine Williamson two minutes behind in second, and Kate Aardal two minutes behind Williamson. It wasn't quite enough for Dixon to move into second overall, Williamson finished four minutes in front of Dixon, and Aardal was 14 minutes ahead on the top spot of the podium. It was a great week of racing at the top, and every competitor gave it their all.

In the three day race, Yuki Ikeda took the three-day open men's victory by almost an hour. Victoria Calisto finished on top in the women's open three-day race.

After the battles are fought and the adrenaline settles, new friendships are forged and stories are traded for months to come, with sights set on next year's Epic. What will 2015 hold?

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