US Champion Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) takes the win in downtown Prescott(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Sam Gaze (Specialized) edges out Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD) after the two had worked well together to hold off the peloton(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Kris Sneddon and Kona team-mate and endurance specialist Corey Wallace on the front row(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Kate Courtenay (Specialized) has been a roll this year with three UCI wins(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Amy Beisel (Liv-Ridebiker) at the starting line(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) is one of the favorites this weekend(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) leading on the second lap(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) leading on the climb(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Amy Beisel (Liv-Ridebiker) racing to a 12th place finish(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Maghalie Rochette (Clif Pro Team) pushing the pace in the lead pack(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Alison Arensman riding the long climb out of Prescott center(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Prescott was full of characters dressed in western garb(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
US Champion Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) leading Kate Courtney, Chloe Woodruff, and Katerina Nash on the fast descent.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
US Champion Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) takes the hole-shot and heads to the big climb(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The pro women tackle the head wall for the first time(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) was the aggressor for much of the race.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Chloe Woodruff (Stans-Pivot) attempt to keep pace with Erin Huck(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) descending with a small gap with one lap remaining(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Maghalie Rochette and Clif team-mate Katerina Nash signing autographs before the race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Maghalie Rochette (Clif Pro Team) lives on Arizona part of the year(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
There was dancing in the streets before the men’s race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The race was started by western characters with guns(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Travis Woodruff (Stans-Pivot) said he had been training a lot with juniors that he coaches.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Spencer Paxson (Kona) on the starting line(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Levi Kurlander (Trek-Ridebiker) takes the hole-shot and heads for the big hill(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Sam Gaze (Specialized) pushing the pace on the climb(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The pro peloton cresting the head wall for the first time(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Riders take on the head wall with a blistering pace(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Russell Finsterwald (SRAM-TLD) and USA Champion Howard Grotts (Specialized) controlling the pace of the chase group(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD) and Ryan Petry on the front of the race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD) making a solo breakaway on the climb(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Sam Gaze (Specialized) descending with Todd Wells on his wheel and no chasers in sight(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Howard Gotts (Specialized) leading on the chase group on the descent(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Racers round one of the many corners on the downtown crit.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Whiskey Row in Prescott has been turned into and cycling industry Expo.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Kate Courtney (Specialized) with a brand new bike(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Sam Gaze (Specialized) and Erin Huck (Scott 3Rox Racing) won the opening salvos of the Whisky Off Road Friday night, taking out the wins in the men's and women's fat tire criteriums.
In the men's race, Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD) broke away early and was shortly joined by Gaze. The two worked well to hold off the peloton and Gaze won in a sprint finish. Wells was second and Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox Racing) finished third. Ninety pro men started the event.
Huck, the US champion, was the aggressor for most of the race but could not shake off a talented lead group. She won in a sprint finish over Kate Courtney (Specialized). Katerina Nash (Clif Pro Team) finished third. Stan's riders Chloe Woodruff and Rose Grant both crashed on final run into the finish. Both appeared not to be seriously hurt.
