2003 California Triple Crown Stage Race Results

Are you ready to test yourself in Three of the Hardest, Most Grueling Double Centuries on this planet? Are you ready for Two Hundred Miles with tons of Steep Climbing? Then a couple of weeks later, Two Hundred More Miles with more Steep Climbing? Then if you have any strength left, are you ready to tackle the Terrible Two with Two Hundred More Miles, 16,000 Feet of Climbing, White Knuckler Descents, and Temperatures over 100 Degrees?

If so, then we've got a deal for you!!

This is how the Stage Race works: Riders have to complete the Three Of The Most Difficult Doubles in the California Triple Crown: Devil Mountain, Heartbreak, and the Terrible Two. The Total Elapsed Time from each of these grueling Doubles is then added together and the rider with the fastest overall time for all Three Doubles wins the Stage Race.

WARNING: These rides are NOT for the inexperienced or occasional rider.

On the Schedule Page, you will notice that the Difficulty Rating by the "California Triple Crown" for each of these rides is: Extremely High. Do not make any of these rides your first Double Century -- because if you do, you may not want to do another one!! However, if you are in the best shape of your life and you are looking for the ultimate one day tests of your physical and mental fitness, then these rides are for you!!

How hard are these rides? Brutally hard. Hard beyond description!!

In 2003, the Devil Mountain Double was a true challenge of over 18,500 Feet of Climbing. Only 100 Riders Started this brutally hard ride and only 87 Finished ... 13 Riders Did Not Finish this First Stage of the Stage Race!!

In 2003, the Heartbreak Double was a challenge as always with 200 Miles and over 14,600 Feet of Climbing!! Only 93 Riders Started this brutally hard ride and only 80 Finished it ... 13 Riders Did Not Finish this Second Stage of the Stage Race!!

Mark down June 28, 2003 as the day the Terrible Two returned to its roots. The traditional triple whammy of this hardest of all double centuries has always been miles (200), hills (over 16,000'), and heat (100°+). But for the past ten years, the heat has been missing...a non-factor. Year after year, the day of the event has dodged the bullet: it has been hot on Friday or Sunday, but never on Saturday.

All that changed this year, as riders sautéed themselves on the sizzling griddle of Skaggs Springs after lunch. On-bike thermometers were reading as high as 118° over that entire section, and the roadside was littered with stationary, glassy-eyed riders...either done for the day or husbanding their depleted stores of energy against one more hot climb, and then one more after that. It was nearly as hot on the exposed sections of the Geysers before lunch too, with triple digit readings common.

For those who survived the gauntlet on Skaggs, it was cool--even nearly cold--on the foggy coast. Such are the extremes of Sonoma County’s microclimates.

The Terrible Two was hot enough for anyone, and too hot for many. A comparison to last year’s mild weather and fast times is instructive. Last year, when the mercury never climbed out of the 80’s, 80% of the starting field finished by 10:00 pm. This year only 64% made it in time to claim their "I Did It!" t-shirts. Last year, if you had finished in 14 hours, you would have been in 77th place. This year, 14 hours would have been good for 45th. Generally speaking, the blistering weather added an average of an hour to most riders’ times, depending on how well they coped with the heat.

The 2003 California Triple Crown Stage Race yielded total of over 600 Grueling Miles with over 49,100 Feet of Climbing!!

Results are in from the Devil Mountain Double held 4/26/03, the Heartbreak Double held 5/24/03, and the Terrible Two of 6/28/03. The report below shows the "Leader Board" of those riders who completed all three Stages of the Stage Race, ranked by Total Overall Time.

The competition was incredibly close this year. Jeff Landauer, Age 35, from Roseville came in 1st Place in the Stage Race: he was 5th on the Devil Mountain Double, 1st on Heartbreak, and tied for 1st on the Terrible Two. Jeff started riding the Double Century Circuit in 2002 with Davis, Knoxville, Heartbreak, and the Fall Death Valley Double. He really came on strong with his 2003 Stage Race Performances!! Congratulations to Jeff!!

In Second Place this year was Robert Choi, Age 42, from Rohnert Park ... just 23 minutes back from Jeff ... after 600 miles and 49,100 Feet of Climbing!! Robert was 4th Place on the Devil Mountain Double, 3rd Place on Heartbreak, and tied for 3rd Place on the Terrible Two!! This is Robert's second year on the Double Century Circuit after finishing in 3rd Place in the California Triple Crown Stage Race last year!! Congratulations to Robert!!

In Third Place this year was Brian Bowling, Age 29, from Laguna Niguel. Brian started riding the Double Century Circuit in 2002 with Butterfield, Hemet, Central Coast, Knoxville, Heartbreak, and the Fall Death Valley Double. Brian has completed 10 Double Centuries so far in 2003 and a complete series for Brevets!! Congratulations to Brian on a fantastic year and an impressive 3rd Place Finish in the California Triple Crown Stage Race!!

Unfortunately, there weren't any Women who completed the 2003 Stage Race.

In the Tandem Division, Doug Grattan and Carole Breed were flying on these most difficult Double Centuries. For example, Doug and Carole came in 2nd on Heartbreak ... just 15 minutes behind Jeff Landauer!! Who said tandems can't climb? Congratulations to Doug and Carole for their First Place Finish in the Tandem Division and thanks for giving some of us a big lift on these most difficult Double Centuries!!

An Honorable Mention goes to Paul McKenzie this year. Paul rode Devil Mountain on a Single Bike, Heartbreak on a Tandem with Janet DeHaven, and Terrible Two on a Tandem with another partner, Catherina Berge, where they set a new tandem record!! Paul rode extremely well in the Stage Race this year ... but since he didn't ride all three Stages on a single bike or on a tandem with the same partner, we felt it was appropriate to award him an Honorable Mention for completing these Three Most Difficult Double Centuries so well.

Everyone who completed the 2003 Stage Race is to be commended. Our hat is off to each of the 16 Finishers ... just to complete these three Extremely Difficult Rides is a major accomplishment!!

California Triple Crown Stage Race Plaques will be presented to the top 3 Men (Jeff Landauer, Robert Choi, and Brian Bowling) and the Tandem Team of Doug Gratton and Carole Breed at the Awards Breakfast to be held on 9/21/03 ... so please plan on attending so we can give you the credit you deserve. Paul McKenzie will also be awarded an Honorable Mention Plaque. Unfortunately, we didn't have any Women finishers this year, but the top 3 Women will also receive a plaque in future years.

You don't have to do anything special to sign up for the Stage Race: In 2004, all you have to do is to sign up for and ride your heart out on the 3 Doubles in the Stage Race!! Of course, that's much easier said than done!! Also, if you ride any Stage on a tandem, you must ride all three Stages on a tandem with the same partner.

The California Triple Crown lays down this challenge: be among the select few who are able to finish the Stage Race!!

The Organizers of the Double Centuries have approved the following plan for the future:

In 2004, the plan is to have the California Triple Crown Stage Race consist of the Mulholland Double, the Central Coast Double, and the Terrible Two Double.

In 2005, the plan is to have the California Triple Crown Stage Race consist of the Devil Mountain Double, the Central Coast Double, and the Heartbreak Double*.

In 2006, the plan is to have the California Triple Crown Stage Race consist of the Devil Mountain Double, the Central Coast Double, and the Terrible Two Double.

In 2007, the plan is to have the California Triple Crown Stage Race consist of the Devil Mountain Double, the Heartbreak Double*, and the Terrible Two Double like in 2003.

* In 2004 and beyond, Planet Ultra may wish to subsitute the Mulholland Double or the Ridge Route Double into the Stage Race rotation instead of the Heartbreak Double. In terms of difficulty, the Mulholland Double and the Ridge Route Doubles are plenty tough enough with lots of climbing for sure.

The advantages of this plan for the future is that there will be variety in the Stage Race from year to year, it allows Southern California cyclists to more easily participate in the Stage Race, and it is fair to all of the toughest Double Centuries in California. For example, the Tour de France does not go over the same tough passes every year, and now the California Triple Crown Stage Race won't go over the same tough passes ever year either.

The California Triple Crown lays down this challenge: be among the select few who are able to finish the Stage Race!!

Checkout these Photos from the 2003 Awards Breakfast Showing the Stage Race Winners Being Awarded Their Plaques

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