2005 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 another Two Hundred More Miles with tons of Steep 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 Three of the Most Difficult Doubles in the California Triple Crown: Mulholland, Devil Mountain, and the Central Coast Double Centuries. 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!!

The 2005 Mulholland Double Century was an epic, challenging first leg of the California Triple Crown Stage Race. Riders were treated to perfect sunny Southern California weather as they climbed and descended the endless canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains. Due to road closures in the Ojai area, Planet Ultra had to change the route so the riders were treated to over 15,400 Feet of Climbing!! Planet Ultra reported, "The California Triple Crown Stage Race is off to a great start! In the women's race, Linda Bott takes a commanding lead with Agata Wysiadecka, Kitty Goursolle and Kerin Huber in hot pursuit! The men's race is a nail-biter, with Tao Bernardi, Lasse Bjerga and Jeff Landauer tied for the lead. David Roth and Robert Choi are breathing down their necks, just seven and eight minutes behind. It was awesome to watch them hammering up Stunt Road!" In the Tandem Division, Mike Chester and Karen Koppenhaver finished 22 Minutes ahead of Mojo Cosgrove and Anny Beck.

Only 145 Riders were brave enough to Start this brutally hard ride and only 99 Finished ... 46 Riders Did Not Finish this First Leg of the Stage Race!!

In 2005, the Devil Mountain Double was an incredible challenge with 207 Miles and over 18,800 Feet of Climbing!! Of the 152 Riders to Start this brutally hard ride, only 128 Finished ... 24 Riders Did Not Finish this Second Leg of the Stage Race!! The Stage Race Men on the Devil Mountain Double were neck in neck with Lasse Bjerga gaining 15 minutes on Robert Choi, 28 Minutes on Tao Bernardi, and 31 Minutes on David Roth. In the Women's Race, Kitty Goursolle gained 1:04 over Linda Bott and 58 Minutes over Kerin Huber. In the Tandem Division, Mojo Cosgrove and Anny Beck finished 8 Minutes ahead of Mike Chester and Karen Koppenhaver!!

The 2005 Central Coast Double was a challenge as always with 210 Miles and over 13,200 Feet of Climbing!! Only 115 Riders Finished the Central Coast Double and the clock did not stop for lunch this year. In the Men's Division, Lasse Bjerga and David Roth arrived at the Finish Line together with Robert Choi 19 Minutes back and Tao Bernardi 51 Minutes back. In the Women's Race, Kitty Goursolle gained 26 minutes over Linda Bott and 1:19 over Kerin Huber. In the Tandem Division, Mike Chester and Karen Koppenhaver gained 10 Minutes over Mojo Cosgrove and Anny Beck.

The 2005 California Triple Crown Stage Race yielded total of over 617 Grueling Miles with over 47,400 Feet of Climbing!!

Jeff Landauer wrote an excellent report about the 2005 California Triple Crown Stage Race on the Ultracycling Web Site HERE.

The report below shows the "Leader Board" of those riders who completed all three Stages of the Stage Race, ranked by Total Overall Time. Congratulations to all of these Finishers in this year's California Triple Crown Stage Race!!

The competition was close again this year with just 42 Minutes separating the top 3 Finishers after 617 Miles and over 47,400 Feet of Climbing!!

In First Place was Lasse Bjerga, Age 50, from Cedar City, Utah. Lasse was tied for 1st Place on the Mulholland Double, 3rd on the Devil Mountain Double, and tied for 1st Place on the Central Coast Double!! This is Lasse's fourth year on the Double Century Circuit and he finished the 2004 Stage Race in 2nd Place!! Congratulations to Lasse!!

In Second Place this year was David Roth, Age 41, from San Diego. David was 4th on the Mulholland Double, 8th on the Devil Mountain Double, and tied for 1st Place on the Central Coast Double!! David rode some of the easier Doubles in 1997 to 2003 ... harder ones in 2004 ... and flew on these most difficult rides in 2005!! Congratulations to David!!

In Third Place was Robert Choi, Age 43, from Santa Rosa. Robert was 5th on the Mulholland Double, 5th on the Devil Mountain Double, and 5th on the Central Coast Double this year. Robert was 3rd in the 2002 Stage Race, 2nd in the 2003 Stage Race, and 1st in the 2004 Stage Race!! Congratulations to Robert!!

An Honorable Mention goes to Tao Bernardi, Age 37, from Dublin, California. Tao was tied for 1st Place on the Mulholland Double, 7th on the Devil Mountain Double, and 8th on the Central Coast Double. Tao's first California Triple Crown Double was the 1997 Terrible Two!! Congratulations to Tao!!

In the Women's Division, Kitty Goursolle, Age 49, from San Ramon came in First Place. This is Kitty's first year riding the California Triple Crown Doubles!! However, she is no stranger to long distance cycling: She was the First Place Women in the John Marion Open RAAM Qualifier way back in 1983 and competed in the Race Across America that year!! Kitty wrote, "I turn 50 this year and wanted to do something really great for that milestone day, rather than feel sad that I'm getting so "old"." Congratulations on a great California Triple Crown Stage Race, Kitty!!

In Second Place was Linda Bott, Age 47, from Ventura. Linda rode 17 Doubles in 2002 to 2004 and put her knowledge to full use in doing so well in this year's Stage Race. Congratulations to Linda on a great California Triple Crown Stage Race!!

In Third Place was Kerin Huber, Age 46, from Pasadena. Kerin completed 7 Doubles in 2003 and 2004 and her experience paid off big time for her in this year's Stage Race. Congratulations to Kerin!!

An Honorable Mention goes to Karen Rhodes, Age 48, from San Francisco. Karen completed 4 Doubles in 2003 and 2004 and she came back this year and tackled the three hardest Doubles in California this year. Congratulations to Karen!!

In the Tandem Division, Mike Chester and Karen Koppenhaver came in First Place. Mike and Karen are long time California Triple Crown Double Century riders: Mike started riding Doubles in 1992 and Karen in 1991. This amazingly powerful tandem team were First Place in the 2004 Stage Race as well!! They were flying on the Stage Race this year and a big congratulations to Mike and Karen!!

In Second Place in the Tandem Division was Mojo Cosgrove and Anny Beck. This was only Mojo's second year of riding Double Centuries!! Anny is a long time California Triple Crown Double Century rider having started way back in 1990. Only 24 Minutes separated the two Tandem Teams in this year's Stage Race!! Congratulations to Mojo and Anny!!

California Triple Crown Plaques will be awarded to Lasse, David, Robert, Tao, Kitty, Linda, Kerin, Karen, Mike, Karen, Mojo, and Anny. These will be presented at the California Triple Crown Awards Breakfast to be held September 18, 2005, the morning after the Knoxville Fall Classic Double, in Vacaville.

Everyone who completed the 2005 Stage Race is to be commended. Our hat is off to each of the 32 Finishers ... just to complete these three Extremely Difficult Rides is a major accomplishment!!

You don't have to do anything special to sign up for the Stage Race: In 2006, 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 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.

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!!

Congratulations to all Finishers in the 2005 California Triple Crown Stage Race!!

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