Quinn Simmons flies down Coal Bank Pass during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men’s road race on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Quinn Simmons won the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic road race Saturday, racing the 47 miles from Durango to Silverton in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 29 seconds.
“It’s good to be back. It’s been five years since my last (Iron Horse), and I don’t get to race at local (events) much anymore,” said Simmons, who races on the WorldTour for Trek-Segafredo. “Everyone has got to win this race, at least if you’re from here.”
Simmons said his best previous result was an eighth-place finish the year Sepp Kuss dominated the field.
Quinn Simmons wins the 2022 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men’s road race as Caleb Classen places second on Saturday in Silverton. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
The WorldTour rider, however, didn’t set out to win the Iron Horse this year. He was working for his younger brother, Colby Simmons, making attacks to try to tire out the field and give Colby an edge.
Fortunato Ferrara climbs Coal Bank Pas. He rode alone for most of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men’s road race Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
“I was here trying to help Colby,” Quinn said. “I was trying to work it hard in the valley.”
Early in the race, a group of eight riders sprinted out in front of the peloton, which included last year’s runner-up, Fortunato Ferrara, and Scott Simmons.
Ferrara then attacked and was out in front by himself. At Chipmunk Hill, Ferraro led a chase group of three by 40 seconds and the peloton by 1:45. Colby, however, then made his move and attacked.
Caleb Classen leads Riley Amos down Coal Bank Pass during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men’s road race Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Colby said the downhills are his favorite part of the route, and said he was going down them about 50 mph.
“You definitely don’t want to crash,” he said. “You’re pushing it to the limit.”
Colby got to the bottom of Coal Bank, but got caught going back up the next hill.
“I probably went too deep at the bottom,” he said.
The leader group, which included Howard Grotts, Riley Amos, Caleb Classen, Robbie Day, Ned Overend, Cobe Freeburn and Quinn, caught up to Colby. And shortly after that, Quinn, Amos and Classen reeled in Fortunato.
Scott Simmons leads riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men’s road race Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Quinn then decided to go for it.
“I didn’t want that work to go to waste,” he said. “I went for it on the downhill on Coal Bank.”
Classen went with Quinn down Coal Bank and up Molas.
“We attacked each other a few times,” Classen said. ‘There wasn’t much separation, and then we came in on the sprint together. And he kicked my (butt) at the end.”
Classen finished second, just 0.2 seconds after Quinn.
“I don’t feel bad getting second to Quinn,” he said.
Riders compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men’s road race Saturday and pass the West Needles Mountains on U.S. Highway 550. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Last year’s champ, Amos, finished in third in 2:12.10, which is about five minutes faster than he rode last year. Amos, who has been competing on his mountain bike in the U23 World Cup, said he rode his road bike twice this week to get ready for the Iron Horse, but that was the first time he had been on it since February. He also returned from Europe sick after his last races and spent time recovering.
“I was fresh, but off of the pace,” he said.
Amos, however, had some good descents to cross in third place.
Fortunato ended up placing fourth, followed by Day, Colby, Grotts, Freeburn, Overend and Nicholas Jenkins in 10th.
“This is one of the deepest fields I’ve ever seen” Overend said. “It was a fast field. The locals are so fast.”
Quinn Simmons leads Caleb Classen up Coal Bank Pass during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men’s road race Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Overend said he wanted to be in the lead group at Coal Bank to make sure he was in there.
“That pack was already shattered at Coal Bank. That doesn’t happen too often,” said Overend, who was racing in his 38th or 39th Iron Horse.
“It’s a classic race and has so much community support,” he said. “It’s so beautiful going up the passes, and it gives you a goal to train for early in the season.”
Ned Overend competes Saturday in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men’s pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 north of Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
And the locals seemed happy to ride at home before continuing U.S. and international racing.
Quinn will next race in the Tour de Suisse, June 12-19. If it goes well, he said he make his debut in the Tour de France this year.
The top finishers in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men’s pro road race on Saturday celebrate in Silverton. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Quinn Simmons, left, and his brother, Colby Simmons, and their father Scott Simmons meet up after crossing the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men’s pro road race finish line Saturday in Silverton. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Riders compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men’s pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday north of Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Riders take off at the start of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men’s pro road race on Saturday in Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Jerry McBride
Riders take off at the start of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men’s pro road race on Saturday in Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
The top finishers in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men’s pro road race celebrate together on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fans cheer on riders during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fans cheer on riders during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Nick Mckey, left, and Colby Simmons compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fans cheer on riders during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fans cheer on riders during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fans cheer on riders during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race in Silverton on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fans cheer on riders during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race in Silverton on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race pass tour riders on U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders line up at the start of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race with other races and tour riders behind them on Saturday in Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race make their way up U.S. Highway 550 on Saturday north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 Saturday north of Durango making their way to the Silverton finish line. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 Saturday north of Durango making their way to the Silverton finish line. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 Saturday north of Durango making their way to the Silverton finish line. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 Saturday north of Durango making their way to the Silverton finish line. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Ned Overend competes in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 Saturday north of Durango making his way to the Silverton finish line. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fortunato Ferrara competes in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 Saturday north of Durango making his way to the Silverton finish line. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Quinn Simmons, left, and his brother Colby Simmons and their dad Scott Simmons get together after crossing the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race finish line on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Brothers Quinn Simmons, center, and Colby Simmons congratulate each other after crossing the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race finish line Saturday in Silverton. Quinn Simmons won the race. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on U.S. Highway 550 Saturday north of Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Ned Overend flies down Coal Bank Pass without any fingers on his brakes during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic men's pro road race on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Chris Burnett and Bowden Burnett, 2, show up to watch the start of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro races on Saturday in Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders hang out during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
All kinds of bicycles participated in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
All kinds of bicycles participated in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Quinn Simmons wins the 2022 Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race as Caleb Classen places second on Saturday in Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race leave the starting line on Saturday on their way to Silverton. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Traffic backs up behind Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race riders on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race riders pass the West Needles Mountains on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race riders compete on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race riders pass the West Needles Mountains on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Scott Simmons leads a group of riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Quinn Simmons flies down Coal Bank Pass during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Caleb Classen leads Riley Amos down Coal Bank Pass during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Quinn Simmons, Riley Amos and Caleb Classen begin climbing Molas Pass during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders compete in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race make their way to Silverton on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Riders in the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race pass some early birds riding in the citizens tour on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race riders make their way towards SIlverton on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Quinn Simmons leads Caleb Classen and others up Coal Bank Pass during the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride
Fortunato Ferrara climbs Coal Bank Pass who road alone for most of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic pro men's road race on Saturday on U.S. Highway 550. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
