Moab’s Red Devil mountain biking team has 33 riders, but it’s growing with new members from Moab’s middle and high schools. At the first race of the season held Saturday, Aug. 24 at Eagle Mountain near Lehi, the team was number one in points in Division Three. That is thanks to weeks of training and some dedicated coaches, according to Greg Child.
The event, which was held on a six-mile single-track loop, had enough dusty action to resemble a motocross race, said Child. “The big wow was a multi-rider pile-up at the start of the Boys Junior Varsity Division One race. No Red Devils were in that crash, and the guys were all fine, but team Moab had thrills, too,” said Child.
The most notable finish goes to River Martucci for the junior varsity, for completing his race with a snapped-off crankshaft dangling off his shoe and still finishing 10th in his division. Perseverance credits go to Eli Taylor, also junior varsity, for running his bike to the finish with a shredded tire.
In his first race ever, in intermediate boys, eighth grader Aiden Gordon toughed it out with a broken brake lever flopping from his handle bars, said Child.
Also in that group of young riders was an outstanding first-race performance by London Niesen, who stood on the podium for third place in girls intermediate. Other Red Devils on the podium were Aiden Baird, third place in his junior varsity division, and Jackson Sorensen, fifth place in his junior varsity division, said Child.
Also pushing the team into first place in the South Region were high-point scoring finishes by Elijah Topper in boys varsity, and Ariann Child, girls junior varsity, said Child.
Child said the next race is set for Sept. 7 in Richfield.
