Steamboat Pilot & Today

Wednesday night's mountain bike race at Howelsen Hill will kick off a busy month for the Town Challenge series.

"We have three races this month," organizer Gretchen Sehler said. "It's a busy month, but we wanted the series to end before Labor Day."

The races will begin with this week's Dog Days of Summer race, which is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday with the junior classes.

The open, expert, sport, and novice classes will begin at 6 p.m.

The race will use seven courses, with three adult tracks, three junior tracks and one that will be shared by a junior and adult class.

The open and expert classes will be tested along the 10.7-mile Hudson Loop.

The sport classes will compete on the 2-Way Loop, the women's novice class will compete on the MGM Loop, and the juniors and children will use the Crossroads Loop, Nordic Trail Loop, Jump Trail and Jump Loop. The Miller Lite class also will race on the Crossroads Loop.

Sehler said this racecourse's setup is new to the Town Challenge series and is unique because the racers will not climb to the top of Emerald Mountain during the event.

Instead, they will be tested on short but steep climbs and rolling descents on the lower part of the mountain.

"I expect to see the more powerful racers doing well in this race," Sehler said. "The lighter climbers might have to work a little harder."

Racers can register today before 5 p.m. for $11 or on the day of the race for $15. Junior registration is $6 in advance and $10 on the day of the race.

The Town Challenge Mountain Bike Series includes eight races.

The Buffalo Pass Hill Climb on Aug. 17 and the Mount Werner Valley View Circuit Race on Aug. 26 will bring the 2005 series to an end.