Back in the Heber Valley for another UCI race at Soldier Hollow

It may just be my longest-running annual pilgrimage as far as bike races are concerned: Since 2017, I have been part of the SoHo Bike Fest in one function or another (excluding the COVID hiatus, of course). I love coming out to the beautiful Heber Valley, just about an hour up the road from Salt Lake City and past Park City. While Heber City has grown over the years and added many new businesses mainly along US-40, Midway—located in the northwestern part of the valley, among small volcanic domes—has maintained its Swiss charm and quaintness. As in years past, we were housed in the Zermatt, a decent hotel that is slowly starting to show its age in the carpeted corridors, the straight shower-curtain rods, and the 1980s decor of the clean-but-tired guestrooms. 

But we didn't spend much time in either the hotel (sleep only) or the towns of Heber and Midway (two dinners). From the time of my arrival on Thursday afternoon until Sunday evening well after 8 p.m., I and our crew were at the venue, with some folks pushing even longer hours. For this year's edition I was a simple crew member; the UCI PCP was Jim from Canada, while Justin (see last week's race report from Idaho) was the assistant chief, responsible for the amateur portion of the event). Rounding out the crew were Tobin from Telluride, our race secretary; Holly, our Utah-based finish judge; and Kris, another crew member also hailing from the Beehive state. (We also were lucky to be joined by Arden, a freshly minted USAC official who volunteered to get some experience, and Kris' partner, Darcy, who pitched in by playing runner between start and finish, relaying paperwork.)

From left, Holly, Tobin, Justin, Jim, moi, and Kris

All of us established commissaires had worked together on numerous occasions, helping the race run smoothly. Sure, there were the usual registration issues as well as the occasional results glitch, but overall, it was a well-oiled machine. Jon and Devon from One2Go Timing were also known entities, and only the announcer, Matt, was new to the event. (He may have worked SoHo in 2024 when I was here for anti-doping during the PanAmericans and didn't see or hear much of the outside competition.)

Justin, always working—even at dinner

Kris, Devon, and Holly during packet pick-up

Holly at the finish line

During registration with two local volunteers

SoHo always has a very ambitious schedule that incorporates both the UCI crowd as well as amateurs, with special emphasis on sheer countless numbers of junior categories. Overall, an estimated 700 to 800 individual racers participated in three days of short track (XCC) and cross country (XCO) events, and about a half dozen nations were represented by the 120 or so UCI pros. Soldier Hollow was the venue for the Nordic events of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and with an eye on the 2034 Winter Games its facilities have already been updated and expanded. Bringing a UCI World Cup next year to SoHo will be yet another testing opportunity for the crew around GM Luke and Josh, the actual Race Director.

Eighty riders waiting for their call-ups for the XCO

Seeking shade before one of the women's XCO starts

One of many short track starts

For a cross country race, this may be one of the most spectator-friendly courses that I know. Fans can watch the racers for almost one minute climbing up an asphalted path (in the winter the basis for one of the many loipes) and then enter singletrack, heading in a diagonal pattern up the hillside and stretching out the field in a most brutal way. The 5K-long race course passes twice through the biathlon stadium where the feed/tech zone is located, allowing spectators to cheer on their racers (and support personnel to hand up water and nutrition) about every seven to eight minutes. And finally, looking toward the south side of the course, those with binoculars or good eyesight get a chance to follow the progress of the leaders for several more minutes. The layout of the finish is excellent and makes up for some of the lack of sexy race infrastructure at the XCO start. Seriously, no banners? Not even tape across the start line? C'mon folks!

Not the most impressive UCI XCO start area

Luke (left) and Josh at one of many
awards ceremonies over the course of the weekend

SoHo's Olympic biathlon stadium

For a ski center in Utah—at an elevation of about 5,600 or feet or 1,700 meters—the temperature was very high, pushing close to the 90°-degree mark. The mornings were cool and absolutely wonderful, but by noon the unrelenting sun was baking racers, spectators, and officials alike. I was glad I had brought a spray bottle of SPF-50 sunscreen, applying a fresh layer every three or so hours. Each time the racers passed through the feed zone they would take up ice socks and dump a bottle of water over their heads. For those of you unfamiliar with the rules, for safety reasons support personnel are not allowed to spray water on their riders, but the racers can douse themselves. Some of the slower riders looked positively miserable toward the end of their race. It was so hot that we decided to shorten by a lap a few of the mid-afternoon amateur races to keep riders safe.

Wrapping things up, it was another successful Bike Fest out there at Soldier Hollow. We celebrated with a few cold ones at Melvin's Public House in Heber City after the final finisher had crossed the line around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday night, exhausted but exuberant that she had completed her three-lap race against one solitary adversary.

Team Trusty Switchblade's Sarah Umberhandt celebrating her
second place in the women's Cat.2 40+ event ...

... while Kris, Justin, and Darcy celebrate the
end of the race weekend in front of Melvin's Public House

Monday morning, Jim and I piled into Tobin's Jeep and headed down to the SLC airport to be dropped off for our respective flights. Instead of playing the Russian Roulette upgrade game I had paid $100 for seats up front, a good decision with a plane full of locals and their many children.

Without any flight delays I was back in Lubbock a little before 8 p.m., and I was grateful that Sandy, on the spur of the moment, had decided to pick me up. Three days at home until vacation!

Jürgen