By Travis Duncan

World-class adventure racer Mike Kloser, 52, came into his sixth Pikes Peak Ascent hoping to set a pace for a sub-2:30 time in the 50-54 age division.

“I thought I prepared well,” he said. “I slept well the last several days and I had a big weekend last weekend training up in the Vail area.”

Kloser lives and trains in Vail and even has an area mountain biking trail, “Kloser’s Klimb” named after him. Kloser won a World Mountain Bike Championship title in 1988. Despite feeling good coming into the race, Kloser said things didn’t go as well as he hoped out on Barr Trail today, finishing with a time of 2:42:40.  

“It just never quite clicked for me,” he said. “I started out OK, but my pace was off after the third or fourth mile. Then after A-frame, I was walking stuff I’ve never walked before. At that point it was like, alright, I’m not setting any records today.”

Despite his disappointment, Kloser finished first in his age division.

 “Yeah, I was hoping that I would set a time that I wouldn’t have to come back and redo. But I don’t know now. I may have to do one more of these,” he said. “But hats off to these guys and gals that did so well today.”

Kloser now has his sights on his next race: The Imogene Pass Run from Ouray to Telluride on Saturday, September 8.