As we noted in our recent review of the book celebrating Rapha’s 20th year in operation, the company has widened its approach to cycling. Originally focused on an aesthetic of a road racing past in its clothing line and supporting materials, it aims to encourage all facets of cycling and the company’s most recent video, “On the Up,” takes us into the world of American women’s mountain bike racing.
“On the Up” is a story told around three top pro cyclists: Sarah Sturm, Alexis Sarda and Ellen Campbell. At this year’s Unbound 200 gravel race in Kansas, Sturm and Sarda were amongst the top finishers. The video opens showing that race in its final miles, with a breakaway group of eleven riders heading to a sprint finish, something unprecedented in this event. Also new was that the women had their own start rather being mixed in with the pro men and Sturm remarks on how different this made the race feel when riding surrounded only by other women.
The story here is not about gravel racing, however, but about the running of the Leadville 100 MTB race in Colorado in August this year. We learn a bit about the three riders as they get together to spend time at a cabin at altitude to acclimatize before the race. Leadville is at over 10,000 feet above sea level and from my personal experience it is the City that Oxygen Forgot so racing a mountain bike over 100 miles there is a serious athletic accomplishment by anyone. The women clearly enjoy each other’s company in this beautiful environment. Sturm and Sarda are perhaps the more experienced, while Campbell has learned from them. Once an onlooker/support help for Sturm at Leadville, she realized that she could do the race herself.
In town before the start of the 30th edition of the Leadville 100, there is time to look around and meet up with the fans. As the US National Mountain Bike Champion (for the third time), Sarda is in demand but Sarah Sturm, who coaches and runs programs to develop junior riders, is happy to participate in the photo opportunities. Sturm has raced Leadville numerous times, with at least three Top 5 finishes.
Come race day there is the usual preparation before the starting gun is fired (and in Colorado they really do use a big gun!) and the women head out into the spectacular scenery. At various points there are colour commentators talking about what is happening but we don’t get a sense of what is happening overall except, as one woman had said, there is a lot of “up, up, up…and down, down, down.” The course takes riders up to 12,600 feet ASL and in all there is 12,000 feet (3600 m) of climbing involved, with a 12 hour time limit. The fastest women typically take just over 7 hours to complete the race.
The video nicely captures the beauty of the landscapes but also the speed and determination of these participants. As in any race, there are unforeseen events and disappointments as well as triumphs but one has the strong sense that the women are highly supportive of each other although, in the final analysis, you have to ride your own race and do it alone.
Rapha Films Presents: “On the Up”
Produced and Directed by Chelsea Jolly
Featuring Sarah Sturm, Alexis Sarda and Ellen Campbell
20 minutes, released November 8, 2024
YouTube Link: www.youtube.com
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