The Heritage Littleton Mountain Bike Team had a successful weekend. Although the freshmen were evacuated due to a large storm, Grace Gaeke, 26, placed 3rd for JV Girls. “Preparing for my race starts with showing up to practices, getting good sleep, managing stress, and staying on top of hydration and nutrition”. Grace G. has been racing all 4 years, making her a legacy rider. She’s an important member of the team, helping new riders with their nutrition and mental preparedness.
Bryce Alakness started his first varsity race, placing 26th. Making varsity in mountain biking is not easy, with 3 out of 5 LPS varsity riders being from our team. Bryce A. said, “My dad has helped me build a training calendar, I get out and ride 4 days a week”. He’s always pushing himself to get better, now racing 18 miles each race. Also saying, “My race didn’t go as well as I wanted to, placing 26th, but that leaves me a lot of room to improve”. Racing all four years built Bryce’s path to varsity. Bryce A. knows better than anyone that it’s not easy getting to varsity. He finished last in his first race due to mechanical issues. He’s had to work extra hard to get to where he is today. Getting onto the podium or even just making varsity isn’t easy in the league. Both of these seasoned athletes are showing incoming freshman riders what is possible.
Although placing higher in Leadville sets you up for higher success for the 2025 season. Levi Hayes, 29, placed 10th. Levi H. stated, “My dad got me into mountain biking as he raced when he was a kid. I still do it because I love riding and I love racing with the team”. Heritage strives not only to be a good school but a good community, and the mountain bike team continues that after school hours. “ I love being part of the team! When I first got into racing, I didn’t have a team or anyone to ride with. I appreciate having a team where people love to ride and talk bikes. The team has an incredible atmosphere where everyone is encouraged and helped.” With powerful senior riders and a fast freshman class, the Heritage Littleton Mountain Bike Team is set up for a successful season.