Snowmass history: Peak form

“Carpenter makes it all look simple – for her,” The Aspen Times read on June 17, 1982. “It’s not that Connie Carpenter makes bike racing easy; in fact, it’s more that she makes it seem impossible – impossible for everyone else, that is. Tuesday, in a 40-mile road race from Snowmass to maroon Lake and back, Carpenter – who won the women’s title last year – posted her fourth consecutive stage victory in the women’s division of the Coors classic. Jeannie Longo of France provided carpenter’s closest competition in the race here – just as she provides the American’s closest competition in the overall standings. But, although she rode right with Carpenter all the way, Longo never really seemed to have a chance, as Carpenter pulled away with apparent ease in the final stretch up Suicide Hill to the finish line … Third-place in the race here went to Rebecca Twigg, a precious 17-year-old from Seattle, WA, who finished one minute behind Longo and some 30 seconds ahead of fourth-place Ute Enzenauer of West Germany, who is the reigning women’s world champion. It should, perhaps, be noted that although the Coors Classic is the largest bike race for women in the world, it does come somewhat early in the season and many of the European women have yet to reach their peak form.”