A review of Race Across The Sky

I was late in the game on this movie, finding out just days before. With a little luck I caught a pass and got to attend. But I had my doubts about the quality of this flick after being part of a user experience that took you through a multitude of websites and was disjointed at best. (Stupid, I know.)

If you’re not familiar with Race Across The Sky, it’s a documentary about the 2009 Leadville 100, arguably the hardest one-day mountain bike race in North America. Riders start at over 10,000 feet and go to upwards of 12,600 feet. They put in over 14,000 feet of climbing in over 100 miles on mostly double track and roads. If you finish in under 12 hours, you get the coveted belt buckles. Very cool.

The race has about 1,400 starters and about 80% finish each year. Often times the elite slip away in a small pack, and this year’s edition was no different. Lance Armstrong and David Wiens (six-time winner) were the ones to watch, while many other famous MTB faces joined the seven-man early split, too.

I’m a sucker for mountain bike and cyclocross movies. I own most of the ones produced in the last ten years. But only a couple have I seen in theaters. Like seeing those in full glory, I was happy to be able to witness the swift cinematography of R.A.T.S. on the big screen. Only every once in a while did I find myself hoping (yet another) electric guitar solo would come to an end. Still, to think that this film was edited and released in 67 days is a true accomplishment.

My favorite moments:
- amazing views of the Colorado Rockies;
- getting to know the town of Leadville and the promoters;
- heartwarming tales from unlikely finishers, including a woman who has had MS since 1980 and another who was nearly killed by a truck while riding;
- Dave Wiens about taking second to Lance, “I was racing a guy who’s three weeks off of the Tour de France. Last year he was three weeks off of the couch”;
- seeing all the kids greet their dads and moms along the route and finish;
- all the people meeting their goals (and feeling the pain of some who were cut off);
- hearing a woman say “I’m glad” about her husband being cut off because she was freezing (it is funny in context).

Before and after the movie they showed a Q/A session with Wiens, Lance, the promoter, Matt Shriver and Travis Brown. I enjoyed hearing their take, and you could sense that Wiens is a very proud Coloradan, thanking all the people and promoting his area. Lance was his typical self as witnessed by a question asked about his take on the moving personal stories of other racers which he diverted into his own suffering on the climbs. Yin and yang between those guys.

LA also mentioned that a tour along the lines of the Coors Classic is in the works and likely for 2011. If only it were all off-road (I assume he was talking about the pavement).

Apparently the movie might be shown again, so if you missed it you’ll likely get another chance. You might even wait for the DVD – it’s a good flick for trainer days.

Not that I would know what that is living in Texas.