LZ the Local Legend

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You would never know it talking to him because he’s ridiculously modest, but Len Zanni is kind of a big deal.

In addition to helping run the show at sister companies Big Agnes and Honey Stinger, Len is a bit of a local celebrity on his bike. This year Len has been crushing the competition at pretty much every Wednesday night local race. He currently sits in third place in the overall points series of the Mountain States Cup. He finished 17th at the National Mountain Bike XC Championships at Sol Vista last month and he won the Leadville Silver Rush 50 a couple weeks ago.

But this weekend featured what might have been one of Zanni’s biggest races yet. Len certainly had some homefield advantage at the Blast the Mass race in Snowmass this past Saturday, but he also faced some of the toughest mountain bike competition on American soil. It just so happens that part-time Aspen local and 7-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong, decided he wanted to join the fray at the Snowmass race. Lance’s appearance definitely added some excitement and brouhaha to what is typically a fairly insular regional mountain bike race scene.

Lenny leading Lance and other pro men up the starting hill. It's not everyday you can race ahead of a 7-time TdF winner.

Lenny leading a 7-time TdF winner and the other pro men up the starting hill.

Despite the spectator donnybrook surrounding Lance, Len kept his eyes on the prize and raced his own race. Lance shot out to three minute lead over perennial Mountain States winner and full-time pro rider Jay Henry, with Len holding onto third place in a field stacked with strong regional pros. In the end Lance proved he can ride a bike off road as well as on, and won with a three-minute margin. Jay stayed in second and Len finished in third – his best Mountain States Cup finish all season.

Jay Henry, Lance and Len

Jay Henry, Lance and Len.

It’s not every day you get to share a podium with Lance. Not bad for a guy pushing 40 with two kids and a full-time job. Nice work Len, we’re proud of you.

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Big Weekend of Racing for the Backbone Crew

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Len on the podium with Lance and Max

Len on the podium with Lance and Max

Well, our downstairs office dweller and overnight cycling celebrity, Len Zanni, along with his teammates Lance Armstrong and Max Taam of Team Aspen, pulled of a huge victory at the 12 Hours of Snowmass yesterday. Len rode strong all day and definitely held up his end of the bargain on the team. At the last minute, Len was forced to ride the race’s final anchor lap and he successfully held off a strong late stage push from world champion Mike Kloser of Team Beaver Creak. Len got a standing ovation when he showed up at the office this morning.

Velo News has a great recap of the race, in which Len, “categorized himself as a B-level pro with a couple of kids” (we know better) and Lance brags about eating Honey Stinger. Quite the endorsement!

We’ll post a Verteblog exclusive interview with the one and only Len Zanni later today.

Ian and his wife Sari also had a good race, winning the co-ed trio division at the 12 Hours of Snowmass. Recap here.

Crystal Mill Falls

Crystal Mill Falls

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Jess Smith, who had a great race at the Glenwood Triathlon last week, strapped on her trail shoes for the annual Lead King Loop, a beautiful but challenging 25K race that starts in the historic town of Marble and rolls through Lead King Basin, through the old mining town of Crystal, past Crystal Mill falls and back to Marble. Jess finished second in her age group and fourth overall!

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And finally, Mr. Scott Leonard, the better half of Mavis Fitzgerald and associate publisher of the Mountain Gazette, had a big weekend of racing at the 2008 Colorado Rally in Steamboat. He races for Team Salta/Checkpoint in Mavis’s old 1986 VW Golf (which now looks nothing like the car Mavis used to drive around town once Salta and Scott were finished modifying it). Scott and his partner had a strong finish against some of the sports’ best drivers, including superstar Travis Pastrana.

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Lenny vs. Lance UPDATE

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Turns out Lenny was holding out on us yesterday. In his typically modest fashion, he failed to mention that while he raced http://frescohealth.com/category/recipes/ against Lance on Wednesday, he’ll be racing where to buy provigil online with Lance on Sunday (along with another local badass, Max Taam). There aren’t too many people who can call themselves Lance’s teammate, especially when they’re from the US, they’re NOT a domestique and they ride a mountain bike.

Lenny was trying to keep all this on the DL so the pressure wouldn’t mount, but then Sari outed him on her blog and then Velo News picked up the story too. So much for Lenny’s nice, little laid back race with the 7-time Tour de France winner on his team. The question is, will Len get spoiled with his access to Lance’s mechanic, masseuse, bikes, supplements, etc. And, will Lance fuel up with Honey Stinger and their awesome new organic chews?

Good luck Lenny. We’ll be rooting for you. Check back on Monday for a full recap.

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Lenny vs. Lance

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Big Agnes co-owner, local mountain bike legend, and our downstairs office dweller, Len Zanni, got a little surprise at the final race in the Aspen local series last night: Lance Armstrong.

Lance has been hanging around the valley ever since his comeback performance at the Leadville 100 last month. He says he likes training at altitude and that “it’s pretty similar to European mountain towns,” but I hear the reason he’s hanging around is because he’s dating a local girl.

Anyway, Mr. Zanni lined up against Mr. Armstrong last night at the base of Smuggler Mtn for the 10 mile race. According to Zanni he was ahead of Lance for a while but he got blinded by all the paparazzi flashbulbs at the finish.

In the end, Lance beat Len by just 14 seconds. But, Len claimed the overall series title.

Lenny crawling up Lance's muffler

Lenny crawling up Lance's muffler

Read the full race report here (“Lance Strong-Arms Local Field”…the copy editor must be really proud of that headline in the Aspen Times).

I just found out I’ll be lining up against Lance at the 12 Hours of Snowmass on my single speed this weekend. At least the SS gives me the perfect excuse when Lance yells “Passing on Your Right” behind me. And I’ve got a secret weapon on my team, my wife.

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