The third edition of the Rock Lobster Cup hit Wilder Ranch State Park just north of Santa Cruz, CA, over the weekend. The Rock Lobster up has moved around during its short but fun existence. The first event was held at Bonnie Doon Airport in 2015, and last year's 250-participant race at Lighthouse Field in Santa Cruz sold out, as did this year's event.
The Rock Lobster Cup is an event sponsored by the eponymous Rock Lobster Cycles of Santa Cruz. A good part of the proceeds from the event go to support California's state parks, and the rest goes to the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz and Rock Lobster's cyclocross team.
The course at Wilder Ranch featured a lung-busting 288 feet of climbing per lap, as riders had to trudge up the Cowboy Loop trail and then come ripping down, only to do it all over again.
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With the UCI C1 scene on a hiatus between Charm City and Cincinnati, local star Tobin Ortenblad spent a rare weekend at home and made the start at Wilder Ranch. Needless to say, the US Cup-CX series leader won the Men's A race.
Sun's out, guns out. Current US Cup leader Tobin Ortenblad made the trip home and hopped his way to the win. 2017 Rock Lobster Cup, Wilder Ranch. © J. Vander Stucken / Cyclocross Magazine
NorCal-based photographer Jeff Vander Stucken made the trip to Wilder Ranch for Rock Lobster Cup III. He provided this gallery of photos from the event. For more from Jeff, see the growing archive of his work published featured at Cyclocross Magazine and follow him on Instagram.
Also, see the full results from the Women's and Men's A races below the gallery.
Jeff Vander Stucken Photo Gallery - 2017 Rock Lobster Cup III
The course even featured a little bit of mud at the top of the climb. 2017 Rock Lobster Cup, Wilder Ranch. © J. Vander Stucken / Cyclocross Magazine
