Brad Bingham can't help but feel like there is a target on his back every time he climbs onto his mountain bike.

The Steamboat Springs mountain bike racer made it three-for-three Sunday afternoon by winning his division of the Mountain States Cup's third start, on a wet, slippery and somewhat technical cross-country course in Angel Fire, N.M.

"There are definitely a few guys chasing me in the standings," Bingham said. "I'm the guy to beat right now, but I think more than a few of them would like to win."

This year, Bingham, who says he has been racing at a high level for the past seven or eight years, has focused his attention on winning races and earning the right to move into the pro division of the Mountain States Cup. Last year, he returned to the Mountain State's Cup for the state championships, and he opened this season racing the top riders in category 1, which is one level below professional.

In the first three races this season, Bingham has dominated the men's 30 to 39 age division. The other two wins came in Fruita and Nathrop.

"I'm feeling pretty healthy right now, and I want to see how far I can go," Bingham said.

On Sunday, the Steamboat rider got a feel for the course by riding with three other riders in the first section of the two-lap, 17-mile course. But once he had a feel, Bingham made his move and left the other riders in his dust as he cruised to his third victory of the season.

"The guy in front of me made a mistake," Bingham said. "I moved past him and never looked back."

Bingham was one of several riders from Steamboat Springs who picked up top finishes at the Angel Fire events, which included a downhill, a short track, a mountain cross, a Super-D - a cross between downhill and cross country - and the cross-country race.

Nate Bird placed 12th in the pro men's division. It was Bird's first race after a training ride crash that left him with a collapsed lung and several broken ribs.

"I'm extremely happy with the finish," Bird said. "This was my pro debut, and now I know where I fit."

Bird said his ribs are still sore, but he is hoping he can get stronger as the season continues.

"I'm feeling pretty good about where I am, and I know that there are some more good results to come this season," Bird said.

Adam Parke was 16th in the pro division, Ian Gale placed eighth in the men's age 19 to 29 category 1, and Chris Tamucci was eighth in the 30 to 39 category 1 results.

Ben Clark, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club's cycling program director, also took a large contingent of riders to Angel Fire and returned with several top finishes.

Highlights on the boys side included Sam Chovan's second-place finish in the short track Saturday and first-place finish in the cross-country race Sunday in the 19 to 29 age division for category 2 riders. Jeff Gay and Mark Dennis competed in the 15-18 category 2 division. Gay finished fifth in the cross-country, and Dennis was 11th.

Linnea Dixson dominated the 15 to 18 category 2 girls by winning the cross-county race by more than 15 minutes. Winter Sports Club teammate Jamie Gay was second, and Sarah Dixson, racing in the 19-29 category 2 division, was fifth.

Other notable finishes included Ned Kajko earning sixth in the Super-D; Cory Prager placing third in the mountain cross 19-plus category 3 and 38th in the downhill, men's 19 to 29 category 2; and Katherine Ingalls' second-place finish in the short track women's 15 to 18 category 1.

Many of the top Steamboat riders will be back on their bikes June 19 to 21, when the Mountain States Cup hosts its fourth race of the season, in Crested Butte.

"The Mountain State Cup is a great opportunity to compete at a high level in your own region," Bingham said. "The last race has a decent-sized field, and the fields just keep getting bigger."