Saturday, June 14 - Sunday, June 15, 2008 -- Grantsville, WV / Calhoun County Park
Appalachian Classic - WVMBA #7
[Details] [Coverage] [Photos] [Overall Results]
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More Than Just Another XC Race
Story by Race Director, JR Petsko with photos by Jason and Julie Black
That opened the door for Nick Waite (Kelly Benefit) to stomp out a time for the rest of the field to try and beat. Waite finished the 4 mile time trial course in 19 minutes and 28 seconds.
Bishop would recover after his crash to take second with a time of 19 minutes and 48 seconds. Aron Yevuta (Victory Velo) put in a super ride to take the finial podium spot with a time of 20 minutes and 14 seconds.
For the Sport Men's Time Trial race it was Ryan Hobbs mashing the big ring to cover the course in 25 minutes and 48 seconds for the sport class win. Brad Schmalzer produced a 26 minute and 26 second TT time to take second in the sport class. Marco Deshales took third in the sport TT with a time of 26 minutes and 38 seconds.
The men weren't the only ones to test their gear pulling skills. The women were yet to come.
That time was fast enough to give her the top spot on the podium over Mandi Riddle in second with a time of 29 minutes and 35 seconds. Third went to Erin Bishop in a time of 30 minutes and 27 seconds.
After the time trial was over it was time to take a break from the heart pounding, laugh burning racing for a little fun with a bike polo tournament. Five teams signed up for the event and I was on one of them.
My team and a few others knew we were in trouble when the boys and girls from Athens, Ohio showed up to play in matching shirts. "Oh boy!" I thought to myself. My team's first game against the Athens Cougar Bats #2 was a 5-0 massacre.
A few other teams fared better than we did against the skilled Cougar Bats, but it was in vain. The polo finials paired Cougar Bats#1 and Cougar Bats #2. It was a great final match to watch! The cougar Bats #1 took the final victory. We will all have to practice for next year.
Gunnar Shogren, Chris McGill, Joey Riddle and Aron Yevuta all want that last podium spot. As the last laps unfold Shogren and McGill put some space between them and the rest. Shogren put in one last attack and due to McGill's early attempts had nothing left in the tank to keep on Shogren's Wheel. Bishop would end up completing 26 laps, Waite made 24 laps on the course for second and Shogren completed 23.
Just like in the men's expert race with Bishop, Brad Schmalzer who finished second in the time trial went on to win the sport short track race. Schmalzer completed 15 laps ahead of Tim Bishop who also completed 15 laps. Third went to sport TT winner Ryan Hobbs.
After a long day of racing it was time for some R&R with live music from The WeedHawks, fireworks and then some sleep before the next day's main event.
The starting line for Sunday's XC race it was like a who's who of fast expert & pro riders from the east coast. Riders like Jeremiah Bishop, Nick Waite, Ben Ortt, Dave Walker and the WVMBA regular all wanted a shot at the $350.00 first place prize.
Out front at the begin was the rider I mentioned plus Andy Wiedrich, Gunnar Shogren and Chris McGill. First to drop from the pace was Waite with a broke chain. Bishop then started to pull away after learning his biggest rival lost all kinds of kind trying to fix the broken chain.
Sue Haywood showed up to ride the Appalachian course one more time before retiring from bike racing later this year. She did it in grand style, winning the women's race in 2:17:59. Betsy Shogren took seconds in 2:27:18 with Amanda Sproat in third crossing the line in 2:35:12.
Mandi riddle captured fourth in 3:00:12 over Erin Bishop in fifth 3:07:31.
All in all, I had a great time putting on the race and hope to make it bigger and better every year. It's time for WV to have an event that brings in people from all over the coast to check out the wonderful state and trials we ride.