Hello Sue,
I'm sending along the race report from the inaugural High Cascade 100 mountain bike race in Bend, Oregon. I have cc'd Mike Ripley, the promoter,and attached photos, results, course profile and interview. Please let me or Mike know if you need anything else for the post.
Thanks!
Ben Thompson
541-420-7950
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Endurance racers descended on Bend, Oregon August 23rd for the inaugural High Cascade 100 mountain bike race. The rugged, high-desert course featured a mix of 70% singletrack, 10% atv trails and 20% double track that began in Wanoga Sno-Park 11 miles west of Bend and included a loop around Mt Bachelor. Bikes and bodies were tested through technical lava rock sections, lots of challenging singletrack and over 11,000 ft of climbing. Promoter Mike Ripley of Mudslinger Events kept people rolling through the well-stocked aide stations with tons of great Hammer Nutrition calories, top-notch mechanical support and plenty of cheering and bumpin' rock 'n' roll music.
The field included endurance specialists Chris Sheppard (Santa Cruz WTB/ Shimano/ NoTubes), Evan Plews (Capitol Subaru Cycling) and Sloane Anderson (Pro Air/HFA) to renowned singlespeeder John"Fuzzy" Mylre (Niner/Ergon) and Angela Sucich (Voodoo/Recycled Cycles) .
After a chilly start with temps in the 30's, things quickly heated up as Sheppard put in an attack up the long dusty climb to the Mt. Bachelor ski area parking lot. Only Mylre and Plews were able to match the acceleration and the gaps quickly formed that would set the scene for the rest of the race. Sheppard continued to increase his lead around Mt. Bachelor, up and over the uber-technical Kwol Butte and past the race half way point. Flat tires, high race pace and the technical ascents / descents began to take their toll as numerous riders DNF'd after the second aide station.
The battle in the for 2nd-5th stayed tight as riders bombed the buff Swede Ridge singletrack, climbed the steep, wooded South Fork trail and headed back to Wanoga Snopark for the final 11 mile loop. Sheppard kept the pedal to the metal and smoked the course in 8:37 taking the win, Sloane Anderson hung on to 2nd at 9:26 and Paul Clark rounded out the Open Men podium with 3rd at 9:55. Singlespeeder "Fuzzy" Mylre was able to keep pace with the top geared riders and completed the course in a speedy 9:33. Angela Sucich put in a great effort to stay in front of the rest of the women's field to take the win in 11:55.
Post-race reviews were thumbs up with exhausted smiles all around. Deschutes Brewery Mirror Pond and Baldy's BBQ revived spirits and bodies for the awards ceremony as the sun set on the Cascade Mountains in the background.Mudslinger Events donated $3500 to the local trail-building alliance, COTA, to help maintain the huge existing trail network, extend and connect new trails and preserve access to to the trails in great shKeep tabs on Mudslinger Events for 2010 course updates and registration dates. The early bird promotional pricing will open on Valentine's Day.
