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Dragon's Back - April 15
Middle Mountain Momma - May 6
Hoo Ha! - June 3
It's on!
posted by Kyle Inman @ 11:14 AM
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Thursday, October 05, 2006
Dragon's Back - April 15
Middle Mountain Momma - May 6
Hoo Ha! - June 3
It's on!
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Unstoppable Eatough still a favorite for world's 24-hour title
By Fred Dreier
VeloNews associate editor
This report filed October 5, 2006
A mountain of pressure sits on Chris Eatough's back this week, as the six-time solo 24-hour mountain-bike world champion prepares once again to defend his title. The 31-year old Eatough, who has made a career of dominating 24-hour events, knows he is expected to bring home number seven as he and others ready for this weekend's world championships in Conyers, Georgia.
Methodical: Eatough's success often comes as a result of meticulous preparation.
The 2006 24-Hours of Adrenaline's solo world championships are slated for this Saturday and Sunday in Conyers, the site of the 1996 Olympic cross-country race. Eatough's primary sponsor, Trek Bicycles, would like nothing more than to have another seven-time champion in its hands. Trek is dishing out big bucks to drag a trailer and full pit crew to support his stab at number seven.
Allison Eatough, who has long served as head of that support crew, organizing food and clothing while her husband races through the night, is pregnant with the couple's first child.
Interestingly, Eatough's attempt at number seven will be captured on film for a full-length documentary to be released in 2007. Titled "24-Solo," the film is the creation of Jason Barry, who shot and produced 2004's "Off Road to Athens."
"It's been fine," said Eatough about the pressure. "I've been doing easy rides and just getting the body ready. I try to keep my mind off of the pain of the race, but I know it's going to hurt and it's daunting if I dwell on that. I just focus on logistics, packing and preparing."
In the admittedly small subculture of solo 24-hour mountain-bike racing, Eatough is a rock star. His first world title came in 2000, which was also his first attempt at a solo 24-hour mountain-bike race. He has since dominated the discipline, easily beating some of the biggest names in the sport, including Tinker Juarez, John Stamsted and Rishi Grewal.
In 2003, Eatough's primary challenge came from the rain and mud in Whistler, British Columbia. Back to Whistler last year, Eatough again fought through the rain to fend off a challenge from Ernesto Marenchin, who finished 30 minutes in arrears. Eatough's narrowest margin of victory was in 2001, when he beat James Dover by a scant 10-minute margin in the 104-degree heat of Idyllwild, California.
"He finds a way every year to win, even in the bad conditions," said race founder Stuart Dorland.
Along the way, Eatough has all but written the book on the proper preparation for and winning 24-hour mountain bike races. Eatough stresses organization and meticulous planning, not to mention setting an early fast tempo. He also believes in limiting his 24-hour efforts to two a year.
"I read a lot of articles on Chris when I was first getting into racing," said Marenchin, who will again challenge Eatough this year. "I basically tried to mimic him and what he does. I organized my food in small [Dixie] cups like Chris. It even came as far as using the same lights and bike setup he was using. I don't have the manpower that he has, but I have a mechanic, and along the way you develop your own way to organize and do things."
Reigning U.S. champion Cameron Chambers is one of the few to have beaten Eatough at his specialty.
But Eatough's record also adds to the already considerable pressure to win. Eatough knows he is far from invincible. At last year's 24-hour national championships in Spokane, Washington, Eatough, racked by diarrhea and vomiting, eventually conceded his national title to Cameron Chambers.
"There is an incredible amount of pressure on Chris to win every year, and each year it's even more important that he wins," said Barry, who has filmed Eatough throughout the 2006 season. "It's his performance at this race that defines him. Now he's got a baby on the way and with the lack of money in mountain-bike racing right now, this is what keeps him going."
If Eatough does lose, the victory could likely go to Marenchin, Chambers, veteran Mark Hendershot or Australian marathon champion Craig Gordon.
"Gordon is one to watch," Eatough said. "He used to race the World Cup and NORBA races so he's got good speed."
Win or lose, Eatough is hell-bent on keeping his focus on 24-hour racing. While he also competes in 100-mile endurance mountain-bike races and the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series marathon cross-country races, Eatough wants to maintain his 24-hour focus.
"I don't plan on stopping any time soon, I love being able to ride my bike for a living and it's what's paying the bills," he said. "I want to keep going as long as my body will let me."
Haywood Trying for First World Title
Eatough will be joined by Trek-Volkswagen teammate Susan Haywood in Conyers, as the West Virginia native tries to earn her first world title. Haywood said she chose to do the race because it is just a day away from her 35th birthday on October 9.
U.S. short-track champ, Susan Haywood is giving a new discipline a try... on a really long track.
Haywood, the reigning U.S. national short-track champion, is better known for her exploits as a cross-country racer on the NMBS and World Cup circuits. Haywood has some experience as a 24-hour solo competitor - she won the women's solo category at the 24-hours of Moab in 1999 and 2000.
"Well, I think it took that long for the memories of the pain to fade, so I'm going to try another one," Haywood said. "I remember it being really hard from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m. because your body temperature starts to drop. I actually got bored at the monotony of riding around the same lap. And my body felt like I had been hit with a jackhammer."
In preparation for the race, Haywood raced the Shenandoah Mountain 100 epic mountain-bike race, which she won on September 3. Haywood also picked Eatough's brain for useful strategies.
"Chris told me some really cool ways to eat and get food, and how much food you really need to keep going," Haywood said. "He puts regular food in little Dixie cups that he puts in his jersey pocket and he can either shoot it or munch on it. I think the key for me is to not go overboard at the start and just have a good pace."
Haywood will face off against 24-hour specialist Louise Kobin, Australian 24-hour champ Katrin van der Spiegel, and adventure racer Rebecca Rusch, the reigning U.S. 24-hour solo champ.
Haywood's toughest challenge will likely come from marathon specialist Monique Sawicki, who finished second at last year's 24-hour worlds despite suffering several mechanical calamities. Sawicki missed much of the 2006 racing season after suffering a nasty crash at the June 17 marathon World Cup in Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec. But Sawicki bounced back at the August 26 Endurance 100 in Park City, Utah, where she set a new course record by nearly two hours.
"I'm excited to have Sue out here racing with us, but I can't really judge how she'll do," Sawicki said. "She's such a strong rider but 24-hour racing is really a whole other world. You have to deal with nutrition and exhaustion and other things that you don't have to deal with in a two-hour effort."
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2006 24-Hours of Adrenaline Solo World Championships
Conyers, Georgia - October 7-8, 2006
Kyle, I am stoked to hear Dragon's Back is back and followed up by MMM!
See you in April!
Our 1997 Virginia Champion will get #7 next year I'd bet! Way to go neighbor Haywood. World Champions are always nice to have gracing our little events...
Gordon, Haywood take 24-hour world titles
Eatough takes second as Aussie sets strong pace
By Roy M. Wallack
This report filed October 8, 2006
Chris Eatough's attempt to secure his seventh straight victory at the 24 Hours of Adrenalin Solo World Championships ran into an impassable roadblock Sunday morning - Australian Craig Gordon. Gordon, a 34-year-old former World Cup cross-country rider, hails from Sydney, Australia.
Haywood takes the title
photo: Zapata Espinoza
After riding wheel-to-wheel at a blistering pace, Eatough and Gordon lapped the field after only eight hours. But as night fell, Gordon (Cannondale) gradually rode away into the dark, adding two minutes, three minutes, five minutes, and once even ten minutes per lap over the 31-year old Eatough (Trek-Volkswagen).
With the Eatough eventually slowed by an upset stomach and blurred vision in one eye, Gordon upped his pace, maintaining 44- to 47-minute laps on the relentlessly bumpy eight-mile loop, site of the inaugural Olympic cross-country race in 1996.
Gordon also managed to outmatch Eatough in the team pit areas - the Aussie would often times run his bike through the pit areas as his mechanics lubed his chain and handed him water bottles. When dawn broke on Sunday, September 8, Eatough was a full lap-and-a half down on Gordon.
Gordon said he began planning for the 2006 world championships after last the Mont 24-hour race Down Under in September 2005.
Gordon took the world title with 30 laps in a time of 23:04, while Eatough racked up 29 laps in 23:24, nearly an hour up on third-placer Brandon Draugelis (28 laps). Solo Worlds vets Mark Hendersot and Ernie Marenchin followed with 28 and 27 laps, respectively.
"I did my best; I just got beat by a better man," Eatough said. "I promise I'll be back next year with a better plan."
Gordon's efforts all-but emptied the Aussie of his strength. He required assistance to dismount his bike at the finish line, and was carried away by emergency medical personnel and ultimately taken to a nearby hospital for a dose of fluids and electrolytes. The hospital visit caused Gordon to miss the awards ceremony.
After the race, Gordon's crew chief said the Aussie would not be back to defend his title next year, given the distance and expense.
Eatough's attempt at his seventh world title was caught on film by Jason Barry, producer of the 2005 film "Off Road to Athens." The film will debut at the 2007 Sea Otter Classic in April.
Haywood scores
Haywood, the 35-year-old cross-country star gave the Trek team something to cheer about, and staved off a challenge from famed adventure racer Rebecca Rusch (Specialized-Red Bull) to win the women's title. Rusch, a 38-year-old rookie in her first year of competitive cycling, won the U.S. 24-hour solo championships in August.
Haywood put time on Rusch throughout the night laps, finishing with 26 laps (208 miles) in a time of 23:20. Rusch racked up 25 laps (200 miles) in 23:31. Perennial Adrenalin podium finisher Louise Kobin steadily moved up after suffering two flats and finished third with 25 laps in 24: 48
After earning her first world championship, Haywood expressed no interest in coming back to defend her new title. Haywood, who turned 35 the day after the race, said she will only attempt a 24-hour race once every five years on her birthday. Her last 24-race was in 2001 at Utah's 24-hours of Moab.
24-Hour of Adrenaline Solo World Championships, October 7-8
Conyers, Georgia
Men
1. Craig Gordon (Aus), 30 laps
2. Chris Eatough (USA), 29
3. Brandon Draugelis (USA), 28
4. Mark Hendershot (USA), 28
5. Ernesto Marenchin (USA), 27
Women
1. Susan Haywood (USA), 26 laps
2. Rebecca Rusch (USA), 25
3. Louise Kobin (USA), 25
4. Katrin Van der Spiegel (Aus), 24
5. Monique Sawicki (USA), 22
welcome back kyle. Over the past 13 the Dragon has chewed me up and spit me out. Looking forward to it.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Man, stuff is rolling now!
The newly re-described The Virginia Series has been awarded the newly created (from the ashes of NORBA) USAC-MTB sanctioning body’s first USAC-MTB official state championship. Not only is Dragon’s Back back in black in its familiar Daytonesque position as the series’ kick-off, it’s now got credentials. Isn’t that a kick!
And spring’s the thing. What could be finer than 3 killer races over 8 weeks time to get the body in fine form early? What could be finer than Dragon’s Back, Middle Mountain Momma, and Hoo-Ha! to get your adventure-hungry-cosmic-mountain-bike-mentality straight right off the bat?
For those who’ve been there, I think you might be coincidentally grinning like a geezer while simultaneously thinking in terms of getting up right now and jumping full force into your 2007 riding program. It’s on, gentle mountain bike folk, it’s on…
It takes riders for events to happen.
Dragons Back is a great physical & mental test for all riders. A really unique venue.
Point to Point racing at its finest!
2007 Original Virginia Point Series
has arived. A chance to qualify for the National Championship at every race.
USAC annual license required for Pro/Expert classes only. All other events are able to race under the one day license.
Paperwork is the only requirement for XXC.
kyle....
updates...
we need updates...
-zilla
The 2007 edition of Dragons Back was amazing. Kyle and company put on an outstanding event. The course was well marked, with just the right mix of everything that makes Mountain Biking great. We even got a little bit of sunshine sometime shortly after noon on Sunday.
This blog idea is great but we haven't seen any new content in a while.
Also, why are the three huge updates included as comments instead of new posts? Those would be great stand-alone posts.
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I can't miss this great race, every year I participated in one of this kind of race, but now after my accident doctors forbid me ride for a while I recovery, so this class of races is make me so happy.
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