By Nate Gibby –
Heber City, Utah (June 2, 2018)—On a perfect morning with the late spring foliage blanketing Heber Valley and the majestic Mt. Timpanogos looking on, Alex Grant (Cannondale/Gear Rush) and Caedran Harvey (Fitzgerald’s Bicycling) powered through more than 40 miles and 3,500’ of gain for comfortable victories in the elite men’s and elite women’s categories respectively of the 2018 Wasatch 50 MTB race.
With more than 150 riders up for the challenge of the Intermountain Cup’s lone endurance race in its MTB race series, the course featured a 21-mile loop with more than 1,700’ of elevation gain per lap.
In the elite men’s category, a pack of riders competed throughout the first lap, with less than 25 seconds separating the top three. However, on the second lap, Grant created separation from Drew Free (KUHL/ Pivot Cycles/ Go-Ride) and Sam Sweetser to cruise to the win by almost six minutes.
On the elite women’s side Harvey, in only her second season of competitive MTB racing was able to create separation on the first climb and continued adding from there. With a plus three-minute lead after the first lap, she added to her lead for the second and final lap, beating out K.C. Holley (Kuhl Cycling) and Ami Stuart by more than eight minutes.
“I went off the line pretty fast and there was no one with me,” said Harvey. “That [first] climb suited me and I knew that that climb suited me, so that if I could make a dent in, like, a lead, it would be good for the second lap and for the decent. I had never ridden the course before, so I took the descent pretty conservatively and to make as much time.”
Full race results can be found at http://wasatch50.com.
The Intermountain Cup returns to the X-country format with its next race at North Fork, near Liberty, Utah on July 7. The course features an amazing mountain backdrop on a seven-mile course with nearly 1,300’ of gain per lap. More information about the North Fork race and any other upcoming races is available at http://intermountaincup.com.
About the Intermountain Cup Mountain Bike Racing Series
Founded in 1991, the Intermountain Cup consists of X-country and endurance MTB races throughout Utah. With six X-country races of approximately 25 miles and one endurance race of approximately 50 miles, the series covers some of the most pristine and difficult rides in the state. With categories for kids and youth to the highly competitive elite segments, Intermountain Cup offers a competitive MTB race for every level of rider.
For more information about the Intermountain Cup, visit: www.intermountaincup.com
