Easter holds off Zach Calton and Kyle Trudeau, while Chelsea Bolton lights up her home-town race over veteran climbers
SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah (August 27, 2022) — Chelsea Bolton (Stay Park City Cycling), improved upon her previous year’s third place to take her biggest win to date over climber Emma Grant and Lindsey Stevenson. Crystal Anthony finished just behind in fourth.
Bolton set a torrid early pace up the Wasatch Wall, which is a nearly 5000 ft behemoth of a climb that defines the opening miles of the 100 mile (Full Yeti) gravel race. The early gap proved crucial, as the remaining quartet of Grant, Stevenson, Anthony and Caroline Tory all traded places throughout the remaining 75 miles with Bolton clear off the front.
“It was awesome! I am a super fan of the Wasatch Wall … I’m a pretty slow descender so I figured if I had any chance at getting in the top 3, I’d have to go hard up that Wall,” said an effusive Bolton.
Behind her was a tight race for second as all 4 women entered the finishing circuit on the Soldier Hollow Olympic Ski Venue together. Grant, who finished runner-up at the climbing-friendly Crusher in the Tushar last month was able to dispatch her companions and hold on to second.
The men’s race came down to a three-way battle between Utah locals Griffin Easter (OpiCure Foundation p/b OrangeSeal Gravel Team), Zach Calton and Kyle Trudeau from Tucson.
While there was no separation from the podium placers during the almost 11,000ft of climbing in the first 95 miles of the men’s race, the finishing circuit proved crucial as all three entered together. Trudeau and Calton each launched the first attacks up the steep dirt pitches on the famed Olympic venue, but Easter was patient and able to power away with 2 miles to go, taking victory in a time of 5:51:10 with Calton 40 seconds back. Trudeau hung tough for the final podium spot.
“Awesome day out there! Super stoked to be back again for the second year in a row. They put on a fantastic race, it’s a brutal course but well worth it,” said Griffin post-race.
Pro/Open Women — Full Yeti |
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| Position | Rider Name (Team) | Time |
| 1 | Chelsea Bolton (Stay Park City Cycling) | 06:50:02 |
| 2 | Emma Grant (ABUS Pro Gravel) | 00:03:24 |
| 3 | Lindsey Stevenson | 00:03:55 |
| 4 | Crystal Anthony (Liv Racing Collective) | 00:03:55 |
| 5 | Caroline Tory | 00:04:54 |
| 6 | Sarah Jarvis (Multisport Mastery) | 00:39:28 |
| 7 | Jessie Young | 00:52:48 |
| 8 | Amelia Durst | 01:48:28 |
| 9 | Ashley Buxton | 02:03:32 |
| DNF | Libby Caldwell (Scott Bikes) | |
Pro/Open Men — Full Yeti |
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| Position | Rider Name (Team) | Time |
| 1 | Griffin Easter (OpiCure Foundation p/b OrangeSeal Gravel) | 05:51:10 |
| 2 | Zach Calton (CaltonCoaching) | 00:00:40 |
| 3 | Kyle Trudeau (Czracing) | 00:01:06 |
| 4 | Truman Glasgow | 00:07:10 |
| 5 | Nathan Spratt (ABUS Pro Gravel Team) | 00:08:56 |
| 6 | Ryan Standish (Orange Seal/Kenda/Ventum) | 00:20:42 |
| 7 | Canyon Emmott (Elbowz Racing) | 00:20:42 |
| 8 | Stefano Barberi (Kenda/TheBlackBibs/Kask) | 00:26:16 |
| 9 | Marc Spratt (ABUS Pro Gravel Team) | 00:26:37 |
| 10 | John Borstelmann (ABUS Pro Gravel) | 00:31:21 |
