KETCHUM, Idaho (August 31, 2023) — Winners Sarah Max (Women), Griffin Easter (Men), Sam Hansen (Non-binary), Hannah Raymond (Women Para Cyclist), and Thiago Costa (Men Para Cyclist highlight an epic first day of racing on RPI’s new course.
Starting and finishing at a new location this year, the first stage of the QSR began at the Baker Creek parking lot and featured 35 miles of grueling single track and chunky gravel, testing the bravery of all Queen’s Stage Race brave participants.
With a new start and finish location and new trails, Stage 1 is entirely different from years’ past. This means that every winner set a new course record today. Every race category featured exciting and competitive races that came down to the final stretch up the Harriman Trail before the winners were crowned. Today’s victors included:
Women: Sarah Max
Men: Griffin Easter
Non-Binary: Sam Hansen
Women Para Cycling: Hannah Raymond
Men Para Cycling: Thiago Costa
“The lengthy and challenging singletrack segments of today’s new course pushed every rider to go farther than they thought they could,” offered race founder Rebecca Rusch, “I loved seeing everyone smiling because it was fun, but also gritting their teeth because it was really hard. Seeing everyone’s joy on the bike while ringing in the 11th year of this event was a special highlight for me and brought to life our mission of people, purpose, and place.”
The celebrated event features both a four-day stage race (three of four stages of the Queen’s Stage Race are timed) and a single-day, multi-distance race. To build on the inclusion momentum of past years, the Non-Binary and Para Cycling categories are back and thriving. Recognizing these new categories aligns with RPI’s vision of creating a cycling event that welcomes anyone who wants to experience riding in the beautiful Wood River Valley area.
Today’s Stage 1 of the QSR was the first day of the four-day event. Today’s stage winners, along with the entire QSR field, will ride Stage 2 at Dollarhide Summit tomorrow, Friday 9/1. This stage includes a 20-mile neutral roll-out with a 4.5-mile time trial up a 3,000’ gravel climb that will test every participants’ limits.
RPI benefits the Be Good™ Foundation, which was founded by Rebecca Rusch in 2017. The Foundation uses the bicycle as a catalyst for healing, empowerment, and evolution, and each year supports a select group of nonprofits that are advancing the Foundation’s mission. This year’s beneficiaries include World Bicycle Relief, Mines Advisory Group and the Be Good Scholarship, which sponsored six incredible riders this year.
