By Cimarron Chacon
There was a loud bang and bright colors lit up the dark skies over the Spicer Ranch this past 4-20. The crowd of racers, riders, and family cheered as the opening ceremony – a 15-minute fireworks show – kicked off the 3rd Annual Tinker Classic Off-Road Cycling festival. The festival includes a tough 70-mile off-road race, a 40 mile gravel grinder, all in a 3-day festival atmosphere with vendors, demo bikes, and homemade ranch food and beer.
The Classic 100 K (70 mile) race consists of 2 loops that transition in the town of Beatty. The lead pack of 5 came in within seconds of each other after lap one, led by John Nobil (Bear Valley Bikes) and Josh Onarhiem (IBB Cyclery), with Tinker (Cannondale) and Samuel Brehm (BVB), and Stewart Gonzales (BVB) coming in a minute behind together to rounding out the lead pack. But Tinker is known for holding back in a long race and making his move at the end. This was exactly what he did, passing Samuel Brehm just before Feed 5, and giving himself a minute and a half lead by the finish. This was the second year that Samuel has chased Tinkers wheel only to miss the win. Stuart finished 3rd, with John and Josh taking the final 2 podium spots. The only female to race this year was Amanda Felder, also Team Bear Valley Bikes, had a respectable showing, taking 11th over-all.
It is expected that 2020 will be the year that Samuel will finally take the top spot at the Classic 100K as Tinker no longer plan to race in his namesake event. Instead he will share his time with all by shaking hands and dishing out high-5’s at the finish-line after leading the Gravel Grinder out. So make your plans to join the Tinker Classic 2020 in Beatty, Nevada on April 18th.
For more information, visit tinkerclassic.com
Tinker Classic, Beatty, NV, April 19-21, 2019
Place, Name, Team, Time
Open Men
- David Juarez, Cannondale 4:41:26
- Samuel Brehm, Bear Valley Bikes/Honey Stinger 4:42:58
- Stuart Gonzalez, Bear Valley Bikes/Honey Stinger 4:49:24
- John Nobil Bear Valley Bikes/Honey Stinger 5:02:34
- Josh Onarheim, IBB Cyclery 5:18:38
- GREG GIBSON, TruckerCo Rockstar Energy 5:20:55
- Steve Antill, CTS 5:44:18
- James Cope, The Countertop Shop 6:04:09
Open Women
- Amanda Felder, Bear Valley Bikes 6:08:04
Master Men
- Larry Pritchard, 5:32:37
- David Montague, 6:33:50
- Brandon Smith, 6:36:14
- Jordan Smith, 7:03:07
Men 30-49
- Mike Moore, 5:49:38
