After making the 1,000-foot vertical climb, racers in the Sawtooth Challenge pedaled on through the heat on the Pincushion Mountain trails on Saturday, August 28. Derek Wallen of Apple Valley, MN (left) nears the finish line. Wallen came in second in the 16-mile race. Just ahead of him is Curtis Patak of Minneapolis, MN, who completed the 24-mile race.
A lot of people, hearing that there was a 1,000-foot vertical climb on the trail, would look for another route. Not the participants in the 2010 Sawtooth Challenge Bike Race. These mountain bikers relish the strenuous climb up Sawtooth Mountain ridge, taking on the eight-,16-,or 24-mile run with gusto.
The energetic crowd of bicyclists gathered on Broadway in downtown Grand Marais, enjoying the cool breeze off Lake Superior before the race start. As friends, family, and fans cheered them on, nearly 50 riders took on the Sawtooth Challenge.
Finishing first in the eight-mile race was Sebastian Schnobrich of Grand Marais, who set a pace of 5:48 mph and finished with a net time of 0:53:57.9.
The first-place female finisher in the eight-mile was Katie Brobeck of Hugo, MN whose net time was 1.10.51.3.
Matt Lapointe of Thunder Bay, ONT was the first male biker across the Pincushion finish line in 1:41:21.4 with a steady pace of The first place woman finisher in the 16-mile was Marilyn Ailey of Thunder Bay, ONT. Ailey finished in 1:50:33.1.
Finishing first in the eight-mile race was local biker Sebastian Schnobrich.
Muscling through the heat was Matt Zak of Eveleth, MN, who finished the full 24-mile race with a time of 2:12:11.3 and a pace of 6:72 mph.
All the finishers had the satisfaction of taking on the unique terrain of the Sawtooth Challenge.
The first woman finishing the eight-mile Sawtooth Challenge was Katie Brobeck of Hugo, MN.
Matt Lapointe of Thunder Bay, ONT, was the first man across the finish line in the 16-mile challenge.
All smiles, Marilyn Ailey of Thunder Bay, ONT, was the first woman crossing the finish line in the women’s 16-mile race.
Claiming first place in the grueling 24-mile Sawtooth Challenge was Matt Zak of Eveleth, MN, who finished with an impressive time of 2:12:11.3.
Leave a Reply