Above: Don’t let his age fool you, at age 62, John Alt, the top finisher in the 50-mile race, is still a talented athlete.
Mostly clear cool skies and a light breeze greeted participants in the second annual gravel grinding Le Grand du Nord 50-mile and 100-mile bike races held last Saturday, May 27.
In short, the weather was perfect for a bike race.
Ian Hoogenson, age 33, won the 100-mile race in 5:14:10. Shanie Joynes, Grand Marais/ Duluth, placed 19th overall and was the first female across the line in 6:25:01. Jim Joynes, age 52, Grand Marais/Duluth, Shanie’s husband, was the top local finisher in 10th place with a time of 5:38:22.
Other local finishers in the 100-mile race include Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux, age 34, who finished in 25th place with a time of 6:27:13; Dave Liechty, age 34, placed 30th in 6:33:15; Tom Wahlstrom, age 36, finished 42nd in 7:09:12; Adam Harju, age 41, placed 43rd in 7:09:17; Mike Larson, age 59, placed 52nd in 7:22:09.
50-mile Results
Keith Ailey, age 42, and Todd McFadden, 53, were both given the same 3:04:22 time in the 50-mil race, but Ailey was given the win by a whisker.
Diana McFadden, age 47, placed 7th overall and first for women, crossing the line in 3:15:02.
John Alt, age 62, was the top local finisher in 13th place with a time of 3:28:30.
Other local finishers include Tim Lederle, age 55, 30th place, 3:52:26; Scott Bergstrom, age 60, 36th place, 4:04:35; Owen Cruikshank, age 21, 41st place, 4:08:49; Jonathan Rova, age 44, finished 42nd in 4:09:16; Lynne Wiitala, age 56, placed 45th in 4:10:14; April Wahlstrom, age 34, was 55th in 4:11:55; Henry DeArruda-Weaver, age 13, placed 61st in 4:19:27; Tim McGrath, age 60, placed 62nd in 4:20:06; Joyce Klees, age 59, placed 63rd in 4:20:25; Kelly Twiest, age 46, finished 66th in 4:21:12; John Twiest, husband of Kelly, age 50, placed 67th in 4:21:20; Lee Bergstrom, age 56, placed 72nd in 4:22:32; Max Wahlers, age 55, placed 78th in 4:31:06; Kathryn Ramberg, age 48, placed 79th in 4:31:07; Cory Pederson, age 35, placed 87th in 4:40:26; Steve Surbaugh, age 45, placed 92nd in 4:48:37; Mark Abrahamson, age 62, placed 94th in 4:52:55; Braidy Powers, age 62, placed 101st in 5:00:37; Tim Kennedy, age 67, placed 102nd in 5:01:23; Jeff Cadwell, age 50, placed 103rd in 5:06:20.
Top Left: Wearing dark sunglasses and sporting a beard, Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux leads a large group of riders in the Le Grand du Nord 100-mile gravel-grinding bike race. Above left: Jonathan Rova rides just ahead of April Wahlstrom (left) in the 50-mile race. Above right: Lee Bergstrom flashes a smile as she pedals for a distant finish line.
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