The Lutsen 99er registration for 2017 is maxed out with 1,800 riders, topping the previous high of 1,700 competitors entered in 2016.
“This is our biggest year yet,” said Kjersti Vick, marketing manager for Visit Cook County, who is one of the largest sponsors of the event.
Racers will line up at the starting line(s) on Saturday, June 24 at Lutsen Mountains.
The long course bikers will traverse is scenic but rugged. Now in its seventh year, the Lutsen 99er has become a favorite stop for top competitors, occasional riders, and families who love biking because there are events for everyone.
For the second year in a row, there will be a 69-mile race. That event fit snugly in with the shorter 19-mile and 39-mile events and the kid’s races. The longer, 99-mile race can be used as a qualifier for the notorious Leadville Trail 100 MTB (mountain bike race) in Colorado this August.
For an event to grow from 80 to 1,700 participants in six years is phenomenal, especially when it is located far from a major center of population. 99er Race Director Peter Spencer attributes the event’s incredible popularity to the welcoming spirit of the area, family friendly atmosphere, and an increasing appreciation for the fundamental challenges and beauty of the North Shore.
The 99er started in 2011 with less than 100 participants. By 2013, there were 800 riders, with competitors coming from more than 20 states. Last year it grew again, this time to more than 1,700 riders.
The growth can also be attributed in part to Visit Cook County, the destinations marketing arm of the Northeast corner of Minnesota.
“Visit Cook County has been a major sponsor of the Lutsen 99er since its inception,” says Linda Jurek, executive director of Visit Cook County. “Biking events continue to grow as an important driver of tourism in Cook County.”
Blueprint for Athletes, a company that provides diagnostics for athletes and Batteries Plus are two major sponsors.
For more information about the race, contact Visit Cook County at (218) 387-2788.
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