And they are off! Racers in the Lutsen 99er got to start by coasting downhill for a about a mile before they quickly found rain slicked muddy trails they navigated as they made their way back to the finish line. Some 1,800 riders took part in four different races on Saturday, June 24. On and off again rain made the race interesting for these mountain bike riders, who are used to such difficulties.
Despite the inclement weather, the winning times were once again very fast for the four mountain bike races held at this year’s Lutsen 99er.
Some 1,800 riders took part in the demanding mountain bike races over the hilly Lutsen Mountain terrain on Saturday, June 24.
Corey Stelljes of Madison, Wis. finished the 99-mile race in 5:36:01, averaging 17.68 miles per hour. Linda Jurek, executive director of Visit Cook County said, “Considering that the course gains and loses over 7,000 feet of vertical, that is an incredible pace to maintain!”
Larissa Connors was the top finisher in the 99er with a time of 6:23:47.
Top male and female finishers in the 69-mile race were Josh Molnar, Wayzata, Minnesota, 4:06:04 and Ronnie Wick, Iron River, Wisconsin, 5:02:25.
Paul Nelson of Cameron, Wisconsin placed first in the men’s 39-mile race with a time of 2:19:18. Madeline Aprin, Minneapolis, was first across the line for women with a time of 2:42:18.
Just before the 99er mountain bike racers left the line the announcer asked the riders to raise their hands if they had raced with or been teammates with the 2015 winner, Steve Tilford. Tilford, age 59, was killed on April 5, 2017 in Utah when the van he was driving struck an overturned semi that blocked the road. Tilford left his vehicle and was then struck by another semi, which killed him and the driver of that truck, which ran into the first overturned vehicle.
Justin Ratslaff of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota won the 19-mile event in 1:12:34. McKenzie Radloff, Duluth, placed first for women with a fast time of1:12:34.
Besides the 99er, participants got to pick from the 69er, 39er or 19-mile race to compete in.
Race Director Peter Spencer of LifeTime congratulated the athletes on their incredible performances in challenging weather conditions. “The course got pretty muddy,” said Spencer, “but most of the riders had a great race, and a very enjoyable time in one of the most beautiful parts of Minnesota.”
Now in its seventh year, the Lutsen 99er has grown from 80 riders to more than 1,800. Twenty-five major sponsors including Life Time Fitness and Visit Cook County, plus hundreds of dedicated volunteers, help to make this event one of the premier mountain bike races in the Midwest.
There were 568 finishers in the 99er race.
Local finishers in the 99er were: Tom Wahlstrom, Grand Marais, 96th place, 7:11:49; Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux, Grand Marais, placed 109th in 7:16:52; Chris O’Brien, Grand Marais, placed 397th in 9:34:18; Derek Rausch, Grand Marais, finished 430 place in 9:59:24.
Left: Always a smile on his face, Bill Lane rides for the finish line. Middle: Lynne Wiitala rode 19 miles through the rain and mud and finished in one hour, 23 minutes and some change. Right: Up and coming mountain bike racer Henry DeArruda- Weaver finished the 39-mile race in three hours and two minutes.
John Alt, Grand Marais, was the top local finisher in the 69-mile race in 25th place with a time of 5:16:34; Tim McGrath, Grand Marais, placed 71st in 6:00:36; Jana Larson, Lutsen, placed 74th in 6:03:18; Mike Larson (Jana’s husband) placed 75th in 6:03:19; Sam Hedstrom, Grand Marais, placed 90th in 6:08:37; April Wahlstrom, Grand Marais, finished in 105th place with a time of 6:15:44; Max Wahlers, Grand Marais, placed 55, 6:31:41; Katheryn Ramberg, placed 209th in 8:17:15; and Emily Breaker, Lutsen, placed 220th in 8:54:08.
The top area finisher in the 39-mile race was John Paxmaer, Grand Marais, who finished 9th in 2:30:36; Jennifer Barrett, Lutsen, placed 64th in 2:48:47; Casey Fitchett, Grand Marais, placed 111th in 2:59:29; Henry DeArruda- Weaver, Grand Marais, placed 126th in 3:02:07; Bill Lane, Tofte, placed 180th in 3:14:32; David Demmer, Grand Marais, placed 216 in 3:19:59; Reilly Wahlers, Grand Marais; placed 340th in 3:39:13; Lee Bergstrom, Grand Marais was 344th place in 3:39:52; Braidy Powers placed 346th in 3:40:02; John Mellang, Lutsen, finished in 359th place in 3:42:37; Jerry Wilkes was 376th in 3:45:51; PJ Vaughan, Lutsen was 449th place in 4:06:11; Tim Kennedy, Grand Marais, placed 455th in 4:407:26; Mike Boomer, Grand Portage, placed 483 in 4:18:31; Jeff Denniston, Lutsen, placed 488 in 4:21:22; Ryan Petz, Hovland, finished in 489 place with a time of 4:23:22; Kelly Summers, Grand Marais placed 495 in 4:25:08; David Eckel, Grand Marais, placed 553 with a time of 4:48:53; Molly Hicken, Lutsen, placed 548 in 5:06:14; Randy Wiitala, Tofte, finished 561 place in 5:31:06.
Cook County finishers in the 19-mile race were: Newood Gilk, Grand Marais, placed 9th in 1:16:07; Dellia Barrett, Lutsen, was 25 place in 1:23:55; Lynne Wiitala, Tofte, placed 30th in 1:24:28; Mason Beck, Grand Marais, placed 69th in 1:35:37; Martina Mellang, Lutsen, placed 95th in 1:44:03; Laura Vaughan, Lutsen, 96th place in 1:44:47; Sarah Frank, Lutsen, placed 100th in 1:45:13; Lucy Callender, Grand Marais, placed 117th in 1:48:21; Kim Schroeder, Lutsen, placed 137th in 1:53:43.
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