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Moab Rocks 2025: Nash and Kabush Victorious in the Desert

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Moab Rocks 2025: Nash and Kabush Victorious in the Desert

Desert Dreams and Dusty Trails: Moab Rocks 2025 Delivers an Unforgettable Mountain Biking Weekend

MOAB, Utah — The 2025 edition of Moab Rocks (April 5–7), once again proved why this 3-day mountain bike stage race is one of the crown jewels of early-season North American racing. With its stunning desert backdrops, iconic singletrack, and an energetic and supportive riding community, the event delivered a perfect blend of competition and camaraderie in the mountain biking mecca of Moab, Utah.

Over 300 riders from across the U.S., Canada, and beyond descended upon the red rock capital to tackle three unforgettable stages: Porcupine Rim, Bar M & Klonzo, and Mag 7—each offering its own unique flavor of fast flow, technical descents, and endless views.

Stage 1: Porcupine Rim – A Classic Kickoff

The race launched on Saturday with one of Moab’s most famous trails: Porcupine Rim. Riders were greeted with crisp morning temps and a burst of adrenaline as they dropped into chunky terrain with high-speed exposure and jaw-dropping vistas of Castle Valley.

Despite a chilly and windy start, the weather held off, and riders tackled 27.5 miles and 3,300 ft of vertical. In the Open/Pro Women’s field, cycling legend Katerina Nash made a statement with a commanding win, while Canadian ripper Carter Nieuwesteeg led the Open/Pro Men, narrowly edging out the competition.

Top 3 Open/Pro Women:
    1. Katerina Nash – 2:07:28.0
    2. Maghalie Rochette – 2:12:38.6
    3. Amy Chandos – 2:16:27.2
Top 3 Open/Pro Men:
    1. Carter Nieuwesteeg – 1:49:35.1
    2. Cody Cupp – 1:49:38.6
    3. Geoff Kabush – 1:49:39.4

Stage 2: Bar M & Klonzo – Tech, Flow, and Sunshine

Sunday’s stage brought blue skies, great vibes, and a fast-paced 28.5-mile course combining the best of the Bar M and Klonzo networks. Riders hit everything from slickrock slabs and techy punches to buttery descents.

Geoff Kabush—a legend in the MTB world—put in a powerhouse performance in the Men’s field, while Nash once again topped the Women’s leaderboard, solidifying her GC lead. The post-race scene back at ChillVille was filled with high-fives, snacks, and stories from the trail.

Top 3 Open/Pro Women – Stage 2:
    1. Katerina Nash (2:25:17)
    2. Maghalie Rochette (2:28:55)
    3. Kait Boyle (2:34:41)

Top 3 Open/Pro Men – Stage 2:

    1. Geoff Kabush (2:03:15)
    2. Cody Cupp (2:03:38)
    3. Carter Nieuwesteeg (2:03:38)

Stage 3: Mag 7 – Send It Home in Style

The race wrapped up on Monday with the iconic Mag 7 trails—famous for their rowdy terrain, chunky rock gardens, and unforgettable views. The course featured over 2,900 ft of climbing across 29.5 miles and tested riders’ endurance and skills on the final push for glory.

In a late-stage surge, Quinton Disera stormed to a win in the Men’s race, while Maghalie Rochette lit up the Women’s field. But in the end, it was Kabush and Nash who took the overall titles, both showcasing consistent dominance across all three days of racing.

Stage 3 Open/Pro Women:
    1. Maghalie Rochette – 2:30:42
    2. Katerina Nash – 2:30:43
    3. Kait Boyle – 2:39:50
Stage 3 Open/Pro Men:
    1. Quinton Disera – 2:04:36
    2. Carter Nieuwesteeg – 2:05:02
    3. Geoff Kabush – 2:05:05

Overall GC Open/Pro Women:

    1. Katerina Nash – 7:03:29
    2. Maghalie Rochette – 7:12:16
    3. Kait Boyle – 7:31:01

Overall GC Open/Pro Men:

    1. Geoff Kabush – 5:58:00
    2. Carter Nieuwesteeg – 5:58:16
    3. Cody Cupp – 5:59:26
Action in the 2025 Moab Rocks MTB race, including eventual men’s overall winner Geoff Kabush (#16) . Photo Brendan Ladd, courtesy Transrockies
Katerina Nash, overall winner, in action in the 2025 Moab Rocks MTB race. Photo Brendan Ladd, courtesy Transrockies
Action in the 2025 Moab Rocks MTB race. Photo Brendan Ladd, courtesy Transrockies
Action in the 2025 Moab Rocks MTB race. Photo Brendan Ladd, courtesy Transrockies
Action in the 2025 Moab Rocks MTB race. Photo Brendan Ladd, courtesy Transrockies
Action in the 2025 Moab Rocks MTB race. Photo Brendan Ladd, courtesy Transrockies

2025 Moab Rocks Overall and Stage Results:

  rank time status firstname lastname Racer # Category Age Team Name/Sponsers Stage 3: GC Results by Category                
All Racers                     Stage 1 (rank) Stage 2 (rank) Stage 3 (rank) Total (rank)
  1 58:00.7   Geoff Kabush 16 Open/Pro Men 47 Yeti Cycles – Maxxis – Shimano – Fox 1 49:39.4 3 03:15.4 1 05:05.9 3 58:00.7 1
  2 58:16.3   Carter Nieuwesteeg 17 Open/Pro Men 28 IBIS – SHIMANO – 7MESH 2 49:35.1 1 03:38.5 3 05:02.6 2 58:16.3 2
  3 59:26.4   Cody Cupp 12 Open/Pro Men 30 GoodLife // Ari Bikes 3 49:38.6 2 03:38.5 2 06:09.3 4 59:26.4 3
  4 13:19.0   Stephan Davoust 28 Open/Pro Men 30 Buck Wild Coffee 4 51:22.8 5 08:17.0 5 13:39.0 5 13:19.0 4
  5 18:12.0   Toby Hassett 328 Open/Pro Men 21   5 55:34.1 7 07:34.7 4 15:03.1 6 18:12.0 5
  6 18:49.2   Brian Elander 29 Open/Pro Men 23 Moab cyclery 6 52:32.0 6 08:57.9 6 17:19.2 7 18:49.2 6
  7 22:33.4   Quinton Disera 13 Open/Pro Men 26 p/b Schwalbe, Shimano, Nobl Wheels, Factor Bikes 7 51:22.2 4 26:34.6 29 04:36.4 1 22:33.4 7
  8 36:23.7   Joseph Kerr 514 20-29 Men 22 Montana State University Cycling 1 59:16.5 8 17:59.1 11 19:08.0 8 36:23.7 8
  9 37:39.0   Maddox Johnson 505 Under 20 Men 17 A2A 1 00:20.6 9 17:01.6 8 20:16.6 9 37:39.0 9
  10 39:15.0   Russell Thiessen 306 30-39 Men 35 Flowstate Racing 1 00:32.0 11 16:36.0 7 22:06.9 14 39:15.0 10
  11 41:19.6   Nick Gould 312 40-49 Men 46 2nd Ave Sports- Mondraker Bikes – DIMO 1 00:35.7 12 18:48.6 15 21:55.2 13 41:19.6 11
  12 42:26.1   Trace Wallin 21 Open/Pro Men 21 WHITE PINE ATHLETIC 8 01:38.4 14 17:12.1 9 23:35.5 18 42:26.1 12
  13 43:05.1   Randall Adams 11 Open/Pro Men 40 Rad Dads 9 03:07.3 16 18:46.9 14 21:10.8 12 43:05.1 13
  14 44:06.5   Piotr Siarka 59 30-39 Men 35 Deadgoat MF Racing 2 03:16.6 20 18:03.7 13 22:46.0 16 44:06.5 14
  15 44:28.8   Jack Fanselow 513 20-29 Men 21 Western Colorado University 2 03:14.7 18 18:00.7 12 23:13.2 17 44:28.8 15
  16 44:35.1   Michael West 323 50-59 Men 50 Yeti/Shimano 1 01:34.8 13 22:05.7 19 20:54.4 10 44:35.1 16
  17 47:52.1   Edan Coin 301 Under 20 Men 17 Black Hills Bicycles 2 03:52.4 22 23:03.8 21 20:55.7 11 47:52.1 17
  18 49:09.9   Brian Smith 19 Open/Pro Men 49 Aim High Performance coaching 10 08:57.0 30 17:54.0 10 22:18.8 15 49:09.9 18
  19 51:47.1   Cody Connor 500 Under 20 Men 19 Western Colorado University 3 04:12.5 23 21:11.5 17 26:22.9 19 51:47.1 19
  20 52:20.2   Will Fenwick 43 30-39 Men 34 Primal Audi Denver 3 03:08.3 17 21:47.7 18 27:24.2 20 52:20.2 20
  21 54:10.6   Luuk Mackenzie 31 20-29 Men 24 Frontiers Racing 3 03:17.3 21 23:11.7 22 27:41.4 21 54:10.6 21
  22 57:56.3   Chris Albanese 77 40-49 Men 43   2 06:53.1 24 23:17.6 23 27:45.4 22 57:56.3 22
  23 59:58.3   Tyler Porter 18 Open/Pro Men 35 Porter² 11 03:15.4 19 25:35.7 27 31:07.0 27 59:58.3 23
  24 02:42.0   Alex Petitedemange 127 40-49 Men 44   3 10:18.2 33 22:45.8 20 29:37.9 24 02:42.0 24
  25 03:29.0   Katerina Nash 1 Open/Pro Women 47 Clif Family Foundation 1 07:28.0 25 25:17.6 26 30:43.2 26 03:29.0 25
  26 03:46.8   Fabrice Crouzet 183 50-59 Men 56   2 07:49.2 26 24:47.0 24 31:10.5 28 03:46.8 26
  27 06:22.7   Wesley Sandoval 137 40-49 Men 47 Cycles of life,  First Endurance 4 11:20.4 34 25:50.2 28 29:12.0 23 06:22.7 27
  28 11:27.9   Tyler Vaughan 307 30-39 Men 36   4 14:14.0 41 25:08.2 25 32:05.6 29 11:27.9 28
  29 12:16.5   Maghalie Rochette 25 Open/Pro Women 31 SRAM/Transition 2 12:38.6 37 28:55.8 32 30:42.0 25 12:16.5 29
  30 12:39.2   Matt Young 153 40-49 Men 47 Team Roaring Mouse 5 08:51.2 29 28:22.8 31 35:25.2 36 12:39.2 30
  31 12:50.2   Connor Wilson 511 Under 20 Men 14 Maybird 4 09:02.9 31 30:46.6 34 33:00.6 31 12:50.2 31
  32 13:10.6   Nicholas Cenedella 30 20-29 Men 29 Conifer Bike Shop 4 12:40.4 38 26:50.5 30 33:39.6 32 13:10.6 32
  33 15:30.3   Troy Zimmerman 291 60+ Men 63 Zboy’s Racing 1 10:00.4 32 31:39.2 36 33:50.5 33 15:30.3 33
  34 23:59.8   Chad Miller 52 30-39 Men 38 Team Lava Panther 5 13:18.4 40 33:16.8 40 37:24.5 41 23:59.8 34
  35 24:32.8   Jay Parkhill 221 50-59 Men 55 Team Roaring Mouse 3 12:50.5 39 36:35.3 49 35:06.9 35 24:32.8 35
  36 25:17.5   Josh Gaube 44 30-39 Men 39   6 02:35.4 15 47:00.2 79 35:41.8 38 25:17.5 36
  37 25:54.0   Thomas Spannring 20 Open/Pro Men 48   12 14:21.8 42 30:32.7 33 40:59.4 51 25:54.0 37
  38 26:52.1   Victor Rodriguez 235 50-59 Men 53 No Ride Around 4 21:45.6 52 30:56.0 35 34:10.5 34 26:52.1 38
  39 27:35.8   Daniel Aragon 79 40-49 Men 43   6 15:28.5 44 36:32.2 48 35:35.0 37 27:35.8 39
  40 28:53.3   Rich Shall 138 40-49 Men 41 Conifer Bike Shop 7 16:22.2 45 33:52.8 41 38:38.2 43 28:53.3 40
  41 29:35.1   Chad Grice 47 30-39 Men 39 Fort Street Cycle 7 17:36.3 48 33:16.3 39 38:42.3 44 29:35.1 41
  42 31:01.4   Kait Boyle 2 Open/Pro Women 37 Industry Nine/Pivot Pro Backcountry Team 3 16:29.6 47 34:41.4 44 39:50.3 49 31:01.4 42
  43 33:26.0   Amy Chandos 23 Open/Pro Women 36   4 16:27.2 46 35:52.8 47 41:05.8 52 33:26.0 43
  44 35:40.9   Ben Steger 61 30-39 Men 33   8 18:23.2 50 39:49.1 50 37:28.6 42 35:40.9 44
  45 36:06.4   Mike Baughman 264 60+ Men 60 Tribe Devo 2 14:48.8 43 42:01.6 57 39:15.9 46 36:06.4 45
  46 38:18.6   Ty Porter 57 30-39 Men 34 Porter² 9 11:56.3 35 42:47.8 59 43:34.4 58 38:18.6 46
  47 41:42.0   Mike Rauch 230 50-59 Men 53 Cahilty Racing 5 24:43.2 62 34:58.5 45 42:00.2 54 41:42.0 47
  48 41:43.3   Britt Mason 7 Open/Pro Women 39 Salsa Cycles/The Black Bibs/Shimano 5 22:56.6 58 35:51.4 46 42:55.2 55 41:43.3 48
  49 44:27.3   Benjamin Luddy 314 40-49 Men 45   8 08:38.9 27 19:11.3 16 16:37.0 139 44:27.3 49
  50 45:16.3   Joel Dyck 302 Under 20 Men 18 Cyclemeisters 5 08:41.2 28 03:51.5 120 32:43.5 30 45:16.3 50
  51 46:39.0   Andy Lueck 113 40-49 Men 40 Breakfast Pie 9 25:03.3 65 41:40.1 54 39:55.4 50 46:39.0 51
  52 46:58.8   Clint Ellis 188 50-59 Men 51   6 33:16.8 88 34:10.2 43 39:31.7 47 46:58.8 52
  53 47:09.4   Greg Stevenson 241 50-59 Men 58   7 22:28.2 53 40:28.9 51 44:12.2 63 47:09.4 53
  54 47:33.1   Amanda Felder 4 Open/Pro Women 43   6 17:45.9 49 42:15.9 58 47:31.2 72 47:33.1 54
  55 50:10.6   Matt Brady 84 40-49 Men 41 Ascent Cycling 10 25:54.4 67 40:49.3 52 43:26.8 57 50:10.6 55
  56 51:13.4   Jamo Telford 508 Under 20 Men 14 BrainStoke 6 23:02.3 59 43:56.5 64 44:14.4 64 51:13.4 56
  57 51:27.4   Trevor Howard 313 40-49 Men 41 NOBL Wheels 11 27:27.9 70 44:19.5 66 39:39.9 48 51:27.4 57
  58 52:01.6   Keith Bushaw 267 60+ Men 61 RacerX/Colorado bike law 3 24:44.5 63 43:31.3 62 43:45.7 60 52:01.6 58
  59 52:14.4   Emma Maaranen 6 Open/Pro Women 48 Moxie Kinetics 7 27:15.2 69 41:42.5 55 43:16.5 56 52:14.4 59
  60 52:22.6   Simon Blythe 179 50-59 Men 51   8 22:50.8 57 41:38.1 53 47:53.6 75 52:22.6 60
  61 53:43.4   Ryan Morehouse 53 30-39 Men 38   10 24:14.7 60 43:59.1 65 45:29.4 69 53:43.4 61
  62 54:24.0   Ian Anderson 320 50-59 Men 51   9 45:04.4 112 32:21.5 38 36:58.0 39 54:24.0 62
  63 54:41.9   Kobe Nelms 33 20-29 Men 24 White Pine Athletics 5 22:42.4 54 45:46.5 73 46:12.8 70 54:41.9 63
  64 55:14.2   Renee Swischuk 10 Open/Pro Women 32 B-dog and Daisy 8 29:28.2 76 41:52.0 56 43:53.8 62 55:14.2 64
  65 57:28.8   Corin Mcdonald 214 50-59 Men 51   10 24:45.1 64 47:56.3 81 44:47.4 66 57:28.8 65
  66 58:20.6   Cooper Nelson 507 Under 20 Men 16   7 22:46.7 56 48:36.8 83 46:57.0 71 58:20.6 66
  67 00:25.2   Tristan Queen 128 40-49 Men 43   12 29:24.5 74 45:41.1 70 45:19.5 68 00:25.2 67
  68 01:56.0   Michael Woodbeck 152 40-49 Men 43   13 25:37.4 66 43:52.7 63 52:25.8 88 01:56.0 68
  69 02:26.7   Chris Lane 110 40-49 Men 41 Joe’s Bike Shop Racing Team 14 22:44.4 55 45:39.9 69 54:02.3 91 02:26.7 69
  70 03:14.4   Tom Telford 142 40-49 Men 47 BrainStoke 15 24:21.5 61 49:15.5 88 49:37.2 80 03:14.4 70
  71 03:58.7   Jason Stobbe 242 50-59 Men 53   11 28:12.9 71 44:57.4 67 50:48.3 83 03:58.7 71
  72 04:44.4   Jennifer Smith 9 Open/Pro Women 52 Aim High Performance coaching 9 30:14.5 78 43:27.1 60 51:02.7 85 04:44.4 72
  73 04:48.6   Ryan Taggart 141 40-49 Men 48 JRA Bike Garage 16 30:43.1 82 46:32.6 75 47:32.8 73 04:48.6 73
  74 07:02.5   Erin Kelly 5 Open/Pro Women 32   10 39:55.3 99 43:29.3 61 43:37.7 59 07:02.5 74
  75 07:17.1   Jeremy Ostrowski 124 40-49 Men 45 Conifer Bike Shop 17 30:44.7 83 47:57.3 82 48:34.9 78 07:17.1 75
  76 07:23.8   Jonathan Epperson 97 40-49 Men 40 GO4GRAHAM 18 30:41.1 81 46:44.8 77 49:57.8 82 07:23.8 76
  77 07:30.8   Eddy Reimer 232 50-59 Men 56 Phat Tire Race Team 12 34:10.6 92 45:47.3 74 47:32.8 74 07:30.8 77
  78 07:37.3   James Chalkley 300 Under 20 Men 14 Cyclemeisters / Specialized 8 36:11.4 96 47:33.5 80 43:52.3 61 07:37.3 78
  79 07:55.4   Chad Bratton 85 40-49 Men 47   19 29:03.2 73 46:40.9 76 52:11.2 86 07:55.4 79
  80 08:54.6   Andrew Kruse 108 40-49 Men 45 Racer X Cycling/ColoBikeLaw.com 20 28:38.2 72 45:36.8 68 54:39.5 94 08:54.6 80
  81 09:31.9   Christopher Perkins 315 40-49 Men 46 Smoove Operators sp. by Madcyclery.com 21 33:54.0 90 45:46.1 72 49:51.6 81 09:31.9 81
  82 11:15.6   Bryan Peck 222 50-59 Men 57 Matheny Endurance 13 29:59.2 77 48:57.3 85 52:19.0 87 11:15.6 82
  83 12:02.9   Braxton Little 298 Open/Pro Men 20 Infinit Competition Team 13 32:20.9 85 50:13.9 93 49:28.0 79 12:02.9 83
  84 14:39.0   Jared Butterfield 86 40-49 Men 41 Rad dads 22 29:25.9 75 49:58.6 89 55:14.4 95 14:39.0 84
  85 15:07.6   Guy Mackenzie 210 50-59 Men 54   14 30:17.1 79 51:22.1 95 53:28.2 89 15:07.6 85
  86 16:23.2   Jaycob Ross 134 40-49 Men 43 The Cupcke Cartel, Team Evan, Ship of Fools 23 42:41.3 108 45:44.4 71 47:57.4 76 16:23.2 86
  87 16:42.9   Mark Crumpacker 89 40-49 Men 40   24 33:42.0 89 49:00.1 86 54:00.7 90 16:42.9 87
  88 17:34.5   Gina Serantoni 26 Open/Pro Women 30 High Desert Hustle 11 32:57.6 86 50:07.0 92 54:29.8 93 17:34.5 88
  89 18:09.4   Gabriel Nafarrate 217 50-59 Men 59 Caracoles 15 33:12.6 87 49:00.9 87 55:55.7 96 18:09.4 89
  90 25:02.1   Jeffrey Previte 227 50-59 Men 51   16 31:41.3 84 52:08.4 96 01:12.3 105 25:02.1 90
  91 27:22.6   Wim Tack 140 40-49 Men 44   25 40:18.3 101 50:03.5 90 57:00.7 99 27:22.6 91
  92 28:09.3   Starla Teddergreen 27 Open/Pro Women 45 Distance To Empty 12 42:29.6 107 51:14.2 94 54:25.3 92 28:09.3 92
  93 29:10.1   Brian O’Donnell 305 30-39 Men 38   11 36:05.2 95 56:22.7 111 56:42.1 97 29:10.1 93
  94 30:43.5   Trent Pehlke 55 30-39 Men 35   12 41:14.9 102 52:34.0 97 56:54.5 98 30:43.5 94
  95 32:54.4   Harvey Bergen 266 60+ Men 63   4 30:25.0 80 52:40.5 98 09:48.9 120 32:54.4 95
  96 33:31.0   Liam Tullous 509 Under 20 Men 18 Western Colorado University 9 48:59.3 120 56:00.6 109 48:31.0 77 33:31.0 96
  97 34:14.5   Steve Ohrmund 122 40-49 Men 48 Tribe 26 55:29.9 133 54:11.8 99 44:32.7 65 34:14.5 97
  98 34:20.0   Luca Gutierrez 503 Under 20 Men 16   10 08:08.4 166 48:47.3 84 37:24.2 40 34:20.0 98
  99 35:29.7   Natascha Piciga 165 Open/Pro Women 45 7mesh/Liv 13 42:03.9 106 54:20.6 100 59:05.1 102 35:29.7 99
  100 36:39.2   Jon Maule 213 50-59 Men 56 Go4Graham 17 45:22.0 113 46:45.0 78 04:32.1 111 36:39.2 100
  101 37:21.0   Marc-Andre Lessard 209 50-59 Men 51   18 34:27.2 93 55:16.9 106 07:36.9 116 37:21.0 101
  102 37:59.1   Trent Granshaw 502 Under 20 Men 16   11 38:57.3 97 54:33.9 102 04:27.8 110 37:59.1 102
  103 39:01.9   Owen England 501 Under 20 Men 19 Western Colorado University 12 44:35.3 110 57:18.8 112 57:07.8 100 39:01.9 103
  104 39:04.0   Martin Crete 182 50-59 Men 51   19 45:52.3 114 54:36.0 104 58:35.6 101 39:04.0 104
  105 39:20.4   Christopher Maier 114 40-49 Men 45 Old Goats Ride Bikes! 27 42:46.8 109 55:15.3 105 01:18.2 106 39:20.4 105
  106 42:34.5   Drew Cox 181 50-59 Men 50 Bike Club 20 47:30.3 117 55:26.8 107 59:37.3 104 42:34.5 106
  107 45:27.6   Joey Pratt 225 50-59 Men 50   21 20:15.4 51 34:05.5 42 51:06.6 202 45:27.6 107
  108 46:32.7   Mike Gay 45 30-39 Men 36   13 49:35.0 121 54:29.3 101 02:28.3 108 46:32.7 108
  109 46:45.0   Aaron Wilkinson 149 40-49 Men 42 Rad Dads 28 35:08.8 94 04:54.7 124 06:41.5 113 46:45.0 109
  110 47:22.9   Bradford Sims 139 40-49 Men 41 Breakfast Pie 29 39:59.6 100 00:29.8 115 06:53.4 114 47:22.9 110
  111 48:09.0   Julie Robertson Zivin 262 50-59 Women 55 PNW Colavita Factor 1 41:56.4 103 58:36.7 113 07:35.8 115 48:09.0 111
  112 48:40.3   Mike Driver 273 60+ Men 60 VisitFruita.com 5 46:39.8 115 56:15.0 110 05:45.3 112 48:40.3 112
  113 50:22.4   Randy Tornquist 244 50-59 Men 55 Bloomington Cycle Race Team 22 09:17.7 170 50:07.0 91 50:57.6 84 50:22.4 113
  114 54:43.4   Dean Buziak 180 50-59 Men 54   23 41:57.9 104 10:50.1 138 01:55.3 107 54:43.4 114
  115 55:36.6   Will Allen 174 50-59 Men 57 Racer X Cycling/Colo Bike Law 24 54:27.6 127 01:35.1 118 59:33.9 103 55:36.6 115
  116 55:45.5   Tobin Yehle 308 30-39 Men 31 Possibly Platonic Peloton 14 41:58.4 105 05:03.8 126 08:43.2 117 55:45.5 116
  117 58:15.7   Briana Valorosi 75 30-39 Women 37 Distance to Empty 1 49:59.4 122 59:08.6 114 09:07.5 119 58:15.7 117
  118 59:59.2   Lucie Romeo 517 20-29 Women 20   1 44:42.0 111 02:04.8 119 13:12.2 129 59:59.2 118
  119 01:50.4   Jackson Karls 506 Under 20 Men 20 Western Colorado University 13 26:17.1 68 50:20.0 203 45:13.2 67 01:50.4 119
  120 01:53.1   Dru Mcmackin 215 50-59 Men 56 PAA Cycling 25 48:27.7 119 04:23.9 121 09:01.4 118 01:53.1 120
  121 02:37.6   Shane Hill 198 50-59 Men 56 Roaring Mouse 26 47:15.3 116 01:30.4 117 13:51.7 132 02:37.6 121
  122 02:44.8   Michael Verveda 35 20-29 Men 26   6 59:31.5 145 00:39.4 116 02:33.8 109 02:44.8 122
  123 05:54.1   Jeff Gerard 101 40-49 Men 49   30 48:22.6 118 06:29.1 131 11:02.2 124 05:54.1 123
  124 10:58.6   John Walrich 510 Under 20 Men 19 Western Colorado University 14 54:38.4 128 05:32.0 128 10:48.0 123 10:58.6 124
  125 12:42.2   Kevin Kraft 205 50-59 Men 52   27 55:10.6 131 04:53.2 123 12:38.2 128 12:42.2 125
  126 15:34.5   Song Hong 519 50-59 Men 53 Roaring Mouse 28 57:02.8 135 04:47.5 122 13:44.1 131 15:34.5 126
  127 16:53.2   Tarris Webber 173 40-49 Women 43   1 54:56.0 129 08:31.3 135 13:25.8 130 16:53.2 127
  128 19:08.6   Jim Frith 326 60+ Men 66 Clemmons Bicycles 6 01:23.2 149 07:56.1 134 09:49.2 121 19:08.6 128
  129 22:48.3   Timothy Crum 271 60+ Men 65 BICYCLE BUTLER 7 59:11.6 143 04:55.8 125 18:40.7 142 22:48.3 129
  130 23:46.9   Daniel Soteres 240 50-59 Men 55 bike club 29 58:07.2 138 06:46.5 133 18:53.0 145 23:46.9 130
  131 23:49.2   Michael Berning 82 40-49 Men 41   31 52:03.5 123 16:29.4 153 15:16.2 134 23:49.2 131
  132 24:58.2   Kevin Koopmans 106 40-49 Men 49   32 53:26.9 125 08:56.8 137 22:34.4 155 24:58.2 132
  133 25:32.9   Annie Schwartz 310 30-39 Women 39   2 08:30.2 168 05:30.0 127 11:32.5 126 25:32.9 133
  134 25:44.7   John Kucera 109 40-49 Men 44   33 03:26.2 152 05:38.1 129 16:40.3 140 25:44.7 134
  135 29:06.5   Heather Barnes 156 40-49 Women 42   2 05:32.3 161 06:18.7 130 17:15.4 141 29:06.5 135
  136 29:55.7   David Whelan 251 50-59 Men 51   30 59:13.3 144 11:50.1 140 18:52.1 144 29:55.7 136
  137 30:07.5   David Czerny 42 30-39 Men 40   15 53:48.2 126 12:27.4 143 23:51.8 158 30:07.5 137
  138 32:03.2   Alberto Ruiz 136 40-49 Men 49 Los Sabaticos 34 03:48.1 155 12:05.7 141 16:09.3 135 32:03.2 138
  139 32:44.0   Eduardo Razuck 131 40-49 Men 46   35 03:47.1 154 14:16.7 147 14:40.0 133 32:44.0 139
  140 33:28.7   Timothy Larsen 207 50-59 Men 53 Bloomington Cycle and Fitness 31 02:08.8 150 11:07.0 139 20:12.8 147 33:28.7 140
  141 34:16.9   Brad Wolfe 151 40-49 Men 47   36 03:30.0 153 14:17.5 148 16:29.3 138 34:16.9 141
  142 35:02.6   Louie Soave 239 50-59 Men 51 Sea To Sky Coffee 32 52:54.3 124 08:44.4 136 33:23.8 181 35:02.6 142
  143 35:35.4   Erin Reis 168 40-49 Women 47 Hutch’s Bend Dental 3 00:32.7 147 14:34.2 149 20:28.4 150 35:35.4 143
  144 36:57.1   William Rice 234 50-59 Men 57   33 59:08.5 142 17:38.6 154 20:09.9 146 36:57.1 144
  145 37:27.2   Juan Acosta 319 50-59 Men 58   34 55:29.8 132 18:52.2 157 23:05.2 157 37:27.2 145
  146 38:16.6   James Flegal 191 50-59 Men 54   35 04:27.5 156 12:12.0 142 21:37.1 153 38:16.6 146
  147 38:17.3   Mackenzie Jellum 161 40-49 Women 42   4 21:30.0 189 06:38.7 132 10:08.5 122 38:17.3 147
  148 38:36.7   Ryan Ellis 96 40-49 Men 46   37 57:54.6 136 13:00.5 144 27:41.4 170 38:36.7 148
  149 39:37.4   Ryan Dulaney 95 40-49 Men 45   38 00:51.6 148 18:13.7 155 20:31.9 151 39:37.4 149
  150 40:14.4   Gerardo Gutierrez 102 40-49 Men 44   39 55:30.7 134 23:51.6 167 20:51.9 152 40:14.4 150
  151 40:52.8   Kyle Rowland 135 40-49 Men 40   40 59:52.2 146 24:39.4 169 16:21.1 136 40:52.8 151
  152 42:40.1   Victoria Leeson 317 40-49 Women 40 NOBL Wheels! 5 14:26.7 180 16:28.9 152 11:44.5 127 42:40.1 152
  153 43:56.2   Jennifer Higgins 160 40-49 Women 40   6 12:04.8 175 13:07.2 145 18:44.0 143 43:56.2 153
  154 48:48.4   Kim Smith 172 40-49 Women 40 Maximum Enthusiasm Squad 7 02:25.2 151 20:59.1 165 25:24.0 164 48:48.4 154
  155 48:52.9   Eric Mueller 119 40-49 Men 45 Enve Racing 41 09:20.8 171 19:15.9 158 20:16.2 148 48:52.9 155
  156 49:36.1   Jeffery Barnes 177 50-59 Men 55   36 05:43.8 162 13:26.7 146 30:25.5 174 49:36.1 156
  157 50:43.9   Brynlee Nelson 516 Under 20 Women 17 Pocatello Pioneers 1 08:34.6 169 15:57.9 151 26:11.2 169 50:43.9 157
  158 53:42.5   Mark Leary 299 50-59 Men 55   37 58:20.6 139 44:03.7 197 11:18.1 125 53:42.5 158
  159 55:41.5   Brian Feick 189 50-59 Men 56 Trapline Speed Club 38 12:08.0 177 19:31.5 159 24:02.0 160 55:41.5 159
  160 55:49.2   Kyle Stone 62 30-39 Men 34   16 58:00.9 137 24:31.3 168 33:16.9 179 55:49.2 160
  161 56:01.1   Adam Chalkley 88 40-49 Men 49 Adam Chalkley 42 13:24.3 178 18:34.4 156 24:02.2 161 56:01.1 161
  162 56:52.1   Erik Fuhrmeister 194 50-59 Men 51   39 59:04.8 140 20:16.9 164 37:30.2 189 56:52.1 162
  163 58:44.3   Ron Kelley 278 60+ Men 60   8 08:25.8 167 21:47.8 166 28:30.5 171 58:44.3 163
  164 59:29.4   Michael Harnois 103 40-49 Men 45   43 11:08.6 174 19:34.9 160 28:45.8 172 59:29.4 164
  165 00:06.8   Jono Grubb 48 30-39 Men 36 JK Racing 17 05:15.5 159 29:36.9 177 25:14.3 163 00:06.8 165
  166 01:47.2   Henry Hurley 504 Under 20 Men 19 Western Colorado University 15 46:00.7 215 55:30.1 108 20:16.2 149 01:47.2 166
  167 02:13.5   Anthony Kramer 107 40-49 Men 48 814 Outdoor Sports 44 05:18.8 160 32:19.4 183 24:35.2 162 02:13.5 167
  168 03:14.4   Jacob Francois 99 40-49 Men 42   45 08:04.9 164 29:40.9 178 25:28.5 166 03:14.4 168
  169 03:44.3   Jeff Koether 105 40-49 Men 40   46 55:08.9 130 43:08.1 196 25:27.2 165 03:44.3 169
  170 04:01.8   Mike Baumann 178 50-59 Men 51   40 59:05.9 141 39:23.9 194 25:31.9 167 04:01.8 170
  171 06:14.2   Kiley Del Valle 93 40-49 Men 46 We Are From 47 12:06.7 176 20:13.0 163 33:54.3 183 06:14.2 171
  172 07:34.5   Luke Seybold 515 20-29 Men 24 Chiefs Biking Club 7 05:08.7 158 28:09.1 175 34:16.6 185 07:34.5 172
  173 07:34.9   Scott Seybold 237 50-59 Men 56 Chiefs Biking Club 41 05:06.7 157 28:12.0 176 34:16.2 184 07:34.9 173
  174 07:43.8   Christopher Johnson 295 50-59 Men 56   42 21:26.6 188 15:51.8 150 30:25.3 173 07:43.8 174
  175 07:48.9   Julie Granshaw 255 50-59 Women 50   2 09:49.4 172 26:28.5 172 31:30.8 175 07:48.9 175
  176 14:56.3   Adam Rasmussen 518 40-49 Men 40   48 23:13.8 191 19:56.0 162 31:46.5 176 14:56.3 176
  177 16:56.7   Nic Bertagnolli 303 30-39 Men 32 Possibly Platonic Peloton 18 34:17.8 203 19:53.5 161 22:45.3 156 16:56.7 177
  178 24:07.6   Lelis Montenegro 257 50-59 Women 51   3 10:28.1 173 38:11.9 191 35:27.5 187 24:07.6 178
  179 25:18.6   Trisha Babcock 316 40-49 Women 42 Stay Park City Cycling 8 19:23.2 182 26:16.6 171 39:38.8 191 25:18.6 179
  180 25:49.8   Marc Mata 212 50-59 Men 54 No Ride Around 43 20:15.4 185 32:13.1 182 33:21.2 180 25:49.8 180
  181 26:35.6   Jeremy Martin 115 40-49 Men 46 Spokes Bike Shop 49 20:27.9 187 24:54.6 170 41:13.0 193 26:35.6 181
  182 27:16.5   James Hurst 200 50-59 Men 56 Team DadBod 44 07:08.0 163 27:59.5 174 52:08.9 203 27:16.5 182
  183 27:29.5   Natalie Osborne 259 50-59 Women 51 Team Coco 4 14:23.9 179 34:35.5 186 38:29.9 190 27:29.5 183
  184 30:56.0   Alexander Vlasse 146 40-49 Men 43   50 08:06.6 165 36:38.6 188 46:10.7 199 30:56.0 184
  185 34:00.1   Eric Reimer 58 30-39 Men 35   19 28:11.1 196 30:54.7 180 34:54.2 186 34:00.1 185
  186 34:20.7   Karim Abou-Nassar 76 40-49 Men 46   51 19:35.3 183 39:02.7 193 35:42.6 188 34:20.7 186
  187 40:30.1   Diego Fernandez 190 50-59 Men 54 terapia 45 22:40.8 190 44:17.6 198 33:31.5 182 40:30.1 187
  188 44:55.4   Nathan Weinrich 250 50-59 Men 50   46 26:10.5 192 36:39.5 189 42:05.3 195 44:55.4 188
  189 45:51.1   Diana Buran 520 40-49 Women 48   9 32:06.3 200 30:53.1 179 42:51.6 196 45:51.1 189
  190 46:42.6   David Pettigrew 224 50-59 Men 55 Marys Bicycle Club 47 19:11.7 181 31:18.2 181 56:12.6 205 46:42.6 190
  191 48:33.3   Ann Marie Manfreda 164 40-49 Women 42   10 27:49.2 194 34:15.2 185 46:28.8 200 48:33.3 191
  192 53:37.2   Abe Valdez 245 50-59 Men 54 Valdez’ses Racing 48 32:38.5 201 39:02.1 192 41:56.4 194 53:37.2 192
  193 56:17.1   Don Jonason 277 60+ Men 61   9 32:50.6 202 37:21.7 190 46:04.6 198 56:17.1 193
  194 07:47.0   Brian Keller 202 40-49 Men 47   52 30:59.6 199 50:50.7 204 45:56.7 197 07:47.0 194
  195 09:06.6   Jimmy Anderson 175 50-59 Men 56   49 36:14.8 208 52:09.3 205 40:42.4 192 09:06.6 195
  196 15:51.9   Meagan Pratt 167 40-49 Women 42   11 28:16.6 197 56:28.9 209 51:06.3 201 15:51.9 196
  197 17:16.5   Dani Kucera 163 40-49 Women 41   12 43:12.5 212 40:37.7 195 53:26.2 204 17:16.5 197
  198 19:49.6   Todd Williams 288 60+ Men 64 Stage 2 10 35:23.6 207 34:04.9 184 10:21.0 215 19:49.6 198
  199 23:42.3   Berenice Aguilar 155 40-49 Women 44 México 13 35:08.9 204 47:45.7 200 00:47.6 210 23:42.3 199
  200 23:53.2   Michael Sullivan 243 50-59 Men 50 Mexico 50 35:15.4 206 47:48.8 201 00:48.8 211 23:53.2 200
  201 28:17.4   Eric Olson 296 50-59 Men 58   51 09:12.4 236 46:41.2 199 32:23.7 177 28:17.4 201
  202 33:52.4   Chantel Anderson 65 30-39 Women 39   3 44:25.6 213 52:24.7 206 57:02.0 206 33:52.4 202
  203 43:00.0   Erin Ready 73 30-39 Women 35   4 49:27.8 220 49:09.7 202 04:22.4 212 43:00.0 203
  204 46:27.9   Gil Dustin 187 50-59 Men 59   52 47:30.9 217 58:43.0 211 00:13.8 209 46:27.9 204
  205 47:26.8   Haleigh Dunn 68 30-39 Women 33 Hagerty 5 35:14.2 205 58:35.5 210 13:37.0 221 47:26.8 205
  206 49:27.3   Michael Komp 279 60+ Men 60   11 28:01.0 195 04:02.7 213 17:23.5 223 49:27.3 206
  207 55:01.4   Guillermo Viera Michel 145 40-49 Men 44 Independiente del bajío 53 47:54.0 218 08:23.0 215 58:44.3 208 55:01.4 207
  208 55:49.7   Adrian Gutierrez 196 50-59 Men 49   53 52:41.7 221 55:23.3 207 07:44.6 214 55:49.7 208
  209 57:30.7   Jaxon Jurome 15 Open/Pro Men 30   14 20:20.2 186 10:56.0 218 26:14.4 233 57:30.7 209
  210 59:08.7   James Glover 275 60+ Men 68   12 38:48.1 210 01:41.1 212 18:39.3 227 59:08.7 210
  211 07:48.5   Gustavo Camarena 87 40-49 Men 46 CANNIBAL 54 47:56.1 219 08:17.3 214 11:35.0 218 07:48.5 211
  212 12:41.2   Heidi Dohse 327 60+ Women 61 Tour de Heart 1 41:49.9 211 11:20.5 220 19:30.6 228 12:41.2 212
  213 14:26.0   Jordyn Eberts 36 20-29 Women 29 TEAM JJ 2 37:16.7 209 10:54.7 217 26:14.6 234 14:26.0 213
  214 19:03.1   Lynnea Roberts 261 40-49 Women 49 Women’s Mountain Biking Association of Colorado Springs (WMBA) 14 52:52.5 223 12:55.1 222 13:15.4 220 19:03.1 214
  215 20:59.1   Diane Thornton 324 50-59 Women 59   5 56:50.8 227 11:19.4 219 12:48.8 219 20:59.1 215
  216 26:38.9   Todd Meyer 281 60+ Men 61   13 10:30.6 238 08:29.2 216 07:38.9 213 26:38.9 216
  217 27:45.3   Liv Ashby 512 Under 20 Women 16 Pocatello Pioneers 2 55:12.7 225 21:24.4 229 11:08.2 216 27:45.3 217
  218 28:54.9   Brett Wolfe 252 50-59 Men 55 3 legged wolf 54 54:46.5 224 15:46.5 225 18:21.8 226 28:54.9 218
  219 36:23.5   Javier Mario Villarreal Salcedo 247 50-59 Men 57   55 56:29.2 226 22:02.4 230 17:51.9 224 36:23.5 219
  220 38:06.6   Gwendolyn Blake 157 40-49 Women 40 Wild Card Cycleworks 15 57:16.6 228 13:30.9 224 27:18.9 236 38:06.6 220
  221 43:54.5   Kelly Campo 268 60+ Men 66 Night Owl Cycling 14 06:41.6 235 12:19.9 221 24:52.8 232 43:54.5 221
  222 47:58.8   Rodrigo Armada 176 50-59 Men 56 Los Sabaticos 56 05:33.8 233 19:45.0 227 22:39.8 230 47:58.8 222
  223 54:03.6   Dan Lewark 280 60+ Men 71   15 02:30.5 232 17:36.3 226 33:56.7 237 54:03.6 223
  224 54:12.4   Justin Ratzlaff 130 40-49 Men 44   55 11:40.7 239 24:26.2 231 18:05.4 225 54:12.4 224
  225 57:11.1   Carlos Perez Fierro 223 50-59 Men 55   57 38:08.3 250 56:23.1 208 22:39.5 229 57:11.1 225
  226 03:16.9   Randy Rousson 284 60+ Men 61   16 52:43.0 222 47:06.6 237 23:27.2 231 03:16.9 226
  227 08:31.6   José Luis Gonzalez Beristáin 329 50-59 Men 53 Pista Pista 58 22:28.3 244 19:45.2 228 26:18.0 235 08:31.6 227
  228 08:36.3   Michael Dance 91 40-49 Men 43   56 46:57.9 216 40:25.7 233 41:12.6 238 08:36.3 228
  229 27:50.0   Morgan Vlasse 22 Non-Binary 38   1 14:52.7 240 12:55.3 223 00:01.8 245 27:50.0 229
  230 39:13.2   Justin Holle 14 Open/Pro Men 42 No Ride Around 15 00:23.4 10 00:00.0 247 38:49.8 45 39:13.2 230
  231 41:11.5   Cameron Nelson 121 40-49 Men 44 Ohknaks Municipal 57 06:31.6 234 40:25.9 234 54:13.9 240 41:11.5 231
  232 43:57.0   John Barbachano 81 40-49 Men 46   58 12:17.5 36 31:39.5 37 00:00.0 259 43:57.0 232
  233 53:25.4   Jerry Raduy 228 50-59 Men 58   59 09:14.6 237 48:12.6 238 55:58.0 241 53:25.4 233
  234 14:58.6   Beth Rudolph 263 50-59 Women 56   6 30:13.3 247 47:02.1 236 57:43.0 242 14:58.6 234
  235 15:08.2   Tracy Ricketts 169 40-49 Women 44   16 30:07.9 246 46:57.3 235 58:02.9 244 15:08.2 235
  236 15:08.3   Samantha Griffiths 256 50-59 Women 52 Leading Answers Race Team 7 21:41.8 243 30:25.9 232 23:00.5 248 15:08.3 236
  237 15:36.6   Matt Dyck 311 40-49 Men 42 Cyclemeisters 59 33:58.6 91 00:00.0 249 41:37.9 53 15:36.6 237
  238 34:02.5   David Harris 276 60+ Men 61   17 39:27.1 98 54:35.3 103 00:00.0 255 34:02.5 238
  239 43:34.2   Bill Baum 265 60+ Men 61   18 45:39.3 253 52:01.4 239 05:53.3 246 43:34.2 239
  240 58:14.1   Duncan Munro 282 60+ Men 65   19 31:24.9 248 11:51.0 242 14:58.1 247 58:14.1 240
  241 07:24.2   Ryan Weedon 147 40-49 Men 44   60 20:00.4 242 56:59.0 241 50:24.6 252 07:24.2 241
  242 30:56.6   Andy Marwood 116 40-49 Men 49 Team Old Goats 61 35:05.5 249 27:57.0 244 27:54.0 250 30:56.6 242
  243 47:04.8   Alison Sandoval 318 40-49 Women 45 Cycles of life 17 19:43.9 184 27:20.8 173 00:00.0 256 47:04.8 243
  244 52:20.4   Leah Dolan-Kelley 67 30-39 Women 39 WMBA 6 02:05.4 255 16:56.0 243 33:18.9 251 52:20.4 244
  245 00:15.1   Tim Lile 112 40-49 Men 41 Conifer bike shop 62 00:00.0 258 34:35.9 187 25:39.2 168 00:15.1 245
  246 08:04.1   Laura Mcnerneuy 309 30-39 Women 33 Possibly Platonic Peloton 7 45:38.2 214 00:00.0 248 22:25.9 154 08:04.1 246
  247 37:20.4   Jack Nesvara 34 20-29 Men 21   8 40:23.7 251 56:56.7 240 00:00.0 257 37:20.4 247
  248 37:29.7   Travis Mullner 525 40-49 Men 44   63 43:23.4 256 54:06.3 245 00:00.0 258 37:29.7 248
  249 13:31.9   Jonathan Moore 118 40-49 Men 46   64 57:58.7 257 00:00.0 246 15:33.2 253 13:31.9 249
      DNS Parker Macy 211 50-59 Men 52 Bikeparts.com   29:32.9   48:54.9          
      DNS Deke Williams 150 40-49 Men 46     47:45.4   56:26.6          
      DNS Lindzey Ruderman 170 40-49 Women 42     02:38.5   25:03.5          
      DNS Daniel Castillo 41 30-39 Men 34     14:50.2   32:00.5          
      DNS Cassidy Lawrence 69 40-49 Women 41     04:22.0   41:47.3          
      DNS Jonathan Olsen 123 40-49 Men 44     31:52.0   55:06.0          
      DNS Nathan Lawrence 111 40-49 Men 41     50:20.8   00:00.0          
      DNS Omar Dickenson 186   54 Sonic Boom Racing   24:07.3              
        Mark Ford 193   59     26:58.0       23:57.2      
        Benjamin Kreczko 49   34     30:52.8       16:26.9      
        Bryan King 204   51     00:05.7       57:23.4      
        Jaime Ramirez 229   55     01:42.6       14:39.5      
        Walter Laberge 206   54 northeast mountain bike racing   02:09.0       32:23.8      
        Andy Somerville 285   64     18:03.1       11:20.7      
        Edward Broadhead 40   33     30:02.6       41:28.1      
        Greg Packer 283   70     40:39.3       23:21.6      
        Sarah Riley 260   52 northeast mountain bike racing   55:04.6       58:00.8      
        Mark Doubleday 272   66 Team Mark & TrixieAnn   00:00.0       00:00.0      

Puck Pieterse Conquers the Mur de Huy for a Stunning Debut Victory at La Flèche Wallonne Femmes

Cycling West
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Puck Pieterse Conquers the Mur de Huy for a Stunning Debut Victory at La Flèche Wallonne Femmes

HUY, Belgium (April 24, 2025) — In the sharp spring sunlight of the Belgian Ardennes, Puck Pieterse stood at the summit of the Mur de Huy, breathing hard but radiant, her face etched with equal parts disbelief and determination. With a devastatingly timed attack just 125 meters from the line, the 22-year-old Dutch rider from Fenix-Deceuninck claimed a spectacular victory in her first appearance at La Flèche Wallonne Femmes, shattering expectations in the 28th edition of the iconic race.

“This climb—it’s everything,” Pieterse said at the finish, still flushed from her effort. “I knew I just had to wait. The moment had to be perfect.”

Perfect, it was. In the final meters of the race’s brutal crescendo—1.3 kilometers at a merciless 9.6% average gradient—the mountain biker-turned-road phenom unleashed an acceleration so explosive that it left one of the peloton’s most seasoned climbers, Demi Vollering (FDJ–SUEZ), grasping for answers as she crossed the line two seconds adrift. Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) finished third, rounding out a podium defined as much by guile as it was by grit.

 

A Race Defined by Absences and Opportunity

SD Worx-Protime, usually a dominant force in the Ardennes classics, entered the day on the back foot. Seven-time Flèche champion Anna van der Breggen, who was originally slated for a dramatic return to racing, was ruled out due to lingering illness after abandoning the Amstel Gold Race. Her absence was confirmed following a last-minute medical evaluation Wednesday morning.

“She just wasn’t ready,” an SD Worx team official told reporters. “It wouldn’t have been fair to her or the race.”

Without their talismanic leader, SD Worx appeared disoriented. Meanwhile, teams like Fenix-Deceuninck and FDJ–SUEZ seized the vacuum.

23/04/2025 – La Flèche Wallonne Femmes – Huy / Huy (140,7 km) – Mûr de Huy © A.S.O./Thomas Maheux

Early Moves and Mid-Race Mayhem

Though the Mur would ultimately decide the outcome, the race was far from processional. After a tentative opening over the Côte de Bohissau, a breakaway quartet formed, including Célia Le Mouel (Ceratizit Pro Cycling Team), Marieke Meert (Volkerwessels), Julie Van de Velde (AG Insurance-Soudal), and Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol). They were soon joined by eight others, forming a sizeable but short-lived escape group.

By the 47-kilometer mark, the peloton, wary of letting anything go too early, reeled them back in. Anne Knijnenburg (Volkerwessels) briefly lit up the Côte d’Ereffe with a solo attempt, but the day’s most compelling move came from French national champion Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly). Launching her offensive on the same climb, Kerbaol bridged to Knijnenburg, then distanced her to mount a daring solo adventure that would stretch nearly 50 kilometers.

On the first ascent of the Mur, Kerbaol still held a 40-second advantage over the peloton and a stubborn 20 seconds over Katrine Aalerud (Uno-X Mobility), who tried and failed to bridge. It was a brave ride, but the inevitable happened. On the second climb of Côte de Cherave, just under 7 kilometers from the finish, the peloton swallowed her whole.

The Mur Decides

As the race funneled toward its inevitable climax, the peloton was whittled down to just 30 riders. The reintroduction of the Côte de Cherave—absent in 2024 due to roadworks—added a jagged edge to the final act.

From there, all eyes turned to the Mur.

Pieterse, riding with icy calm, locked onto the wheel of Vollering, who had been expertly delivered to the foot of the climb by Juliette Labous.

“Juliette did a very strong job,” Vollering said after the finish. “It’s nicer to suffer in the wheel of a teammate. I just didn’t have that final kick. Puck was incredible today.”

Indeed, it was the kind of calculated, devastating move rarely seen from a first-timer on such hallowed ground. Pieterse bided her time, waiting through the steepest sections until launching inside the final 150 meters.

“I think halfway through the Mur, I was like, ‘they should be hurting a lot,’” Pieterse explained. “But I still felt quite good actually. After the attack, I didn’t look back.”

She didn’t need to.

23/04/2025 – La Flèche Wallonne Femmes – Huy / Huy (140,7 km) – Puck PIETERSE (FENIX-DECEUNINCK) © A.S.O./Billy Ceusters

A Podium of Champions

Behind Pieterse, Vollering offered no excuses.

“It wasn’t about tactics in the end,” she said. “It was about who had the legs in those final meters.”

Elisa Longo Borghini, third on the day, was content—and quietly ambitious ahead of Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes.

“I felt good, especially thanks to my teammates who positioned me well,” the Italian said. “I pushed hard with 100 meters to go. I arrived here as an outsider, and I’ll be again for Liège. But I’m fresh, physically and mentally. I hope it comes down to La Redoute. That’s where I can make a difference.”

23/04/2025 – La Flèche Wallonne Femmes – Huy / Huy (140,7 km) – Puck PIETERSE (FENIX-DECEUNINCK) © A.S.O./Billy Ceusters

A New Star in the Ardennes

For Pieterse, this victory felt less like a breakout and more like a coronation. Already known for her prowess in cyclocross and mountain biking, the Dutchwoman has now stamped her mark on one of the most iconic climbs in professional cycling.

In a race shaped by patience and poise, her ability to deliver under pressure may signal the rise of a new Ardennes star.

“She’s the real deal,” one rival quietly admitted near the team buses.

With Liège on the horizon, the peloton may have just glimpsed the future of women’s classics racing—one fierce, fearless ride at a time.

Pogačar Reigns on the Mur de Huy, Painting La Flèche Wallonne in Rainbow and Resolve

Cycling West
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Pogačar Reigns on the Mur de Huy, Painting La Flèche Wallonne in Rainbow and Resolve

HUY, Belgium (April 23, 2025) — As dark clouds hovered over the Belgian Ardennes and the peloton battled through sheets of rain, a rainbow emerged above the Mur de Huy just as the world champion surged into the lead. With a clinical final burst of power on the storied slopes of La Flèche Wallonne, Tadej Pogačar, clad in cycling’s most sacred stripes, delivered a moment of poetry—and domination.

With this victory, the 25-year-old Slovenian became the first reigning Tour de France champion to win on the Mur since the hill became the finish line in 1985, and only the seventh rider to win La Flèche in the rainbow jersey—joining the likes of local legend Claude Criquielion, who triumphed in the same colors four decades earlier.

“It really is a great feeling to win again here in La Flèche Wallonne, in this tough final,” Pogačar said after the finish, still catching his breath. “The Mur de Huy is a beautiful climb, but as a cyclist you don’t like it that much. The weather was not great, either. It was a really tough race and pulling off a win today means a lot to me, because my teammates worked very hard and it’s great to deliver a victory for them.”

A Race of Attrition

The 89th edition of La Flèche Wallonne began at 11:36 a.m. in Ciney under a curtain of cold rain. 174 riders rolled out for the 205.1-kilometer route—an unforgiving, undulating circuit with the legendary Mur de Huy climbed three times. Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) was the sole non-starter.

The day’s early breakaway included Simon Guglielmi, Artem Shmidt, Ceriel Desal, Tom Paquot, and Siebe Deweirdt, who quickly built a gap of 2 minutes 30 seconds. Their lead, however, was kept under control by a group of determined teams, most notably UAE Team Emirates, Lidl–Trek, Bahrain Victorious, and Soudal–QuickStep, who would shape the race in its later stages.

By kilometer 58, the gap had dropped to 40 seconds, signaling intent from the peloton. Around this point, Tobias Foss (Ineos Grenadiers) and Robert Stannard (Bahrain Victorious) bridged to the break, followed by Uno-X Mobility’s Andreas Leknessund and Frederik Dversnes, forming an eight-man front group. But the cohesion wouldn’t last.

As the peloton hit the decisive circuit containing the three key climbs—Côte d’Ereffe, Côte de Cherave, and the Mur de Huy—the lead group began to fray. One by one, the escapees cracked or crashed. Most notably, Mattias Skjelmose, a favorite for the day, went down hard in a right-hand turn, forcing his withdrawal alongside several others, including Jan Christen (UAE) and Ilan van Wilder (Soudal–QuickStep).

The chaos left only three riders—Foss, Leknessund, and Dversnes—leading into the final ascent.

Tactical Masterclass from UAE

With 10 seconds separating the leading trio from the chasing peloton as they approached the Côte de Cherave, UAE Team Emirates moved decisively. First, Felix Großschartner and Jan Christen unleashed measured accelerations that shredded the remnants of the bunch. Then, Pogačar attacked the descent, a trademark move meant not to escape, but to stretch the field, test legs, and seed panic.

This sequence left a pared-down group of 30 riders at the base of the final climb. Christen again played his role to perfection, leading into the Mur and setting a punishing tempo on the first ramps.

“When I accelerated, I quickly realized nobody was following my wheel,” Pogačar said. “Still, the climb felt very long to me. The Mur de Huy is one of the climbs that feel the longest in professional cycling.”

He waited for the right moment—500 meters to go—when Ben Healy (EF Education–EasyPost) launched his attack. That was the signal. Pogačar rose out of the saddle and delivered a trademark punch. There was no response.

23/04/2025 – La Flèche Wallonne – Ciney / Huy (205,1 km) – Tadej POGACAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG) © A.S.O./Billy Ceusters

“We raced well together as a team, always sticking to the plan,” he added. “Both Soudal–QuickStep and us rode pretty hard early on, and that made the race even more tiring than usual. The size of the peloton at the foot of the final climb proves this.”

His margin at the line: 10 seconds. But the message was far more emphatic.

Vauquelin’s Brilliance in the Shadows

Behind him, Kévin Vauquelin, the 23-year-old Frenchman riding for Arkéa–B&B Hotels, claimed a valiant second. For Vauquelin, the result was as emotional as it was validating—a comeback after weeks of struggle and self-doubt.

“It has been an exceptional day,” Vauquelin said. “There was a great field at the start line. Delivering a second place again is a confirmation of what I did last year, and that is the main takeaway for me.”

“These last few weeks have not been easy for me from a mental perspective. Even today I was struggling on the bike, yet I kept pushing because I didn’t want to have any regrets. This performance is going to be of great help.”

The Frenchman also spoke to the psychological toll of expectations, especially after previous podium finishes.

“Landing a great result is difficult, but landing a second one is even more difficult because you ask yourself a lot of questions in the meantime,” he said. “There have been very hard moments. My loved ones, my teammates and the staff of my team are the ones who cope with all my struggles and my doubts. Today’s performance is a reward for all of us.”

He rode smartly, conserving energy before the climb and marking the key wheels.

“I tried to approach the final climb on the wheel of the best riders,” Vauquelin said. “I knew that I didn’t want to unleash my effort too early, because I could overcook myself like last year. When Ben Healy and Remco Evenepoel started to lose ground, I took off. I didn’t look back for a single second, but I was afraid to get overtaken.”

The podium finish was also a major statement for Arkéa–B&B Hotels.

“This is a very important result for Arkéa–B&B Hotels, as it shows we can be present in WorldTour races,” he said. “The teamwork today has been excellent, with Simon [Guglielmi] up front and Raúl García Pierna positioning me ahead of the final climb. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Looking ahead to Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the final of the Ardennes classics, Vauquelin remains grounded.

“Liège–Bastogne–Liège is a completely different race—longer, more demanding,” he said. “I need not to feel any complex in order to do my best and not have any regrets at the finish.”

23/04/2025 – La Flèche Wallonne – Ciney / Huy (205,1 km) – Kévin VAUQUELIN (ARKEA-B&B HOTELS), Tadej POGACAR (UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG), Tom PIDCOCK (Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM) © A.S.O./Billy Ceusters

Looking Ahead

For Pogačar, the triumph in Huy is another glittering chapter in a season already rich with triumph and historical resonance. But he is not done yet.

“I don’t think today’s weather conditions will have any influence on Sunday’s race,” he said. “Three days should be enough to recover from today’s effort. My teammates showed today they have super good legs, and we are going to enter a similar team on Sunday hoping to do as good as we did today.”

The Ardennes aren’t done with him. And if La Flèche Wallonne is any indication, neither is the winning.

 

Tour de Brewtah Returns to Salt Lake City

Cycling West
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Tour de Brewtah Returns to Salt Lake City

Over 25 local breweries & cideries in Salt Lake City, Utah to participate in brewery bike derby

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (April 23, 2025) – The first Saturday in May is typically reserved for mint juleps, fancy hats and two minutes of world class horse racing in Kentucky. This year, the organizers of the Tour de Brewtah are bringing a horse of a different color to Salt Lake City’s brewery scene – encouraging locals to enjoy a leisurely afternoon riding two-wheeled steeds to visit and support local Utah breweries.

Resurrecting the annual event after a COVID-induced hiatus is Ryan Miller of SaltFire Brewing, who tested an informal fall 2024 version before launching the Spring edition with five designated bike routes to choose from when registering for the event.

This year’s derby inspired theme features five unique brewery stops along each route: Kentucky Derby, Pony Express, Belmont Stakes, Preakness and the Apple Blossom trail – the latter notably featuring local Utah cideries & cider bars as an alternative option for non-beer drinkers. Most stops along the Tour de Brewtah offer a wide selection outside of beer as well – from seltzers, wine and cocktails to non-alcoholic selections.

Bringing back the original format of the Tour De Brewtah was important to Ryan Miller as new head organizer leading the charge, but keeping it approachable and fun for all is the main goal for the event going forward. All routes begin and end at SaltFire Brewing, where participants will check in to start their journey, and end in celebration with photos by the life-size, rose covered horseshoe while enjoying music and local vendors.

All routes start & end at SaltFire Brewing. Photo by Ryan Miller

Miller, who is a cycling enthusiast himself, said “The Tour de Brewtah is meant to take advantage of new bicycle lanes in city streets, designated urban bike trails and scenic routes such as the Jordan River Parkway, while connecting our close community of breweries and new taprooms along the way.”

The use of e-bikes is encouraged, and ample bike parking will be available at each stop. While the suggested bike routes range from 9 miles to almost 30 miles in total length, participants can shorten those routes as they please, or even ‘cheat’ a little by taking their bikes on TRAX between some of the locations that are further south – in Midvale or Sandy, for example.

All participants are encouraged to ride safely and responsibly, observe traffic laws and wear helmets. Most participating locations are 21+ bar establishments and will require valid ID for entry. Riders who collect stamps at each stop on their chosen route can redeem their completed passport for prizes and bragging rights.

Stephanie Biesecker, Executive Director of the Utah Brewers Guild, noted that “bringing back this exciting event is another example of the collaborative spirit among our local community of craft breweries and cideries. These small business owners consistently show support for each other and take every opportunity to raise awareness for our local brewing industry.”

The brewing community is looking forward to the Tour De Brewtah event as a precursor to their annual collaboration festival, The Great Beer Mashup, to be held the following week on May 10th.

Registration is $30 per participant, and includes a limited edition, commemorative t shirt featuring the 2025 Tour De Brewtah derby logo designed by local artist Matt Crank.

Visit tourdebrewtah.com for more information.

 

 

Haley Batten and Heather Fischer Headline Skratch Labs’ First Official Team of Endurance Athletes

Cycling West
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Haley Batten and Heather Fischer Headline Skratch Labs’ First Official Team of Endurance Athletes

Boulder-based nutrition brand launches Skratch Labs Racing, led by elite cyclists and trail runners

BOULDER, Colorado (April 8, 2025) — Skratch Labs has officially stepped into the spotlight with the launch of Skratch Labs Racing, its first elite athlete team, headlined by cycling standouts Haley Batten and Heather Fischer. Known for its science-driven approach to performance nutrition, the Boulder-based company expands its mission by directly supporting a handpicked roster of top-tier endurance athletes.

Celebrating its 13th year, Skratch Labs continues to push boundaries—not just in fueling performance but now by investing in the athletes who represent the very spirit of endurance sport. Skratch Labs Racing features eight athletes: cyclists Haley Batten, Heather Fischer, Alexis Magner, and Caroline Wreszin, along with ultra-runners Adam Peterman, Reid Burrows, Tara Fraga, and Tara Warren.

Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 28/07/2024 – Paris 2024 Olympic Games – Cycling Mountain Bike (MTB) – Women’s Cross-country – Elancourt Hill, Paris, France – Haley Batten (USA) after finishing second to receive the Olympic Silver Medal.

“At Skratch Labs, we go where the help is needed,” said Dr. Allen Lim, co-founder of Skratch Labs. “That’s always been our north star. Whether it was supporting athletes behind the scenes at global competitions or one-on-one through our athlete care program, we’ve been there, mixing bottles, giving advice, offering whatever we had to give. Now, we have the internal team and resources to go even further. We’ve built a team of athletes who are chasing the edge of possibility—those who carry purpose in their stride, who nourish their bodies and their communities, and who share our obsession with getting better. Because in the end, performance is just one part of the story. The bigger impact comes from how athletes inspire others to show up, work hard, and pursue excellence.”

The team unites four cyclists and four trail runners competing at the highest levels a variety of disciplines.

Batten leads the way with a series of standout performances, including wins at the 2025 Sea Otter Classic Gravel and Fuego XL, as well as a silver medal in cross-country mountain biking at the 2024 Olympics. Fischer brings veteran presence to the squad with a sharp racing mind, deep experience in criteriums, and a packed gravel racing calendar. Joining them on the road and gravel scene are Alexis Magner and Caroline Wreszin, both targeting USA Road Nationals and setting their sights on future Olympic opportunities.

On the trail side, Adam Peterman returns to Western States with momentum after setting a new course record at the Gorge Waterfalls 100k and earning a spot on the USATF Mountain Ultra Team. Tara Fraga, fresh off a commanding win and course record at Yakima Skyline 50k, and Reid Burrows, preparing for the iconic Leadville 100, round out the team’s rising talent. Tara Warren brings steady leadership and a wealth of experience as she anchors the team’s UTMB Val d’Aran campaign.

With Skratch Labs Racing, the brand transforms its long-held athlete-first philosophy into a visible, high-impact initiative—one that champions resilience, progress, and inspiration in equal measure.

Celebrating the Spring Classics!

Dave Campbell
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Celebrating the Spring Classics!

By Dave Campbell — Classic is perhaps the most overused term in cycling, with the oldest and most prestigious Classics known monuments. Less prestigious or historic events are either referred to as semi-classics or simply classics. All are long, difficult, and full of history. Every rider dreams of winning a classic, but especially a prestigious one. Most would agree, however, that the spring classics consist of the four spring monuments: Milan-San Remo (Italy), Tour of Flanders (Belgium), Paris-Roubaix (France), and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (Belgium) as well as Ghent-Wevelgem, Flèche Wallonne (both Belgian), and the Amstel Gold (Netherlands). Just seven chances each spring to join the legends.

Q1. Of the spring monuments, American men have finished on the podium of three of these four storied races. Which of the March and April Classics have not had a Yank finish in the top three?

Q2. American women have had much more success in the spring classics than their male counterparts, despite the races only being in existence for a brief period of time. Three American women have in fact won spring classics. Can you name them?

Filippo Ganna, Mathieu van der Poel, and Tadej Pogačar during the men’s elite race of the Milano-Sanremo one day cycling race (289 km) from Pavia and to Sanremo – North West Italy – March 22, 2025. Sport – cycling . (Photo by Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse)

Q3. Modern Classics riders do either a “Northern Classics” program (Cobbles) or an “Ardennes Classics” program (hills). Virtually no one today attempts both, with one notable exception: Mathieu Van der Poel did in 2024, earning a remarkable third in Liège after winning Roubaix and Flanders. Tadej Pogačar has rumbled about trying it, but this seemed doubtful after his crash at Strade Bianche. MVDP, however, so far has been the exception that proves the rule, as contending in both no longer seems possible. Who was the last rider to win at Roubaix on the cobbles and then go on to victory in the climbs of the Ardennes.

Q4. Which rider has won the most Spring Classics is easy for anyone who follows the history of the sport…Eddy Merckx! He in fact won a staggering 25 spring classics: Milan San Remo (7x), Tour of Flanders (2x), Paris Roubaix (3x), Liège (5x), Ghent-Wevelgem (3x), Flèche Wallonne (3x), Amstel Gold (2x). He won every one of them and more than once each! So, the real question is, who has won the second most spring classics?

Q5. On the women’s side, which rider has won the most spring classics? Note: The women’s classics are much more recent than the men’s and one (La Primavera aka Milan-San Remo only had a seven-year run and will return this year) but…give it a go!

For answers, see page 2 below.

Californians Will Have a Second Chance to Get Vouchers for Electric Bikes on April 29

Cycling West
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Californians Will Have a Second Chance to Get Vouchers for Electric Bikes on April 29

What you need to know: The California E-Bike Incentive Project will provide vouchers for up to $2,000 for income-eligible individuals for the purchase of a new electric bike. Up to 1,000 online applications will be approved. 

SACRAMENTO, California (April 10, 2025) – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will open its second application window for income-eligible Californians to receive up to $2,000 toward the purchase of a new electric bike (e-bike) through the California E-Bike Incentive Project on April 29 at 5 p.m. Applications will be taken through the program website. 

The December 2024 launch of the voucher program was completed in less than an hour due to high demand. At one point the online queue had nearly 100,000 people waiting, and it closed once 1,500 applications were reserved.  

E-Bikers riding in the Marin Headlands. Photo by Dave Iltis

“The unprecedented interest in the vouchers shows there is a big need and strong interest in electric bikes in California,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, CARB Executive Officer. “The growth of this technology is an important part of our efforts to make zero-emission transportation options available to all Californians.” 

Potential applicants are encouraged to review the process in advance, including the income-eligibility requirements. This round will offer $2 million or approximately 1,000 vouchers to eligible applicants who will be selected at random to help ensure a fair distribution of vouchers.  

The project will also continue to collaborate and partner with more than 20 community-based organizations statewide. These organizations will provide outreach and application assistance to low-income residents across California to empower and inform hard-to-reach applicants who encounter additional barriers to program participation such as lack of access to a computer or high-speed internet.   

Potential applicants must join a virtual waiting room between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on April 29, 2025. All individuals who enter the waiting room by 6 p.m. will be put in the queue in random order and have an equal opportunity to access a limited number of online applications. Up to 1,000 applications will be approved. 

Once approved, income-eligible individuals can redeem the voucher from approved retailers for an approved e-bike at the point of purchase.  

The California Legislature appropriated funding for the project to help reduce cost barriers to e-bike technology that can help replace car trips, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower transportation costs for Californians with low incomes. According to the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy, e-bikes can be a suitable alternative to car travel, particularly for shorter trips. 

CARB designed the California E-Bike Incentive Project in collaboration with interested parties through an extensive public process. The California E-Bike Incentive Project is the latest incentive program to prioritize equitable outcomes so that low-income residents are not left behind as we move toward a zero-emissions future.  

Cycling West’s Spring 2025 Issue is Now Available!

Cycling West
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Cycling West’s Spring 2025 Issue is Now Available!

Cycling West and Cycling Utah Magazine’s Spring 2025 Issue is now available as a free download (6 MB download). Pick up a copy at your favorite Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Northern California bike shop or other location. Or join to get a copy of our next issue delivered to your actual mailbox!

Download the Magazine Now!

Cycling West Spring 2025 Cover Photo: Riders cruise by Emerald Bay during the 2024 edition of America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride Lake Tahoe, benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Photo by Captivating Sports Photos, courtesy LLS.
Cycling West Spring 2025 Cover Photo: Riders cruise by Emerald Bay during the 2024 edition of America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride Lake Tahoe, benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Photo by Captivating Sports Photos, courtesy LLS.

Contents

  • Integrating Coffee Culture into the Cycling Community — page 2
  • My Recovery From a Mountain Bike Brain Injury — page 3
  • A Brief History of Americans Contesting the Cobbles in Paris-Roubaix — page 5
  • How California Homeless Programs are Helping People Get Fit and Off the Streets: ‘It’s the Bike’ — page 6
  • Idaho’s Crown Point Trail to be Restored — page 8
  • Study: E-Bikes Lead to Decreased Car Use — page 8
  • Studies: Bike Lanes Enhance Street Safety in Multiple Ways — page 8
  • Celebrating the Spring Classics! — page 9
  • Getting Ready to Ride My Bicycle – Then and Now — page 10
  • LoToJa Bike Race Offers Unique Blend of Ultimate Challenge and Inclusiveness — page 11
  • A Bicycle Tour from Minnesota to Canada — page 12
  • Gravel Adventure Field Guides Showcase Off-Pavement Routes — page 14
  • Sport Produces Mountains of High-Tech Waste. We are Finding New Ways to Recycle It — page 15
  • Classics Trivia Answers (from page 9) — page 15
  • Milano Sanremo – La Primavera – The Bicycle Art of Jen Lewis (page 23) — page 22

Beginning Bikepacking: My First Bikepacking Adventure

Kelly McPherson
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Beginning Bikepacking: My First Bikepacking Adventure

By Kelly McPherson — During the 2022/2023 school year, I had a couple of near-death experiences that landed me in the hospital multiple times. It’s kind of cliche, but it is true that near death experiences have a way of changing a person, or at least their perspective. Between those experiences and the realization that I have more of my life behind me than in front of me, I have come to understand a couple of things. One of those things is that life is too short to be worried about what other people think and that you should probably do what gives you joy, and you should also probably let go of the things that don’t. I have started wearing long feathery dream catcher earrings, because I like them and have given up the pain of racing my bicycle in lieu of riding and training in a way that makes me happy. I might still race, but only if I really want to. One of the other things I have learned is that I really don’t want to get to the end of my life and regret not doing something I always wanted to do. For that reason, I started grad school this past summer and I am planning to ride my bike from Massachusetts to Oregon this next summer. I think this will be an amazing adventure and is the kind of riding that will bring me joy.

Cross country touring/bikepacking is a very different style of riding than racing and riding in organized events. I have done a little bit of it when I rode from Canada to Mexico a couple of summers ago and down the Oregon Coast last summer, but I was fully supported by my husband with our truck and trailer. When I ride from Massachusetts to Oregon, due to how long I will need to do it, my husband may not be able to support me the entire way. He is not a teacher, like me, and so does not have summers off work. I realized that I needed to learn how to solo bikepack.

As I began to research bikepacking, I have learned that there is a lot more to it than just strapping a sleeping bag onto the back of your bike and pedaling away, though, if that is what you do, that is totally ok too. There are a lot of details to think about when planning to support oneself completely from a bicycle. What kind of bike will you use? How will you transport your gear? What route will you take? Where and how will you sleep? Where and how will you eat and drink? What happens if you get a mechanical? What will you do in bad weather? How, when, and where will you clean yourself and your clothing?

One of the best things that happened during my research was meeting and connecting with Lou Melini at a Bonneville Cycling Club social last fall. Lou has been bikepacking for a very long time and pointed me to some fantastic resources, some of which led me to other valuable resources as well. I will link those resources below. Lou was hesitant to tell me how to bikepack correctly. According to him, there is no right way, only the right way for you as you learn your own style of traveling. Still, I wanted to know how other people did it so I could get ideas and try things out. I peppered Lou with questions, and he patiently answered them.

Probably the best thing that Lou did was invite me to go bikepacking with him and some of his friends to Affleck Park, just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah on the road to Big Mountain. Originally, I had thought to do my first trip solo, so no one would have to witness my newbie mistakes. If everything fell off my bike and I didn’t make it to the campground, I didn’t want anyone to see that. Going with other people would end up being the better choice.

The date of the planned group trip arrived, and I was nervous. I almost didn’t go. I had gotten home from my first day at grad school after 3 PM and was super-duper tired. Maybe I should just bail and go another time? I hadn’t tested my setup, even on local neighborhood streets. I had no idea if all my gear would stay attached or if I could even pedal a bike weighed down with camping gear. I had purchased a tent and had not even set it up in the living room. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to figure out how to put it back in the bag in the morning. I would have to ride all the way home with a tent billowing behind me on my bike. Ugh!

Kelly’s bikepacking bike: Fezzari (now Ari) Schafer Elite. Photo by Kelly McPherson

I put the final packing touches on my bike and tested to make sure everything was secure and then I learned my first lesson. Maneuvering a bike with 40 pounds of gear on it is challenging. Just turning it around in my entryway to go out the front door was a comical display of acrobatics. Getting my bike down my front steps was terrifying. Then came my attempt to mount the bike. Hah! My habit of throwing my leg over the saddle of my road bike wouldn’t work here unless I suddenly developed the flexibility needed to get my leg up over all of the gear that was strapped to my rear rack. Leaning the bike and putting my leg over the top tube resulted in almost dropping my bike due to the extra weight. This is something I will have to practice as what I did was a super ungraceful shimmy of my foot over the top tube.

Despite the weight of my gear being mostly over my back wheel, my bike rolled fairly comfortably. I just had to be aware that the placement of the weight might make it necessary to take corners a lot more gently. A bike lean might prove disastrous!

Because I had gotten home from school so late, I knew that there was no way I would make it clear across the valley from South Jordan, up Emigration Canyon and part of the way up Big Mountain before it would get dark. I also wasn’t sure that I could physically make it. I had no idea how much energy it would take to ride a bike this loaded up. I chose to cheat and take UTA Trax up to the South Campus stop and then over to the canyon. That cut about 20 miles off my ride. I think that was a very smart idea.

On the road to Affleck Park. Photo by Kelly McPherson

Riding with 40 pounds of gear really levels up the difficulty of an Emigration Canyon climb. I was so very slow, but I got up to the top without having to push my bike at all. Yes! I felt so empowered that I had to take a picture of myself at the top. I did it! Then I headed down the other side and up to Affleck Park.

Affleck Park is a quirky little campground. I wandered around quite a bit before I finally found the camp spot that Lou and the others were at. I was elated to finally be there. Nothing had fallen off my bike. I hadn’t run out of water. I hadn’t gotten lost. I hadn’t died. These facts made me very happy. Lou and his friends were amazing. They helped me set up my tent and helped me figure out how to use my brand new, never tested water filter. Later we had the adventure of helping me put my food in my bear bag and hanging it from a tree. Let’s just say, I don’t have great aim and the task required multiple humorous attempts and a very long stick to finally get it set up. Lesson learned: Make sure you have eaten your fill before putting your food in a bag 15 feet in the air in a tree. They were all so nice and so patient with me as I learned and asked questions.

The Affleck Park campsite. Photo by Kelly McPherson

Next time I camp, I would like to have a better sleeping pad and some wool socks. The $40 inflatable pad I bought wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t fabulous, and my hips hurt by morning. My feet were also freezing all night. I also needed a pillow that was better than all of my clean clothes stuffed into the next day’s bike shorts and shoved under my head. I didn’t sleep much, but did spend quite a bit of time by myself outside my tent looking at the stars through a canopy of trees. It was meditative and peaceful to my soul. I could get used to this.

The next morning, I got up and re-packed my bike while I munched on a couple of carrot pecan muffins I had brought from home. I managed to get my tent completely back in its bag and strapped it to my bike. I exchanged numbers, said good-bye to my new-found friends, and started back down the canyon.

I grinned all the way down Emigration Canyon, proud that I had tried something new and felt strong in a way I hadn’t in a while. Bikepacking isn’t for the faint of heart. It is hard. The friends you make, the views you see, the adventures you find and most importantly the sense of accomplishment make it all totally worth it. I am looking forward to my next adventure.

Resources I found helpful:

 

NHTSA Enacts Stricter State Bicycling Safety Standards

Charles Pekow
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NHTSA Enacts Stricter State Bicycling Safety Standards

By Charles Pekow — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) updated its minimum performance standards that states must implement to reduce bicycle fatalities. Since 2014, states have been required to develop highway safety plans that include bicycle safety. State highway safety offices must develop three-year plans. The plans must assess current safety levels and develop goals to improve.

States get considerable leeway in developing performance measures, depending on the problems they identify. States with large metro areas, for instance, may be more concerned with bicyclist safety than more rural states.

From now on, state plans must include “strategic core performance measures” that can include reducing the “number of bicyclist and other cyclist fatalities.” NHTSA encourages specific goals (a state could aim not just to cut bicyclist fatalities but to develop measures to reduce deaths among cyclists of a specific age group, for instance).

States must submit their plans by July 2026 to cover years 2027, 2028 and 2029.

Details at Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 3 (Monday, January 6, 2025). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-06/html/2024-31487.htm

 

Guest Editorial: Colorado, It’s Time We Get Serious About Traffic Violence

Brad Tucker
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Guest Editorial: Colorado, It’s Time We Get Serious About Traffic Violence

By Brad Tucker — I have been practicing law for over thirty-five years, the majority of which has included representing bicyclists who have been hit by drivers who disregarded the safety of others. The Colorado legislature is considering a bill that will increase penalties for drivers who hit and kill vulnerable road users, such as bicyclists and pedestrians, from a class one misdemeanor to a class six felony. This is not an easy topic, and I struggle with aspects of the proposed legislation. But let me explain why this law is necessary.

First, we have a systemic problem in the United States, including in Colorado: we crash into each other while traveling around our community at an alarming rate, and these crashes too often result in the loss of life and serious bodily injury. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, over the past twenty years, 11,641 people have died on Colorado’s roads, including 1,131 bicyclists and pedestrians. 2023 was the deadliest year for pedestrians and bicyclists in Colorado—153 lives were lost, up from 65 lives lost in 2003.

There are multiple reasons behind this problem, and why it’s become more dangerous for people outside vehicles. Our transportation infrastructure was primarily designed to maximize vehicle throughput, often at the expense of safety. Today’s vehicles are much heavier and have higher front-end profiles than those of the past, which is a serious risk for vulnerable road users. Additionally, we now have smartphones and screens on our dashboard fighting for our attention. In a nutshell, we have not set ourselves up for success.

Many of us who drive were told at the beginning that “driving is a privilege, not a right.” The reality has become almost the opposite, and far too many of us abuse the privilege of driving by shirking our responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe. When we do so, Colorado law and our judicial system fail to hold people accountable. We can do better.

In Colorado, every state law treats the death of a person due to another’s actions as a felony—except one: hitting a person with a vehicle. This inconsistency is a red flag and requires a closer look. To be clear, district attorneys have the option to charge drivers with a felony, but unless the circumstances are egregious, such as the driver was drunk or had intent to harm, most opt for a lesser charge: Careless Driving Resulting in Death, a class one misdemeanor. In far too many cases, judges sentence people guilty of this crime to probation and a $1,000 fine—the former being below the minimum sentencing guideline of ten days in jail, and the latter being the maximum fine allowed. When a driver kills someone with their vehicle and is charged with a misdemeanor traffic violation, it is hard to accept that this is what accountability looks like. I know most families who have lost loved ones will unequivocally say that drivers receive a slap on the wrist.

Even a slight reduction in cyclist deaths is welcome. One less death means one less ghost bike. Scenes from the Ride for Magnus: Ride for Your Life. Photo by Ryan Muncy

Here is where I believe we lost our way. When a driver hits and kills a pedestrian or bicyclist, we often say that the driver didn’t intend to harm anyone, calling it just a terrible “accident.” While it’s good that the driver didn’t intend to cause harm, focusing solely on intent misses an important point: as drivers, we make intentional choices when operating a vehicle, and those choices can result in serious harm. A misdemeanor charge fails to acknowledge that agency and completely overlooks the serious harm they caused: a loss of life. Most traffic crashes are predictable, preventable, and within our control because, as drivers, we have agency. Referring to crashes as accidents absolves drivers of responsibility and ignores the need for them to make safe driving choices.

In the early 20th century, alcohol consumption, an activity that had been part of the human experience for almost 10,000 years, converged with a popular new activity, vehicular transport. Drinking and driving were pretty common and often glamorized in pop culture during this time. The lenient laws on the books and how they were enforced by police, and adjudicated by attorneys and judges, sent the message that driving under the influence wasn’t that bad. After all, so many people did it, how could it be that bad? It wasn’t until the 1980s and the launch of Mothers Against Drunk Driving that we got serious and changed the laws, which then changed the culture around driving drunk.

Magnus White was killed by Yeva Smilianska, who was driving impaired. Smilianska was found guilty of vehicular homicide, a felony sentence which carries two to six years in prison. Smilianska will be sentenced June 13, 2025. Photo courtesy The White Line

We are currently facing a similar situation. Colorado law, our judicial system, and how we talk about traffic crashes and fatalities have all normalized bad driving behavior and downplayed traffic violence. This is not surprising, considering our car-centric society, which often favors drivers at the expense of pedestrians and cyclists. Most Coloradans drive and can recall when we weren’t the model driver—whether we were in a rush or distracted. This “everyone does it” mentality fuels a false sense that bad driving isn’t a big deal, even when someone dies. As a result, we often accept lenient misdemeanor charges when a driver kills another person.

We must stop calling all traffic crashes “accidents.” We must acknowledge that we have agency while driving. We must exercise this agency responsibly. And we must pass this bill to hold drivers accountable who breach the vital contract of responsibility we make with each other and hit and kill another person.

Brad Tucker is the founder and attorney of ColoBikeLaw.com. He is unique in his field as an avid cyclist and an experienced trial attorney focused on insurance and liability law. Brad is a board member of Bicycle Colorado, a nonprofit that advocates for expanding access to safe biking and walking across Colorado.

Local Elected Officials and Business Leaders Nationwide Petition for Continued Federal Investment in Trails, Walking and Biking

Cycling West
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Local Elected Officials and Business Leaders Nationwide Petition for Continued Federal Investment in Trails, Walking and Biking

Rails to Trails Conservancy letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation calls on the agency to protect federal investments in active transportation, reflecting widespread bipartisan support from hundreds of mayors, county officials, state representatives and chambers of commerce

A rider on the Withlachoochee State Trail section of USBR 15 in Florida

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 16, 2025) — This week, Rails to Trails Conservancy, the nation’s largest trails, walking and biking advocacy organization, delivered a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) leadership signed by hundreds of local officials and business leaders from across the country calling on the agency to protect federal investments in active transportation in the face of heightened agency scrutiny of previously awarded grants—including those that fund bicycle infrastructure.

As the Trump administration assesses the range of discretionary grants awarded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), RTC has identified $3 billion in funding for active transportation projects at risk with investments benefiting rural, suburban and urban areas in all 50 states. In a letter to USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy, RTC and a bipartisan group of local officials and business leaders from 35 states and Washington, D.C., urged the agency to continue obligating funding for awards previously announced under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program (RAISE); Safe Streets and Roads for All program (SS4A); Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program; Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program; and Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program.

“More than half of Americans live in a county where trail and active transportation networks are being developed. These investments are vital to the economic development and mobility plans of hundreds of regions nationwide. Local officials and business leaders are prioritizing these investments because they understand that making it safe to walk and bike is essential,” said Kevin Mills, RTC’s vice president of policy. “The projects that this funding supports are saving lives while creating new jobs and delivering the quality of life that Americans deserve.”

The letter, countersigned by more than 175 local officials and business leaders, reinforced the importance of a strong federal partnership in building the nation’s transportation system and the value of active transportation in delivering outcomes USDOT has prioritized. These leaders wrote that “a continued strong federal partnership is necessary to achieve the economic, mobility, health, safety and quality of life goals we share. Federal discretionary funding inspires and enables local innovation and complements formula and local funding. As with other transportation modes, a combination of federal, state and local investments is necessary to develop connected active-transportation networks.” 

Representatives from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Washington, D.C., joined the call for action from USDOT.

Hundreds of regions nationwide are building out trail and active transportation networks, representing every single state, which require sizeable grants and dedicated funding opportunities to move these projects forward and realize the economic, mobility, health and safety benefits they offer. Current discretionary and dedicated federal programs deliver significant investments for trails, walking and biking, but many communities will not achieve their infrastructure goals without reliable funding at sufficient scale that is focused on active transportation.

“Leaders in communities across America are choosing to invest in active transportation to realize the safety, economic and quality-of-life goals we share,” said Mills. “We’re looking to USDOT for a productive and reliable partnership to invest strategically to connect safe walking and biking routes and benefit communities nationwide.”

Rails to Trails Conservancy is the nation’s largest trails organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong—dedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on social media.

Gravel Truck Driver Who Struck And Killed 14-Year-Old Cyclist Rylan Hoob in Boise, ID Sentenced To Jail

Cycling West
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Gravel Truck Driver Who Struck And Killed 14-Year-Old Cyclist Rylan Hoob in Boise, ID Sentenced To Jail

BOISE, Idaho (April 14, 2025) —  Kent Fry was sentenced on March 28, 2025 by Judge James Cawthon of the Ada County District Court after pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter almost two and a half years after the death of Rylan Hoob.

At the time, Fry hit him on October 21, 2022, Rylan Hoob had stopped and was straddling his bicycle in the dirt shoulder alongside the intersection of Beacon Light and Highway 55. Fry was driving a truck pulling a belly dump gravel trailer turning right onto Beacon Light from southbound Highway 55. He ran Rylan over with the rear tires of the trailer. Numerous eyewitnesses to this tragedy saw Rylan stopped on the dirt and not on the road. Despite his years of refusing to accept responsibility, Fry never claimed he kept his truck on the pavement.

Rylan Hoob Memorial Stone. Photo courtesy of the Hoob Family

Judge Cawthon imposed the maximum allowable jail sentence of 365 days under Idaho’s current misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter statute, with 215 days suspended. Fry was immediately taken into custody to begin serving 60 days in the Ada County Jail.

In a creative approach to sentencing within the constraints of Idaho law, Judge Cawthon also ordered Fry to serve the remaining 90 days of his sentence during a two-year probation period. During this time, Fry must report to jail the day before every holiday—including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Independence Day—and remain incarcerated until the following day. Additionally, he must serve jail time on both his own birthday and Rylan Hoob’s birthday each year. Fry’s driver’s license has also been revoked.

Rylan Hoob and his parents, Travis and Heather Hoob. Photo courtesy of the Hoob Family

“No one should go through what we have been through and are going to live with every day of our lives,” said Travis Hoob, Rylan’s father. “Heather and I ask everyone to let Rylan’s memory be a reminder to be aware of others on the road.  As the Judge recognized, Rylan did everything right that day, but bad driving behavior has tragic consequences.”

Rylan Hoob doing what he loved most, racing his bike. Photo courtesy of the Hoob Family

The Hoob family had offered well over a year ago to recommend only community service if Fry would plead guilty and simply accept responsibility for his actions. Fry, who admits he saw Rylan before the collision and who drove away from the scene without stopping, declined the offer.  The first time he expressed remorse for his actions to the family was at the sentencing hearing.

In resolving the related civil case, the company that owned the truck Fry was driving at the time of the incident has agreed that the vehicle will be destroyed. The Hoob family was represented by attorneys Kurt Holzer and Brooke Kenney of Boise.

This sentencing comes amid ongoing discussions about Idaho’s vehicular manslaughter laws, which currently classify many fatal driving incidents as misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of one year in jail, regardless of the severity of the violation or the tragic outcomes.

With the sentencing, the court proceedings chapter of this tragedy has come to a close for the Hoob family.

2025 Redlands Bicycle Classic: Frayre and Shafi Shine Bright – Breakaways, Sprints, and History Made

Rebecca Reza
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2025 Redlands Bicycle Classic: Frayre and Shafi Shine Bright – Breakaways, Sprints, and History Made

Stage 1: Shafi, Laverick Ride to Victory at Lake Perris Time Trial

Riverside County, California (April 9, 2025) – Stage 1 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians began with the Toyota of Redlands Lake Perris Individual Time Trial. Alia Shafi rode to victory for Fount Cycling with a time of 25:04 after finishing second last season, earning the first yellow general classification jersey of the week. Shafi was given the number 301 as the last rider to start after finishing second overall last year. Her teammates would join her on the podium, sweeping Stage 1 with Jennifer Wheeler finishing second (25:28) and Majorie Rinaldo in third (25:43).

Alia Shafi takes the win and the first yellow jersey for Fount Cycling Cuild
Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic

The 11.7-mile loop around the lake was the second year in a row the location was used in the 40 years of the Redlands Classic. Riders rolled out the starting house underneath blue skies and increasing heat, with only a slight head wind fighting them to the finish. Temperatures hovered in the mid-80s. However, with half the peloton arriving to California from Northern locations or the East Coast, the warm temperatures were a shock to the system.

“Compared to last year, I felt a little bit more comfortable,” Shafi said after the stage. “I knew I could make a little time and I had a plan; I think I executed it well. This is my third year at Redlands. I’ve been hunting this down since last year, we were so close – shout out to Nadia (Gontova) who crushed it with DNA. We’re coming hungry this year, hoping to keep yellow all week.”

Wheeler has returned to racing, after retiring she focused her efforts on building Fount Cycling Guild with her partner, David Richter. They guided and coached a number of athletes that came through their program including WorldTour rider Veronica Ewers. They would later meet Shafi, recognizing the talent of the collegiate rower. After directing Shafi the last few seasons, Wheeler wanted to take it a step further and race alongside her.

“We brought Alia up since she was a noob and didn’t even know how to shift a bike,” Wheeler said. “I don’t know how more years she’s going to be racing, but I really wanted to come back and be with her to support her in the peloton. That was my primary motivation this year to get back to racing…its just such a great team. They motivate me to be my best so I’m really happy.”

Madison Gallagher (Team Winston Salem) had been timed as finishing third upon crossing the finish, however, she quickly informed the officials she had taken a wrong turn out on course. After a delay due to the men’s start, the correction confirmed Rinaldo in third. Shafi would double up with a lead in the sprint points classification, sharing the jersey with Wheeler for stage 2. 17-year-old Canadian Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling) also had an incredible ride, finishing 5th in 25:58 to earn the newly minted Best Young Rider jersey for the pro women.

Pro Men’s Race

As the women celebrated their podium finishes, the pro men were off as the temperatures began to rise. Cole Owen with Team Winston Salem would clock the first fast time of 22:17, a few seconds shy of Tyler Stites 22:20 winning time last year. Hugo Scala, Jr. would start less than 10 minutes behind Owen, as the first rider for Project Echelon out of the starting house. His 21:58 time would hold for much of the day, hoping to take the GC lead for his team.

Joseph Laverick steals Stage 1 victory for Good Guys Racing NYC
Photo: ©Veloimages

Joe Laverick was among the final 15 riders to finish when he stopped the clock at 21:50, the only other rider to join Scala in finishing under 22-minutes, winning the stage. Eric Brunner (Competitive Edge Racing) rounded the podium in third with a time of 22:01.

“It was hot, very, very hot,” Laverick said following his victory. “We’ve done a lot of recon laps the last three or four days, so it was kind of nice to put it all together. I’ll be honest, I felt absolutely horrendous for half of the day. I crossed the line and luckily I heard I got the fastest time. I just kept my fingers crossed, hoping the other guys wouldn’t catch me and kept yellow.

“I’m only guest riding for the Good Guys team, but they’ve looked after me like I’m one of their own,” Laverick added. “Tomorrow is a big day. Based on how Project Echelon rode last year, I know they’re gonna throw the kitchen sink at me, both tomorrow and the next four days. The circuit at the bottom is going to change it a bit, but at the end of the day, it’s a power test until the top of the climb. Hopefully, I can out climb a couple boys….we shall see.”

Redlands has become known as a land where legends are born. Team California’s Elouan Gardon is one of many examples we are sure to witness this week. Gardon races for the US National Paralympic Team, having won a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Games in the men’s pursuit C5 4,000-meter individual pursuit para-cycling track event. He followed that performance by setting a new course record at Phoenix’ Valley of the Sun stage race this past February. The 18-year-old would finish 7th on the stage Wednesday, after sitting second for most of the day.

“It was fun to get out here, even though it was hot and a little different than Washington,” Gardon said. “I enjoyed the technical aspect of it and the little climb at the end; it was a nice length. This is my first race with Team California, I have only been with them for a week. I just want to do as well as I can, defend this jersey, and do well for the team.”

Thursday is expected to be the hottest day of the week in Southern California, with temperatures nearing 90 degrees. Only eleven seconds separates the top three on GC. Laverick’s teammate last year, Cole Davis, won the stage giving him confidence leading into a tough battle in his defense of the yellow jersey. The pro men will begin their 75.5-miles with 10 laps around the newly minted circuit before heading up the long climb to the Onyx Summit. The women will soon follow with six laps of their own before they face the long, steep ascent to the top. Time will tell if the new circuit hands over the battle of a whittled down peloton race organizers are hoping for.

Stage 2: Shafi Celebrates Another Stage Win, Extending Overall GC Lead

Big Bear, California (April 10, 2025) – Alia Shafi notched another stage victory, crossing the line solo atop the Onyx Summit for Stage 2 at the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.. The Fount Cycling Guild rider extended her overall lead to over a minute on GC. SpeedBlock pb Terun rider, Kira Payer, finished shortly behind Shafi in second, earning the Queen of the Mountains jersey for her efforts. Best Young Rider Sidney Swierenga rounded the podium in third, for the second day of racing.

Alia Shafi en route to victory, extending her lead in the overall general classification for Fount Cycling Cuild
Photo: © VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic

The pro women set off for Stage 2 Thursday, completing six laps of the new circuit that was added this season, hoping to split the peloton prior to reaching the foot of the summit. Anticipating the long climb ahead, the women’s peloton stuck together, waiting for the imminent attacks.

Eventually, the winning move would launch in the feed zone midway up the climb. Kira Payer (SpeedBlock p/b Terum) and Shafi gained some distance, setting a pace others found too difficult to keep. The battle continued between the duo until Shafi gave a final jump to drop her breakaway companion and post for the win.

“The altitude was really tough, you could feel it in that last 10KM,” Shafi said. “Kira [Payer] was super strong, she tried to launch a few attacks, but I held her wheel. We went basically up to 250m together until I went. Big shout out to her, she is super strong and I had lots of fun racing with her today.”

“The team crushed it today. We had roughly seven girls out of about 25 or 30 towards the end,” Shafi continued. “They controlled the pace and protected me well. It went according to plan. It’s awesome to see us come out after a couple of years coming so close.”

Last season Payer contracted Long-Covid and admits she thought she would never be able to race again.

“Fount and I ended up on the descent and I hopped on to the train. As soon as the speed dropped, I blew it up a bit,” Payer said. “Eventually, Alia and I traded pulls which was able to drop the other girls. Sydney bridged up to us with a super strong ride. I put in some digs to try and shake Alia. It cracked Sydney but ultimately Alia outsprinted me at the end.

“My plan was to go for it from the bottom. My girls did an amazing job keeping me cool and hydrated,” Payer added. “This was a pretty big day for me, because last year racing this stage I realized I had Long-Covid. I spent the entire year until September recovering from Covid. I didn’t know I would be able to race again, so to come back a year later and feel like myself again is a pretty big achievement for me.”

The classification jerseys shuffled around with Kendall Ryan taking over the Sprint Points Classification, Payer taking the first Queen of the Mountain jersey of the week, while Swierenga maintains the Best Young Rider jersey, and Shafi in yellow.

Pro Men’s Race

The men began the day early, starting their stage at 9:30, facing 10 laps of the added circuit before facing the climb. The circuit saw several crashes and extensive action at the front of field, desperately attempting to set a breakaway. Multiple riders and teams were in the mix. During the last two laps riders were picking up the pace and establishing a front group with roughly 35 riders.

Owen Cole soars to victory atop Onyx Summit for Team Winston Salem
Photo: ©Veloimages

Little by little the group split up and the front breakaway was left with a handful of riders, including Ricky Arnopol (Project Echelon). Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem), Alex Gil (Canel’s –Java), and Stephen Schaeffer of Llandis Trek. Around 30km to go, Arnopol launched an attack with Gil countering. The duo gained a slight advantage that would balloon to over a minute ahead of the stragglers behind them.

Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) set his pace in the chase group behind, slowly gaining time and would eventually catch and drop the two leaders to reach the finish solo, celebrating his victory and taking over the yellow jersey. Arnopol would finish second, securing his lead in the King of the Mountain classification, with Luke Elphington in third for Kelly Benefits Strategies.

“I wasn’t trying to get the KOM, I really wanted the win,” Arnopol said. “I didn’t really get any help, it was just me and one other guy (Gil) for the entire thing, and then I was solo for the last 25km. I got caught with a kilometer to go. Owen[Cole] was just stronger and I couldn’t stay on the wheel. I just ran out of legs at the end. I got second which is a bummer, but I guess it was a good day.”

At about the midway point up the climb, Arnopol had two other teammates in the chase group, including Hugo Scala, Jr. who had been second on GC after the stage 1 time trial. Unfortunately, Scala had suffered a front wheel puncture and shortly there after, slide and crashed. The team would later report that Scala escaped any major injuries but was forced to abandon the race.

Meanwhile, as the Arnopol and Gil duo were seeing roughly 20km to go, Gil began cramping from the heat unable to keep Arnopol’s wheel. He would try to regain the distance lost but would eventually finish outside the top 20.

Maintaining his rhythm, Cole had Arnopol in his sights, and would catch his wheel within 3km to go, eventually dropping him to go on for the win. Eder Frayre of Golden State Blazers was also close behind but ran out of real estate, finishing fourth on the stage.

“There weren’t many thoughts in the final kilometers, other than trying to keep breathing,” Cole said at the finish. “I had my guys yelling in my ear the entire way, that was the only thing keeping me going at that point. Just trying to go all in. We went really early at the bottom of the climb. We started pushing the pace in the main peloton. A couple of us got away and just went at it the entire day. I had a minor crash in the circuits at the beginning. My teammates were amazing and brought me back up, luckily everything was okay.”

Stage 3: A Day for the Break – Fuller takes the stage, Frayre climbs into GC Lead

Redlands, California (April 11, 2025) – Cyclesport.com’s Quinn Felton dropped his breakaway companions within the final 500 meters to steal the victory on Stage 3. The new circuit at Crafton Hills proved to be one that lent itself to explosive racing, with teams trying desperately to establish a breakaway in order to gain time to what has become a tight race for the overall GC.

Eder Frayre (Golden State Blazers) Takes Yellow on Stage 3
Photo: ©VeloImages

”It was a fun new course, definitely as hard as we thought it was going to be,” Felton said after winning. “The gravel section was not as sketchy as we thought it would be. It was still a very hard course in the heat today. The team plan was to allow the first break to go, letting everyone gas themselves before chasing back. We countered that and it worked out perfectly.”

Kieren Haug (Project Echelon) was second, while Eder Frayre was third overall. Due to time bonuses that were offered at the finish for the top three finishers, Frayre earned enough bonus seconds crossing the line in third, to earn his first yellow jersey of his nearly decade-long career.

“It was really a hard race and hard course but we were ready,” Frayre said. “I’m in really good shape. We had a good plan coming into the stage, but then the breakaway started to go. I told my teammates, ‘we need to go full gas into the climb,’ so they made a great lead out for me from the bottom to almost the top.

“Nearing the end of the laps, and once I had joined the break, they knew I was the biggest GC threat. I just rode as hard as I could until the final.”

The GC standings were so close, it took some time after finishing for the judges to calculate everything properly. Frayre was awarded the yellow jersey in the end by just eight-seconds, with two stages remaining – The Downtown Crit, and the infamous Sunset Loop circuit.

“This all means so much,” Frayre said recounting what Redlands Bicycle Classic has meant to his professional career. “I started racing here in 2010 when I was practically a junior. It was my first race with the professionals. It was really hard work, but its one of my dreams is to win Redlands before I retire. I have a really big opportunity this weekend. I want to keep this jersey until the final. I’m so thankful to my friends, family, and people in my life.”

The Redlands Classic race organization added the new route for stage 3, to replace the Highland Circuit. The 250m gravel section nearing the halfway point of each lap, looked like Paris-Roubaix, as the riders became lost in the dust all the wheels were kicking up. They would appear out of the clouds of dust to prepare to come around, time and time again.

Fount Cycling Guild continues to dominate Redlands, earning another stage win with Stovar

In the women’s race, Fount Cycling Guild continues to dominate the competition, after their third stage wins in as many days. This time it was Ellexi Stover who took the victory for the team, with the yellow jersey, Alia Shafi immediately behind. Stover had been busy protecting Alia from other attacks and the elements going through the gravel section. At roughly 100m to go, Shafi sat up to watch her teammate cross the finish with elation.

Fount Cycling Guild continues to dominate, winning another stage this time with Ellexi Snovor
Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic

Several groups had tried to establish a breakaway with no result straight from kilometer zero – there had been no neutral roll out on Friday.. A few laps later and five heavyweights had left the field behind in their wake. The breakaway included all but one of the leader jerseys – GC Leader : Shafi, Kira Payer, Leading Mountain classifications, and our Best Young Rider, Sydney Swierenga,

Time bonuses were awarded both at the finish and with four laps to go. Shafi remained calm and cool amidst several attempts at isolating her. She had several teammates trying to make the bridge up to the front of the race. Ellexi Stovar (Fount Cycling) was the only teammate who managed to make it. breakaway had consisted of 5 riders all together.

Payer had stuck with them most of the way, in order to fight for QOM points since earning the QOM jersey on stage 2. She increased her QOM lead to 41 points ahead of Shafi with 31.

Stage 4: Summerhill and Shafi Triumph in Downtown Redlands

Redlands, California (April 12, 2025) – Danny Summerhill took home a thrilling win for his L39ion of Los Angeles team today after a nail-biting 90-minute criterium in downtown Redlands, Calif.

The 36-year-old Colorado-born veteran stunned a stacked L39ion of Los Angeles and Golden State Blazers team by out-sprinting Jim Brown (Golden State Blazers) and Ryan Gorman (Cyclesport.com) to take victory.

Danny Summerhill takes Stage 4 victory for L39ion of Los Angeles
Photo: © VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic

Eder Frayre (Golden State Blazers) stayed out of trouble to retain his lead in the overall competition. He now sits 10 seconds ahead of Quinn Felton (Cyclesport.com). Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) is third at 1’04”.

“This has been a pretty trying week,” Summerhill said at the finish. “But I’m really happy that the team, as few of us as there are now, were able to pull that (win) out today. I attest that whole sprint to Robin (Carpenter) and the strength of that man. He stayed away for pretty much the majority of the race, which meant that myself and Alec (Cowan) really didn’t have anything to do apart from stay safe and stay at the front of the race. I really owe a lot to Robin and Alec.”

The Pro Men’s race gets underway for Stage 4: Arrowhead Orthopaedics Downtown Redlands crit.
Photo: © VeloImages

From the gun, the Golden State Blazers took over control of the 132-rider strong peloton as it snaked around the one-mile technical criterium, allowing several early moves from Summerhill and Luke Elphingstone (Kelly Benefits Cycling), to gain some traction for a couple of laps, however, despite the lead changing hands several times, the Blazers did swift work of neutralizing the threats.

That was until Ben Stokes (Kelly Benefits Cycling) launched a searing attack that caught the bunch asleep during a lull at the race’s midway point. Sensing an opportunity, Robin Carpenter (L39ion of Los Angeles) bridged across to the 20-year-old. Together, they built up a threatening lead of around 20 seconds before the sprinters’ teams turned on the gas, anxious to deliver their fast men to the line before the time ran out.

Carpenter had other plans, however, and courageously held off the locomotive-like peloton until two laps to go. From there, Summerhill used his experience as a veteran of the sport to position himself for success in the finale.

Heading into tomorrow’s finale, Jim Brown (Golden State Blazers) has all but sealed his lead in the points competition with 40 points. Sebastian Brenes (Canal’s – Java) is sitting second with 19. The king of the mountains classification remains the same as Stage 3, as no points were available today. Richard Arnopol (Project Echelon) is currently first in the climbers competition with 28 points ahead of Luke Elphingstone’s (Kelly Benefits Cycling) 22 points.Cole Owen (Team Winston Salem) will wear the best amateur jersey heading into tomorrow’s race.

Women’s Race

In the pro women’s criterium, Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild) continued to showcase her incredible yellow jersey caliber form with a third win at the 39th edition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic. The 29-year-old overall race leader attacked with five laps to go of the 75-minute criterium and held off a disorganized peloton for an impressive solo victory. Her teammate, Jennifer Wheeler won the reduced bunch sprint for second and points leader Cassidy Hickey (CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling) rounded out the podium in third place.

Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild) notches yet another win, her third this week
Photo: © Veloimages

“I just saw a moment to go and I took it,” Shafi said. “I’ve been with this team for five years and I owe it all to (Jennifer Wheeler).”

 Attacks set the stage for a lively race straight from the start, with Kendall Ryan (L39ion of Los Angeles) and Brooklyn Raddin (Fount Cycling Guild) stirring up the tempo in the opening laps. Most moves were short-lived; however, due to the diligence of the Fount Cycling Guild squad, they were interested in keeping Shafi out of trouble and perhaps prompting a later attack from the eventual winner.

 After the second intermediate sprint, which saw Hickey pick up the maximum points on her way into the green jersey, the elastic finally broke. Hickey and Andrea Cyr (Fount Cycling Guild) shifted their sprint momentum into a strong breakaway and gained a maximum of 20 seconds for several laps before the inevitable catch.

 With five laps to go, the yellow jersey took off from the bunch, and no one had a response. Safi quickly gained 30 seconds and held it to victory.

Shafi leads the general classification by a margin of 2’25” ahead of Canadian Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling Race Team), the current best young rider. Third on GC is the leader of the queen of the mountains classification, Kira Payer (Speedblock pb Terun), 2’29” in arrears. Third on stage 4, Cassidy Hickey (CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling) claimed enough intermediate sprint points to overtake Ellexi Snover (Fount Cycling Guild) in the points classification.

Stage 5: Holly Breck Takes Final Stage; Shafi Retains Leader Jersey

Redlands, California (April 13, 2025) – Holly Breck (L39ION of Los Angeles) stormed to victory in the elite women’s finale, claiming the top spot on the podium ahead of Cara O’Neill (Team S&M CX) and overall race leader Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild) in a reduced field sprint.

 “I can’t believe it, honestly,” Breck said. “I’m at a loss for words. I’ve never made the circuits before, so to win it is unreal. It’s kind of all a blur, but I knew I had to be patient. Fount’s been riding strong all week. They had a good lead-out going, but I knew when I had to jump, and that was my last shot. Wow.”

Holly Breck (L39ion of Los Angeles) outsprints the field to win Sunset Loop
Photo: © VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic

The 68.1-mile stage began under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, a slightly cooler departure from previous stages. After a nervous start that saw the peloton hesitate to commit to an early break despite several attempts by Winston Salem Cycling, the eventual best amateur winner, Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling), attacked with three laps to go and gained enough daylight to enjoy a few laps solo. However, the move was reabsorbed as a bunch sprint seemed more and more imminent.

 Third on the day, Shafi easily cemented her lead in the overall competition, claiming the biggest win of her career by 2’29” ahead of 17-year-old Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling). Queen of the mountains jersey winner Kira Payer scooped up the final podium placing, finishing 2’36” down on the winner.

 “I’ve been aiming for Redlands for a couple of years now, so it feels awesome to finally get it, and the team worked so well together, and we’re just so happy that we pulled it off…I continue to think Redlands is my favorite race,” Shafi said.

Scott McGill Seals Stage 5 of Redlands Bicycle Classic; Eder Frayre Secures Overall Victory

In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Redlands Bicycle Classic, Scott McGill (Project Echelon Racing) won in the pro men’s Stage 5 Sunset Loop Road Race, sponsored by Community Alliance Medical Group, by winning the bunch sprint from the breakaway. Robin Carpenter (L39ION of Los Angeles) finished second and Nathan Cusack (Kelly Benefits Cycling) was third.

Scott McGill, Jr. steals victory on the Sunset Loop for Project Echelon
Photo: © Veloimages

Eder Frayre (Golden State Blazers), who holds the unique distinction of being the first Mexican rider to ever win the Redlands Bicycle Classic, finished safely in what was left of the peloton to successfully take first in the general classification by just 10 seconds ahead Quinn Felton (CycleSport.com). Team Winston Salem’s Owen Cole finished third overall, 1’04” back.

“I’m super happy and super proud,” Frayre said after the race. “I’m thankful for life, God, and my team for helping me and all my friends in the peloton. It took a long time to get here, and I’m very happy.”

The final stage covered a demanding 91.3 miles, beginning with two laps of a short criterium course in downtown Redlands.

Men’s race on the Sunset Loop for Stage 5
Photo: © VeloImages

Riders then tackled the challenging Sunset Loop, completing 12 laps of a 6.5-mile circuit featuring significant elevation changes, particularly in the first 2.6 miles. The stage concluded with five laps on a 1.0-mile criterium loop in downtown Redlands.

After some short-lived attempts at a breakaway, a group of eight escaped the Golden State Blazers stranglehold on the peloton, pulling away during the climb with 10 laps to go.

Heiner Parra (Canel’s-Java), Sam Boardman (Project Echelon Racing), Ryan Gorman (CycleSport.com), Evan Russell (Expeditors), Brody McDonald (Golden State Blazers), Joseph Laverick (Good Guys Racing NYC), Julien Ruhe (Kelly Benefits Strategies) and Peter Bock (Jacomo Racing Domestic Elite) gained a maximum advantage of a minute and some change for several laps before the Golden State Blazers reeled them in with five to go.

McGill and Ethan Craine (Project Echelon Racing), Nathan Cusack (Kelly Benefits Cycling), and Robin Carpenter (L39ION of Los Angeles) made up the next breakaway to pull away. After David Ruvalcaba (EMPYR Cycling) bridged across, the group had enough firepower to stay out of the peloton’s reach to the finish, and McGill had enough left in the tank to take top honors.

“We were just trying to salvage something from this race. We were second the first three stages, and then I crashed yesterday in the crit with three to go, so I was unable to contest the sprint,” McGill said. “We were either going to go for the win on GC or the win on the stage.”

Men’s Podium photos © Above Four Media
Women’s Podium photos © Above Four Media
PLACE LAST NAME FIRST NAME BIB # TEAM NAME TIME COUNTRY
1 FRAYRE MOCTEZUMA Eder 95 Golden State Blazers 11:03:24 MEX
2 FELTON Quinn 61 CycleSport.com 11:03:34 USA
3 *COLE Owen 238 Team Winston Salem 11:04:28 USA
4 HAUG Kieran 27 PROJECT ECHELON RACING 11:04:55 USA
5 *ELPHINGSTONE Luke 134 Kelly Benefits Cycling 11:05:12 USA
6 ARNOPOL Richard 26 PROJECT ECHELON RACING 11:05:21 USA
7 *SHELTON Marcis 211 Team California p/b Verge 11:05:43 USA
8 LOCKWOOD Cory 92 Golden State Blazers 11:06:08 USA
9 WRIGHT Owen 1 Canel’s – Java 11:06:45 USA
10 RUVALCABA REYES David 76 EMPYR Cycling 11:06:49 MEX
*Amateur/U23 Men          
             
PLACE LAST NAME FIRST NAME BIB # TEAM NAME TIME COUNTRY
1 SHAFI Alia 301 Fount Cycling Guild 9:59:37 USA
2 *SWIERENGA Sidney 391 TaG Cycling Race Team 10:02:06 CAN
3 PAYER Kira 384 SpeedBlock pb Terun 10:02:13 USA
4 FRYE Ashley 421 Phase 1 Cycling pb Byrne Specialty Gases 10:03:24 USA
5 *GILBERT Emmi 436 JAKROO Composite 10:03:44 USA
6 RUSCH Katherine 312 CCB pb Levine Law Group 10:04:42 USA
7 WISEMAN Eleanor 306 Fount Cycling Guild 10:05:38 BEL
8 SNOVER Ellexi 307 Fount Cycling Guild 10:06:57 USA
9 GILBERT Annie 351 Monarch Racing 10:06:59 USA
10 ONEILL Cara 452 Team S&M CX 10:07:03 USA
*U25 Women          

Van der Poel’s Masterstroke: A Third Cobblestone Seals His Path to Immortality

Cycling West
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Van der Poel’s Masterstroke: A Third Cobblestone Seals His Path to Immortality

ROUBAIX, France (April 13, 2025) — On the hallowed velodrome of Roubaix, where cycling legends are immortalized one cobbled conquest at a time, Mathieu van der Poel etched his name deeper into the sport’s granite foundation. With a thunderous solo victory in the 122nd edition of Paris-Roubaix, the Dutchman claimed his third consecutive title in the Hell of the North, becoming only the third rider in history to achieve such a feat, following the long shadows of Octave Lapize (1909–1911) and Francesco Moser (1978–1980).

This was no routine win, no coronation on cruise control. It was a war of attrition fought over 259.2 brutal kilometers and 30 vicious pavé sectors. It was a duel for the ages with Tadej Pogačar — the Tour de France champion making his debut in this cobblestone crucible — and a masterclass of tactical precision and raw power from Van der Poel.

The Battle Begins: A Calm Before the Storm

Under brooding grey skies, 175 riders rolled out of Compiègne at 11:25 a.m., girding themselves for a battle where luck and legs wrestle for supremacy. The overnight rain didn’t turn the course into a mudfest, but it left just enough slipperiness to add jeopardy to every corner.

The early breakaway formed after 22 kilometers, with a blend of promising names and lesser-known warriors: Kim Heiduk, Oier Lazkano, Markus Hoelgaard, Jonas Rutsch, Max Walker, Jasper De Buyst, Rory Townsend, and Abram Stockman. They were granted a modest lead of just over three minutes, a gap that the peloton — warily shepherded by Ineos Grenadiers — never let off the leash.

But mechanical chaos was already in motion. Filippo Ganna, Ineos’ spearhead, suffered a mechanical that cost him over 30 kilometers of chasing. Joining his misfortune were Jasper Philipsen and Dylan van Baarle, victims of various early issues that forced a hard chase just to get back into contention.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates) in the Trouée d’Arenberg, Paris-Roubaix, April 13, 2025 – Photo © ASO/Pauline Ballet

The Screws Tighten: The Arenberg Inferno

It was around the Haveluy to Wallers sector that the race’s real script began to unfold. Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen launched the first real attack, joined instantly by Van der Poel and Pogačar. The peloton shattered like glass behind them.

Then came the iconic Trouée d’Arenberg. The famed five-star sector claimed no mercy, with the trio of Van der Poel, Pogačar, and Pedersen charging like warhorses into its forested hell. The early break was reeled in, and the real protagonists emerged.

The decisive moment, however, came just kilometers later. At Wallers to Hélesmes, Van der Poel turned the screw and forced a split that would define the race. Only a select five survived: Pogačar, Pedersen, Philipsen, and Stefan Bissegger clung on — but barely.

“It was not a planned move,” Van der Poel later revealed. “The legs felt good, and I knew there was a headwind coming later. It felt like the right time.”

Paris-Roubaix, Photo © ASO/Pauline Ballet

Whittled Down to Two: Pedersen and Bissegger Drop, the Duel Begins

Punctures began to hit like shrapnel. Pedersen fell victim first at Tilloy to Sars-et-Rosières, and Bissegger followed shortly after. That left Van der Poel, Pogačar, and a resilient Philipsen at the front.

What followed was a tactical ballet. The trio worked in synchrony, preserving their lead, until the five-star sector of Mons-en-Pévèle cracked the equilibrium. Van der Poel surged, and Pogačar used the opportunity to unglue Philipsen, setting up a mouth-watering mano-a-mano: the king of the cobbles vs. the conqueror of climbs.

Behind them, a chase formed — Vermeersch, Rutsch, Hoelgaard, Pedersen (regrouped), and Wout van Aert, working together but trailing by over 90 seconds. It would take a miracle — or a mishap — to bridge that kind of gap.

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) during Paris-Roubaix, April 13, 2025. Photo © ASO/Pauline Ballet

Disaster Strikes: Pogačar’s Crucial Mistake

That miracle nearly came. At sector 9 — Pont-Thibault to Ennevelin — Pogačar, full gas, misjudged a sweeping right-hander. In a flash, his rear wheel lost grip and he hit the deck.

“I was focused on following the motorbikes. I didn’t even see the corner,” a visibly deflated Pogačar admitted afterward. “The crash cost me my rhythm, and then my front brake started touching the wheel. Mentally, I just cracked a little.”

Though he remounted quickly, the damage was done. Van der Poel rode out of the sector 20 seconds ahead and never looked back.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in the Trouée d’Arenberg, Paris-Roubaix, April 13, 2025 – Photo © ASO/Pauline Ballet

The Final Blow: Van der Poel Rides into Legend

Even a puncture on the Carrefour de l’Arbre — one of the race’s final and fiercest sectors — couldn’t stop Van der Poel. His buffer over Pogačar, now over 50 seconds, was unassailable. With every turn of the pedal, he carved his legacy into the stones.

He entered the Roubaix Velodrome alone, greeted by a thunderous ovation. A third consecutive title. A monument to his mastery.

Behind, the battle for third heated up. The trio of Vermeersch, Pedersen, and Van Aert broke clear on Bourghelles to Wannehain. It was Pedersen who out-sprinted the Belgians to claim his second straight third-place finish — a testament to his gritted-teeth resilience after a poorly-timed puncture.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) wins his third consecutive Paris-Roubaix, April 13, 2025 – Photo © ASO/Charly Lopez

Tactical Analysis: Why Van der Poel Won

Mathieu van der Poel’s triumph at the 2025 Paris-Roubaix was a masterclass in seizing opportunity and executing under pressure. The race took a dramatic turn earlier than expected when Tadej Pogačar crashed while trying to follow a motorbike into a corner he failed to anticipate. Van der Poel, riding near the front, narrowly avoided the crash and immediately committed to an aggressive move. With over 50 kilometers still to race, his decision to press on solo was bold, but it capitalized on the disruption behind and created a gap that would never be closed. From that moment, he was fully committed, battling headwinds across the cobbled sectors while the chasers scrambled to reorganize.

13/04/2025 – Paris-Roubaix – Compiègne / Roubaix (259,2 km) – Mads PEDERSEN (LIDL-TREK). Photo © ASO/Pauline Ballet

Among those affected was Mads Pedersen, who had been well-protected by his Lidl-Trek team and positioned perfectly for the finale. A puncture at a critical moment took him out of contention for the win, turning his race into a salvage operation. Despite this, he and his team showed remarkable resilience, regrouping and ultimately riding their way back onto the podium. Pogačar, meanwhile, attempted to recover from his crash but was hampered by a mechanical issue and eventually a bike change. Although he was physically strong, the incident and ensuing frustrations sapped his momentum, and he was unable to rejoin the leaders.

With the key contenders neutralized or delayed, Van der Poel controlled the race from the front. While the gap hovered within sight for a while, no organized chase materialized behind him. His sustained effort in difficult conditions was a clear demonstration of strength and tactical clarity. He managed the final kilometers with discipline, never overextending yet maintaining enough power to keep the chasers at bay. His third win in Roubaix confirmed not only his dominance on the cobbles but also his ability to read and react to the chaos that defines this race. In a race where luck, timing, and toughness intersect, Van der Poel had the perfect combination—and made no mistakes.

Post-Race Reflections

Mathieu van der Poel’s third victory at Paris-Roubaix was as much a test of endurance as it was a triumph of timing and resilience. “It has been the Roubaix I’ve suffered the most in my career,” he admitted, underscoring just how brutal the 2025 edition truly was. What made this win even more remarkable was how early the decisive move came: “I was not expecting to go clear that early.”

 
The turning point came when Tadej Pogačar crashed after misjudging a corner—a moment Van der Poel narrowly escaped: “Tadej misjudged a corner and I was quick enough to save it. That’s part of racing.” With the chaos behind him, he pressed on solo, facing brutal headwinds across the cobbles: “I struggled… but I gave everything I had all the way to the finish.” It wasn’t a comfortable ride, but it was a commanding one.

Despite racing alone for much of the finale, Van der Poel showed nothing but admiration for his rivals: “Tadej is an amazing champion… Had he not made a mistake, we probably would have made it together to the velodrome.” The respect was mutual, and it adds weight to Van der Poel’s achievement. There was no sense of vengeance after Flanders—just relief and satisfaction: “I’m just happy to find my good legs again.”

Cementing his legacy with a third win in Roubaix, Van der Poel reflected on how far he’s come: “This is something you don’t expect when you start racing, because this is a race in which legs count as much as luck does.” It was a brutal day, but a historic one—another Roubaix to remember for a rider who continues to etch his name deeper into cycling history.

Tadej Pogačar’s Paris-Roubaix debut was as eventful as it was humbling, marked by a crash, a mechanical issue, and a gritty fight to the finish. As he put it bluntly: “Shit happens.” Pogačar crashed while trying to follow the motorbikes into a corner he didn’t see in time: “I just didn’t see the corner coming, and couldn’t brake in time to avoid crashing.” It was a moment of bad luck that proved costly, especially when compounded by a brake issue.

Despite his reputation for resilience, even Pogačar admitted the crash and mechanical wore on him mentally and physically: “By the time I changed bikes, I had already exploded and was just hoping to reach the finish line as quickly as possible.” But he never fully gave in, and his reflections afterward showed both disappointment and perspective.

There’s a strong chance he’ll return: “I may come back to Paris-Roubaix next year,” he said, noting how much he enjoyed the unique atmosphere and support: “I liked the atmosphere, with an amazing amount of people on the roadside. It was a great day of racing.” For Pogačar, it wasn’t just about his individual ride—he also praised his team’s performance: “Today’s was a great race for our team, with 2 guys in the final top 5.”

He also gave credit where it was due, highlighting the strength of his rivals: “Mathieu [van der Poel] was the strongest in the cobbles and rode incredibly well… He is a great champion… If I was a kid, he would be my idol.” That admiration underscores Pogačar’s respect for the classics and his competitors—and hints at unfinished business.

While this year didn’t go his way, his words make one thing clear: his Roubaix story isn’t over.

Mads Pedersen’s performance in the race was defined by resilience and sharp tactical thinking, even in the face of misfortune. As he explained, “I was unlucky to puncture in a really bad moment”—a pivotal incident that derailed his shot at directly contesting for the win. Up to that point, things were unfolding well: “I was feeling really good… The team did impressive work to keep me out of trouble, positioning me ahead of every sector.” That strong team support had him exactly where he needed to be—until the puncture changed everything.

Rather than giving up, Pedersen and his team made a mental shift: “When the race is gone like it was, you need to get your head ready to fight for something else.” That ability to recalibrate mid-race, to pivot from disappointment to opportunity, became the story of his ride. Despite being out of podium contention in that moment, he remained committed: “We kept fighting… because anything can happen in this race.”

Ultimately, that mindset paid dividends. His persistence earned him a spot on the podium, a result that reflects not just physical strength, but strategic composure and grit: “In the end, it paid off.”

Pedersen may not have had the legs to dominate the race, but his response to adversity turned a potential disaster into a commendable success.

13/04/2025 – Paris-Roubaix – Compiègne / Roubaix (259,2 km) – Wout VAN AERT (TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE). Photo © ASO/Pauline Ballet

Despite an early crash, Wout van Aert showed resilience and determination at this year’s Paris-Roubaix, ultimately finishing fourth behind Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar, and Mads Pedersen. For the Belgian rider, just being in contention for a podium spot felt like an unexpected success.

The Visma-Lease a Bike leader suffered a fall just before the first cobbled sector, a moment that immediately put him on the back foot. “It’s difficult,” van Aert said post-race. “I crashed just before the first cobbled sector, and from that point on, you’re already behind. I struggled to find my rhythm, but with the team, we fought hard to get back into the race.”

By the time the peloton reached the infamous Trouée d’Arenberg, van Aert had managed to position himself well, though he admitted he didn’t have the legs to follow the day’s strongest riders. Still, he was surprised to remain in contention deep into the race. “It’s almost a surprise to still be fighting for the podium in the finale,” he said.

Observers noted that van Aert seemed to grow stronger as the race progressed—similar to his performance at the Tour of Flanders. But the Belgian was cautious in his assessment. “Maybe, but it’s still too early to really analyze that. I’m happy with fourth place. I think it was the best result I could’ve achieved today.”

Van Aert now wraps up his cobbled classics campaign with two fourth-place finishes: one in Roubaix, the other in the Tour of Flanders. While those are respectable results, they fell short of the team’s main objective. “Of course, we hoped for more. The goal was to win a race,” he admitted. “But looking back, I was always beaten by stronger riders. I gave it everything, so I have no regrets.”

Legacy in Motion

With this victory, Van der Poel ties Pogačar at eight Monument wins — both now sitting in sixth and seventh on the all-time list, at the ages of 30 and 26, respectively. The duel between the two superstars is still unfolding, but with each race, they continue to redraw the boundaries of what’s possible.

And Paris-Roubaix, that most brutal of canvases, once again proved the perfect stage for history.

Van der Poel now stands at the crossroads of greatness and myth. Three cobblestones pave his path to legend — and the road ahead looks boundless.

RANK RIDER RIDER NO. TEAM TIMES GAP
1  MATHIEU VAN DER POEL 1 ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK 05H 31′ 27” –
2  TADEJ POGACAR 21 UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG 05H 32′ 45” + 00H 01′ 18”
3  MADS PEDERSEN 11 LIDL-TREK 05H 33′ 38” + 00H 02′ 11”
4  WOUT VAN AERT 36 TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE 05H 33′ 38” + 00H 02′ 11”
5  FLORIAN VERMEERSCH 26 UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG 05H 33′ 38” + 00H 02′ 11”
6  JONAS RUTSCH 144 INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY 05H 35′ 13” + 00H 03′ 46”
7  STEFAN BISSEGGER 71 DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM 05H 35′ 13” + 00H 03′ 46”
8  MARKUS HOELGAARD 83 UNO-X MOBILITY 05H 35′ 13” + 00H 03′ 46”
9  ALFRED WRIGHT 137 BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS 05H 36′ 02” + 00H 04′ 35”
10  LAURENZ REX 143 INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY 05H 36′ 03” + 00H 04′ 36”

 

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