Race Reports

Everest Challenge 9/25-26/04
Bishop, CA
Pro/1/2
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The Everest Challenge represents a climbing race in its purest sense. Six climbs in two days covering over two hundred miles with a total ascent of 29,000 feet. Base altitude in Bishop is around 3,500 feet with several climbs reaching over the 10,000 foot mark. No spectators, no glitz - just shut up and climb...and climb. But this is not a race report.

In early March this year I hung up my bike vowing that I was done and it was time to move on. Work obligations made it too difficult to find a balance with the Webcor Pro Team. In the previous couple years I had traveled, raced with the big boys, had small successes - where to go from there if I didn't have the time to commit fully? Nowhere, I decided.

I slowly sunk into the comfort and ease of a sedentary lifestyle. Wake up, read the paper, eat, go to work, come home, eat, watch some TV, sleep and repeat. It was pleasant but I soon began showing signs of boredom and listlessness. Work became more manageable so in July my wife, Petra convinced me to get back on the bike. She suggested that I just focus on what I really liked about it - climbing. Everest was coming up...why not give it a shot?

Of course I listened because after being married for ten years the smart husband knows when his smart wife is right. Anyway, the morning floggings began anew as I awoke to strength intervals, AT repeats, V02 max efforts etc. I was actually enjoying the training as a necessary process rather than a necessary evil. I was still very slow and nowhere near my form but I had no real pressure. It is actually very rewarding to come back after a long layoff because you can see significant gains every week...as long as you don't get sick.

Right - In early August I was struck by some sort of intestinal virus. I was pretty much resigned to the fact that my comeback was too little too late. But interestingly it didn't affect my appetite so I kept training, although I felt a little weak. The virus' main effect was malabsorbtion and caused me to lose massive amounts of weight. I can't tell you I was overly upset with contracting the bug as I lost ten pounds rather quickly - without really feeling too sick. I have to admit that I kind of dragged my feet before going to the doctor to capitalize on the effect.

Once the medicine cleared things up I was left with my lightest weight since high school and a strength to weight ratio that was seriously helping on the climbs. The next best thing to gaining watts quickly is to lose some weight quickly - I was taking what I could get.

In the interim I was throttled at several Cal Cup events by all the pros gearing up for the T-Mobile GP - It was both depressing and inspirational as I knew Everest is not a race about speed but conservation and endurance. I took my licks, suffered like a dog and stuck with the plan.

I was mentally psyched for the race as I knew the competitors and the course but I had worries about my form. I hadn't been able to work up to the distances or climbing amounts in my training as I ran out of time.

But when you really get down to it there's always more to be done - a little more speed work, more endurance, more recovery. Whatever - at this point it was just time to shut up and climb and come what may - no pressure, just go out and do what I love on the bike.

And climb I did - As such, the actual details of the race are not important - I was so happy just to be over there in the Eastern Sierras at dawn on a cool Saturday morning with Petra - going through the pre-race routine with the usual pre-race jitters wondering what I would make of the next two days.

And yes, I was fortunate enough to have two great days on the bike and take the win. Thanks for all the emails and support - I look forward to seeing you all out on the roads again!

Greg Drake

Race: Everest Challenge CA/NV Climbing Championship Bo Hebenstreit Category: Elite 4 Date: September 25-26, 2004 Distance: 206 miles Climbing: 29,035 feet Teammates: Nathan Cassell (11th) Field: 20 Place: 1st State Champion First of all, anyone who even attempts to try and finish this race is awesome!!! My one and only goal was to win this race. September 25, 2004 Day One 120 miles, 15,465 feet of climbing We started at 7:15am with a neutral roll out for the first 8 miles. Once we got to the first small climb riders were already starting to separate I just kept riding tempo until there were only two riders with me. When we started the first major climb I found myself alone off the front. I rode for that next 100 miles thinking there were riders from my group that might catch me at anytime so I never pushed it as hard as I could just so I would have something left if I were to be caught. The last 5k of climbing was brutal. There were a few sections that pushed the limits of my 53x27 combo. I was so happy to finish first that day I can't even describe it. I started my stop watch as soon as I crossed the finish line to see what the time gap was to the second place finisher. 10 minutes went by, than 20, than 40 and finally at 47 minutes 2nd place rolled in. I all could think of now is just stay up right on the bike and the State Championship is mine. I even had time to get a few flats. September 26, 2004 Day Two 86 miles, 13,570 feet of climbing I did not sleep at all Saturday night, I just was to excited about winning the next day. On the first climb of the day I rode at the same tempo as the day before and was soon alone again. After a while a rider who was one hour back on me in the GC had caught back up to me. I though how great that someone has attempted to stay with me. I found out he had finished in sixth place the day before. I told him I would slow up a little and take him with me and he would surly move into second place in the GC. I knew from the day before approximately how hard we would need to go. I was also easy to get time checks because every hill was and out and back. We rode together and talked the rest of the ride easily building time on the rest of the group. On the final climb with 5k to go I stood up and left my riding partner to take the win for a second day. I had accomplished everything I had come for. I took the gold and even brought a guy for sixth in the GC to second. That was a lot of fun. http://www.everestchallenge.com/EC04results.htm http://www.everestchallenge.com/PhotosEC04.htm http://www.pbase.com/bohebe/everest_challenge_canv_state_climbing_cham pionship_2004 What a way to end my CAT 4 season. On Monday I upgrade to CAT 3. See you on the road, Bo

Everest challenge 9/25/26
cat 50+
field 12
stage 1 place=1st

First of all, congrats to Bo. His final time would have ranked him 7th with the pro 1/2 and 2nd in the 3's. He explained to me after stage 1 that this would be his last cat 4 race.

By now most of you have heard the dynamics of the hardest two days of racing you will ever do, as billed per the race flyer. This would be the last hoorah of the season for me. I opted to do the 50+ race instead of the 55+ because the start time for the 55+ was a cc-cold, dark, and scary 6am. We started with the rest of the masters at a civilized 7:10 am.

I felt pretty good for the first climb of stage 1, starting at 4400' and ending at 10,250 in 11 miles. I used conservation of energy as an excuse to ride within myself and not go anaerobic too soon and too long. To my surprise I was leading the 50+ group. On the descent, Bo went by me like a rocket. The 2nd climb started at close to the 4400' and ended at 7,420' in 8 miles I was passed on the descent about 1/2 way down by Paul Mckenzie (Cliff Bar) who had a 2nd and a 3rd in the 45's the last 2 years. This was his chance to win and he was out for blood.

I borrowed a compact crank just for this race. It worked quite well for all the climbing, but I would spin out on the descents and be gapped off or spin like a madman to stay in close proximity, (excuse #2). By the time I caught up with Paul and another master 45 rider at the bottom, I was pretty spent.

Rupert reminded me I need to be recovering on the easy sections but it was too late; I was working harder going down than I was up and therefore cramping was beginning to be another excuse,(#3 in case you lost count).

South Lake was the goal - only 20 miles and 5500' of climbing to go. I looked back and Paul was gone. Oh damn what a shame. Soon the other 45 rider was off the back. It was just me and Rupert, and Rupert was doing all the work pulling me up the hill. About 1/2 way up the climb, Rupert, being the strong man rode away. With a bit of a lead, and with Paul nowhere in sight, I figured I could relax for a bit.

The climb was relentless. The sun's rays showed no mercy. The heat reflected off the tarmac like a convection oven. My pace was slowing. The legs felt like they were slogging through mud. Hmm, perhaps a 6:00am start time would have been the smart way to go? A sign up ahead read South Lake 7 miles, Yahoo, Yipee, only seven miles to go. It turned out to be the longest most grueling seven miles I have ever ridden with a kicker of about 18% on the last km to go. I came so close to dismounting and walking to the finish, but pride held me on the bike to the line. Paul came in two minutes back.

Stage 2
place 2nd

Like I said, Paul was out for blood. He put the hammer down on the first climb up to Palisades Glacier. The starting elevation is 3940', summit elevation is 7800', with an average grade of 8%, max is 11%. I fell off his pace about 1/2 way up and watched him ride off with Lindsey Blount, the winner of the 45's.

Next climb - Waucoba Canyon. I had a hard time with this one at the Sierra to Sand dunes race, and nothing had changed. The next climb was up Ancient Bristlecone Pine forest. Twenty-one miles with an average grade of 6% with some 14% to 17% sections and rollers from 9 to 12%.

I hung with some 4's and master 35's up most of the climb. About 1/2 way up riders starting dropping off. Then there were three of us. With 5k to go a gap started opening up and it was me falling off the pace. Two other 50's caught me at this point but I managed to out-sprint them at the finish which proved to be rather silly because
we three got the same time.

Meanwhile, Paul, with about 3k to go broke his derailleur and started running up the hill. He soon came across a woman friend who loaned him her bike. With the wrong type pedals and the saddle being way too low, he finished twenty-three minutes ahead of me. The 3rd place went to Jim Rhiner at 44 minutes back.

By the way I have not been on the bike since, nor do I have any intentions of getting back on. I reckon me and my steed will be gathering a few weeks worth of dust.

Last year this very difficult two day stage race was my top priority for the year and I trained specifically for it. That included three century rides and several weekend long rides on back-to-back Saturdays and Sundays. This year my top race priorities were District TT (Satley) and RR (Woodfords) championships and Master's Nationals at Park City. Since EC was only about six weeks after my last race at Park City, I didn't really have enough time to recover from National's and put in the long miles and long climbs that EC requires. My wife and I went over to Mammoth Lakes 2 1/2 weeks before EC for altitude training and because we like to visit there. I did get in climbs of 4 of the 6 EC climbs prior to the race but never more than 1 or 2 in a single day. I also did the High Sierra Fall Century the weekend before the EC race and realized that I'd probably be in trouble handling the EC distances.

Category: 4
Date: 9/25,26/2004
Teammates: Bo (1st)
Field: 20
Result: 11th

The format for both days was the same. Three out-and-back climbs.

Day 1 - Following the neutralized 8 mile flat start, the road turned upward as roads in hill climbing races are wont to do. It seemed half the field splintered off the main pack within the first two miles. At about 1/3 of the way up the initial 6000 ft climb there is a brief descent. There, one rider asked if we had reached top of the first climb. Uh oh, still 4000 to go. On the third climb, I was in a very loose group of four at the back that finished within about 6 minutes of each other (13th-16th). 12th place was up about 8 minutes.

Day 2 - More of the same, except I don't think I fueled as consistently, and started feeling hungry over the final two miles (which took 30 minutes!). The 9th and 11th placed riders from the first day did not start, so I moved up a couple of places overall.

This race presented a lot of uncharted territory for me. I wasn't sure what effect the altitude would play, but things seemed to be ok after the first climb and that was a relief. The event website recommended 30-34/34 gearing for cat 4 and 5. I ran a 30/27, which made it easy to spin on the lower gradients, and still manage the 15% ramps that came late in the first day and the three mile 10% finish on the second day. I ate and drank as much as I could, stopping at most aid stations (placed at 1 to 1.5 hr intervals). Of any factor, I think the temperature (my computer said high 90's) caused me the most difficulty. Although at higher elevations things cooled off and that helped. It was easy to keep time checks on the race lead, I just watched for Bo on the return descents.

In sum, a difficult and interesting race. At times I felt I was racing against myself as much as against the other riders. The scenery was outstanding, and the golden color of the turning aspen groves was a special treat. Big thanks to the other AV'ers out there giving encouragement as they descended (the cat 4's started last).

Nate