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Fool's Gold 100 - NE
Dahlonega, Georgia, USA, August 16, 2008
2007 Results Results NUE Standings
Bishop and Stevenson set Georgia on fire
By Harlan Price
Blessed with overcast skies chasing away Georgia's August heat, 300 people lined up for the Fool's Gold 100 and 50 mile races. Even though there were two races going for the weekend, it was the 100 miler that created the most anticipation with a head-to-head battle between National Ultra Endurance (NUE) series dominator Jeff Schalk (Trek/VW East Coast) and US National Marathon Champion Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW Factory).
The women's field had it's own battle royale potential with last year's winner Trish Stevenson (IFracing.org), series leader Cheryl Sornson (Trek/VW East Coast) and Mohican 100 winner Betsy Shogren (Sobe Cannondale). Though the racing was to be the highlight for some, everyone had an opportunity to enjoy the festival created by the partnership between the Southern Off Road Bicycling Association (SORBA) and the Fool's Gold race promoters.
Schalk's mechanical delays showdown while Bishop takes win and Turner comes second
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"Bullets from the start!" was how Jeremiah Bishop described the pace off the start line heading for the first climb and SORBA sponsored KOM in the second annual Fool's Gold 100.
"Diego was contesting Schalk for the KOM, and it made an immediate seperation," said Bishop. The contester in question was 2000 Colombian Olympian Diego Garavito (Aerocat). He went to Sydney as a cross country racer, but has spent the past few years racing mostly road, and has recently returned to mountain bike racing.
Schalk took the KOM which cause four riders to split free from the rest of the group: Bishop, Schalk, Diego and Georgia local Thomas "The Hitman" Turner (Outspokin' Bikes).
Over the top of the climb, the group stayed together until the Bear Hair and Bull Mountain trails. Turner flatted and temporarily lost a place to Garavito while he booted his tire with a gel wrapper. "Some of the most selective portions of the race were Bear Hair and Bull Mountain trails, where at that point the course climbs rough singletrack on roots and rocks," said Bishop.
"Jeff was drilling it, and he was probably trying to wear me down," he said. "I pretty much sat on and matched his moves to put time on third and fourth place. I was being conservative and trying to stay out of trouble. It had been months since I had a five hour ride in me."
The two continued pushing each other through the end of lap one and the second time up the first climb. At the top, Schalk had to stop briefly at the aid station while Bishop was skipped it and rode through.
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"The second time up the hill was really tough, Jeff was still full throttle," said Bishop. "When he pulled over at the aid station, I kept the pace on, not attacking, but not letting off because I knew I would have to stop at the next aid station and he wouldn't. These races have a real tactical element to them, which makes it interesting."
Bishop has spent most of his season making a run for the Olympic team, and hasn't had the pleasure of racing the new 100 miler pace. Even after two national champion jerseys for the marathon and the short track on his back, he still had to play a conservative race.
On the descent from the top from the aid station, Schalk was flying down the gravel descent to catch back on when he slashed his front tire. After blowing out his tube he had to wait around for someone to help him out with a new tube and boot. He ended up walking for awhile before getting the tire inflated, and by that time he was short on motivation for continuing.
"I was looking forward to duking it out with JB," said Schalk. "He'll have to wait till Tahoe-Sierra to get another chance, since Bishop will be in Utah for the NMBS finals on the weekend of the Shenandoah Mountain 100 [Rumor has it tha tBishop may stay at home and challenge Schalk after all at the SM100 - ed.]
In the miles after Schalk's flat, Bishop kept his head down and a steady safe pace to get to the finish line where he took the US$1,000 first place prize. "The course was great, I had a wonderful time and weather was perfect," said Bishop. "It was one-half race and one-half festival with vendors, food and beer. The band was really good. All in all an awesome time. It was a great contrast fom the the races I've been doing. I'll definitely try to be back next year."
Mean while Turner had fixed his flat and was chasing down Garavito, but he never saw him again since he abandoned before the catch. According to race promoter Eddie O'Dea, who was on lead moto for the first lap and a half, Schalk and Bishop had gained two minutes on Garavati and Turner by the 40-mile mark and 10 minutes at 50 miles.
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Turner returned to mountain bike racing just a few weeks ago, on June 29, after a three-month recovery from surgery on his shoulder to reconnect cartilage wrecked in a road crash at the end of March. On top of the recovery, he was also experiencing his first 100 mile race and was surprised by the starting pace. The shoulder must have set right because he was able to hold onto a second place only 30 minutes down on Bishop.
"I wouldn't have gone off as hard, but I trusted the pace of the company. I knew they were a lot more experienced, but I also knew I was at a similar fitness." Turner's attitude of 'if they can, I can', played in his favor since no one else was able to come within 30 minutes of him. He might have also been surprised by the aid station situation when no one stopped for a refill until aid station three, and he only had one bottle for the first two and a half hours.
Rounding out the top three was NUE series promoter Garth Prosser (Sobe Cannondale), in third, Charlie Storm in fourth and Chris Johns in fifth.
The overall sees no changes since none of the other contenders made the podium. Second overall Even Plews (Scott/ Capitol Subaru) was finishing up the TransRockies, while third place Chris Eatough (Trek/VW) took the time to recover from a tough 24 hour US National Championships. Fourth place rider Harlan Price (IFracing.org) is recovering from a broken wrist, and fifth place Christian Tanguy (American Cycle and Fitness) was deterred by the travel distance.
Stevenson steps to top block
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Less than two weeks after becoming the first female to complete the Colorado Trail Race (CTR), Trish Stevenson (IFracing.org) brought back a souvenir. Her new legs and lungs propelled her to the front of the women's field despite the presence of Mohican winner Betsy Shogren (Cannondale Sobe) and series leader Cheryl Soronson (Trek/VW East Coast).
After a season plagued by injury and fatigue, Stevenson was able to reclaim a top podium spot. "I wanted some redemption...I haven't been in shape all season.The CTR was my get fit quick scheme. It's great not suffering and enjoying the full 100 miles. Not to say that I wasn't feeling it, but my legs felt strong and my head was in it." Patience payed off for the North Carolina rider.
Shogren led the way up the first climb for the KOM while Stevenson and Soronson sat back keeping their eyes on the lanky climber from West Virginia. Trish caught Shogren soon after the KOM and they were riding together up the next climb when her rear tire blew off the rim. Shogren rode on while Stevenson blew through two CO2s before she put a tube in and found help from singlespeeder Rich "Dicky" Dillon.
"Dicky helped pump the remainder of my tire and I started stomping up Cooper's Gap. I started picking off a bunch of boys and about midway thru the lap caught up to Cheryl. She was surprised and encouraged me to catch Ms Betsy."
Around the 25-mile mark Stevenson caught Shogren and kept the pace high enough to keep the West Virginian off her back porch. " I kept an steady pace and I surprised myself by being able to push past Mrs. Mtn Goat Shogren," said Stevenson.
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"I don't think I ever let up - having been passed late in the game by Betsy before so I kept up the effort. The course was in remarkable shape. Much improved from last year. 10 miles less, 10 degrees cooler and 100 times more enjoyable. Eddie and Nam did a great job." Stevenson came across the line in 9:41 and had a comfortable gap on the second and third places. Her closest competitor was 43 minutes behind.
Sornson bridged back to Shogren by the 50-mile mark and continued to ride with her until the end. "It was a hard race because of the climbing, no place to rest, and it was hard to work with people. Betsy and I rode together for support to help get through a long race," said Sornson. In the end the two crossed the line almost together, with Shogren in second and Soronson in third, both at 10:24.
The NUE series overall for the women sees Sornson still in control of the top spot with only seven points, but now with three races under their belts, Shogren moves to the second position with eight points overall and Stevenson has 10.
The Shenandoah Mountain 100 on August 31 might be the deciding race for the second and third positions.
Singlespeed class taken by Gunnar
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Gunnar Shogren (Cannondale Sobe) brought some West Virginia honor to the deep south by taking the top spot on the singlespeed podium, and his time of 8:56 would have given him a fifth place overall in the men's division. Chris McGill and John Brenner were second and third respectably.
Race conflicts kept the other top contenders out of Georgia.
Men's 50 plus shuffle the deck
Greg Turner put 40 minutes on his nearest competitor on his way to a first place finish, while Marshal Reeves and David Grauer placed second and third. Previous series champion John Majors was fourth and James Wilson rounded out the top five.
In the overall standings David Grauer now occupies the top spot with 17 points, while Wilson sits one point behind in second and Majors is in third. Those are the only 50 plus men to complete four races, but if Greg Turner gets one more completed in a reasonable position, he will probably take the series. However, Scott Root will be there to contest that possibility and will be playing close attention to what Turner does the next time they meet.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Andrew Kornylak Photography /www.akornphoto.com
- Jeff Schalk decided not to finish after a slashed tire.
- The Fool's Gold benefitted SORBA and local trails.
- Showing off the jersey...
- Winner's shot
- Podium time for the 50 miler men
- Ladies 50 miler podium
- Could you ride this for 100 miles?
- Trish Stevenson atop the women's podium after 100 miles.
- Guess who sponsors the promoters?
Images by John Kelso
- Jeff Schalk eyes his competition early in the race.
- Jeff Schalk leads the fast men.
- NUE Co-director Garth Prosser finished third.
- A racer concentrates on the road ahead.
- Going the distance
- Betsy Shogren would finish second.
- Gunnar Shogren on a singlespeed - maybe blocking the competition for his wife Betsy?
- Jeremiah Bishop went solo for the win.
- Jermiah Bishop adds a win to his national short track and marathon championship titles.
- Women's 50 miler podium.
- Do you think this guy is a 29er fan?
- Weight weenies competed for the lighest bike award time.
- Women's 100 miler podium
- Masters 100 miler podium
- Singlespeed 100 miler podium
- Men's 100 miler podium
- Men's 100 miler podium - this time with the banner.
- Another shot of the 100 miler fast ladies
- It's so light you have to hold it down!
Results
100 miles Women 1 Trish Stevenson 9.41.00 2 Betsy Shogren 43.00 3 Cheryl Sornson DNF Laura White DNF Jennifer Moos Men 1 Jeremiah Bishop 7.39.00 2 Thomas Turner 30.00 3 Garth Prosser 1.01.00 4 Charlie Storm 1.02.00 5 Chris Johns 1.53.00 6 Travis Knight 3.00.00 7 Bo Martin 3.43.00 8 John Dove 4.14.00 9 Michael Jarosz 4.26.00 10 Marcus Furlong 4.27.00 11 Robert Toledano 4.37.00 12 Jeff Madden 4.49.00 13 Ryan O'dell 5.02.00 14 Kevin Sloan 5.13.00 15 Josh Forester 5.19.00 16 Lee Neal 6.07.00 17 Ted Mather 6.46.00 DNF Jeff Schalk DNF Bob Simpson DNF Scott Pierce DNF Robin Oscar DNF Thomas Mckenzie DNF Michael Livingston DNF Michael James DNF Corey Hubbard DNF Roger Hilten DNF Chris Guy DNF Joseph Dennis DNF Kevin Cooney DNF Allan Atkinson DNF James Stone DNF Stephen Janes DNF Jon Dalman DNF Taylor Sullivan DNF Neal Radford DNF Eddie Cremonese DNF Diego Garavito Singlespeed 1 Gunnar Shogren 8.56.00 2 Chris Mcgill 29.00 3 John Brenner 30.00 4 Charles Meek 58.00 5 Rich Dillen 1.25.00 6 Marcel Aguirre 3.29.00 7 Brendan Gibbs 3.48.00 8 Chris Brown 3.56.00 50+ Men 1 Greg Turner 9.37.00 2 Marshall Reeves 39.00 3 David Grauer 1.10.00 4 John Majors 1.16.00 5 James Wilson 2.19.00 DNF Harley Smith 50 miles Women 1 Shannon Greenhill 5.19.00 2 Norma Rainwater 2.00 3 Anna Kelso 3.00 4 Maria Carrelli 4.00 5 Amy Denicke 9.00 6 Christine Putnam 16.00 7 Kim Moore 29.00 8 Nancy Dalman 30.00 9 Loretta Simpson 31.00 10 Kyley Cross 52.00 11 Emelie Soderstrom 1.08.00 12 Leah Mitcham 1.19.00 13 Cath Simonsen 1.28.00 14 Karina Fernandez 1.30.00 15 Laina Hamilton 1.45.00 16 Sunny Sandidge 1.47.00 17 Lee Lyman 1.54.00 18 Annette Manuel 1.56.00 19 Nancy Fields 2.00.00 20 Anne Ledbetter 2.01.00 21 Julie Stewart 2.15.00 22 Margo Carroll 2.22.00 23 Linda Reimann 2.26.00 24 Maria Mcintire 4.11.00 Men 1 Shane Schreihart 4.03.00 2 Eric Smith 4.00 3 Marcus Seymour 14.00 4 Eric Watson 16.00 5 Wayne Gowens 19.00 6 Bill Lanzilotta 20.00 7 Robert Yeske 25.00 8 Joe Dunlop 29.00 9 Richard Tillotson 34.00 10 Douglas Mathews 35.00 11 Bradley Cobb 12 Austin Crenshaw 39.00 13 Nicholas Dale 40.00 14 John Muse 41.00 15 Peter Joski 46.00 16 Michael Pisarri 17 Crispin Del Nero 50.00 18 Kurt Rampton 19 Jason Haney 20 Justin Mace 51.00 21 Mike Hutsel 52.00 22 Kevin Satterfield 54.00 23 Scott Steurer 24 Aaron Chamberlain 25 Ronald Fields 55.00 26 Asa ( Monte ) Marshall 27 Stuart Rackley 56.00 28 Neal Boyd 29 Christopher Rampton 57.00 30 Travis Fowler 31 Robert Cotrell Jr 58.00 32 Mark Johnson 33 Johnny Garner 59.00 34 Daniel Wren 1.00.00 35 William Purdue 36 Paul Mcmanus 1.01.00 37 Remi Champagne 1.05.00 38 Keith Kudlac 1.06.00 39 Eddie Murray 40 Stephen Hackett 1.10.00 41 Ryan Allen 1.11.00 42 Joe Petramale 1.13.00 43 Monte Hewett 1.14.00 44 Mark Stewart 1.15.00 45 Christopher Young 46 Michael Hopton 1.16.00 47 Bill Williams 1.18.00 48 Russell Sandidge 1.19.00 49 Lee Childers 50 Grant Blankenship 1.24.00 51 Chris Celka 1.25.00 52 Scott Grissom 1.26.00 53 Dave Senecal 54 Michael Quinlan 1.27.00 55 Brian Bibens 1.28.00 56 Kevin Gibbs 1.30.00 57 Stephen Russell 1.34.00 58 Juan Gomez 59 Andres Rojas 1.36.00 60 Rick Plite 1.39.00 61 Dave Muse 62 Reese Haettich 1.40.00 63 Jorge Giraldo 1.41.00 64 Kelly Bear 1.42.00 65 Tyler Trammell 66 Isaac Brown 67 Cale Collins 1.43.00 68 Erik Vanname 1.44.00 69 Brian Southern 1.46.00 70 Rex Mayne 71 Kevin Ash 72 Josh Bailey 1.55.00 73 Graham Gillis 74 Richard Foster 1.56.00 75 Bill Bravato 1.58.00 76 David Berg 1.59.00 77 David Greenwell 78 John Schwab 79 Jesse Dunn 2.00.00 80 Martin Wilson 2.01.00 81 Ray Allen 2.02.00 82 Brett Pearman 2.03.00 83 Tom Gillis 2.06.00 84 Jason Milliron 2.08.00 85 Darryl Clark 2.10.00 86 Adrian Hruszkewycz 87 Daniel Gaither 2.11.00 88 John Johnson 2.12.00 89 Bruce Morris 90 Warren Reid 91 Steve Johnston 2.18.00 92 Casey Coleman, Jr 2.20.00 93 Patrick Burke 94 Greg Holland 2.21.00 95 Simon Williams 96 William Feier 2.23.00 97 Daniel Steighner 98 Joe Bruening 2.24.00 99 Jason Ottinger 100 Dustin Gaddis 2.27.00 101 John Carmichael 2.29.00 102 Scott Vines 2.31.00 103 Hokan Ojert 2.37.00 104 Bob Seitz 105 Al Brown 2.39.00 106 David Conway 2.43.00 107 Ron Witcher 2.44.00 108 Jeff Eickholt 2.46.00 109 John Allan 2.47.00 110 Tim Powell 2.48.00 111 Darren Wood 112 Dale Morrison 2.50.00 113 Jerry Mcclung 114 Jeremy Orr 2.55.00 115 Jeff Kulp 116 Joseph Sassenberger 2.56.00 117 Ken Gilbert 2.58.00 118 Jeff Kaplan 2.59.00 119 David Gomez 3.00.00 120 Tim Thomas 3.01.00 121 Robert Eiserman 3.08.00 122 Jack Forester 3.11.00 123 Simon Reid 124 Scott Mastej 3.15.00 125 Wade Patton 3.16.00 126 Joseph Conrad 3.22.00 127 Stephen Griffin 128 Carl Mesta 3.23.00 129 Michael Napolitano 130 Tyler Benedict 3.30.00 131 Christopher Holzner 3.31.00 132 Dan Jackson 3.33.00 133 James Bangs 3.34.00 134 Robert Harmon 3.37.00 135 Kris Fausnight 3.47.00 136 Chris Dyer 3.49.00 137 Jacob Meyer 3.50.00 138 Fred Faye 3.52.00 139 Ashley Smith 4.03.00 140 Michael Mccauley 4.12.00 141 Michael Butel 4.13.00 142 Nick Butel 143 Jason Kron 4.16.00 144 William Cotty 4.24.00 145 Joe Reese 4.28.00 146 George Bedingfield 4.29.00 147 Jeffrey Dawson 4.33.00 148 Tom Guckian 4.36.00 149 Lee Wells 4.59.00 150 Benjamin Gaither 5.35.00 151 Charles Colburn 6.31.00 152 Lawson Hagler 6.32.00 153 Jemery Wehunt 12.56.00 154 Steve Bartzen DNF Brad Berryhill DNF William Coil DNF Joshua Eickholt DNF Christopher Stark Singlespeed 1 Taylor Jordan 4.43.00 2 Michael Fitzgerald 4.00 3 Robert Smeltzer 25.00 4 Rich Blanchette 38.00 5 Tim Winters 40.00 6 Robi Johnston 42.00 7 David Webster 44.00 8 John Powers 46.00 9 Mike Brown 10 Brian Archer 48.00 11 Josh Leigh 52.00 12 Willie Copeland 58.00 13 Eric Glidewell 1.06.00 14 Andy Hall 1.45.00 15 Ryan Butcher 5.13.00 16 Mark Hutchinson 12.16.00 50 + Men 1 Art Shuster 4.47.00 2 Hans Plug 3 Peter Uher 3.00 4 Stanley Wills 21.00 5 Duane Dobesh 25.00 6 Jeffrey Duckworth 38.00 7 Larry Henley 1.32.00 8 Victor Palmeri 1.53.00 9 Billy Allan 2.07.00 10 Donovan Spurgeon 2.22.00 11 Sam Spetalnick 3.09.00 12 Tom Spetalnick 13 Vincent Garcia Iii 3.45.00 14 Kenny Jones 3.48.00 15 Richard Stokes 4.11.00 16 Phillip Webster 17 Tom Kaltenbach 4.43.00 18 Eric Snyder 5.01.00 DNF Logan Boss NUE Standings Coming!
