The 2017 Rogers Cycling Festival, sponsored by the Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders, was held on July 28-30. The festival consisted of several USA Cycling-sanctioned road cycling and mountain biking events held in Downtown Rogers. Bikers trained all year long to participate in the festival. “This is their sport. They take it very seriously and train very hard to do these events,” Rogers Cycling Festival Committee member Matt Crafton said.
Proceeds from the festival benefited many nonprofit cycling organizations in Northwest Arkansas. The festival’s beneficiaries include Rogers Community Bike Program, Pedal It Forward NWA, Ozark Off Road Cyclists, the Boston Mountain Cyclists clubs, and Rogers Area Trail Supporters (R.A.T.S.).
RACES AND RESULTS
Race for the Spike – Road Edition. This 11-mile mass start time trial began in Downtown Rogers, and raced to Avoca and back with the goal of beating the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad train back to downtown…as well as the mountain bikers. All who beat the train won an engraved railroad spike.
FIRST PLACE – MEN’S | Marc Alley
FIRST PLACE – WOMEN’S | Elisabeth Graham
Race for the Spike – Mountain Edition. Mountain bike racers covered approximately six miles over the single-track trails at Lake Atalanta Park with a joint finish to beat the A&M train and road bike racers. All who beat the train won an
engraved railroad spike.
WINNER | Robert Garcia
Wheel Sucker Team Time Trial. A 3-person USA Cycling-sanctioned team trial for road cyclists over a 10-mile course on N. Arkansas St./Old Wire Rd. from Rogers to Avoca and back. Total prize payout: over $1,000 in cash and merchandise.
1ST PLACE OPEN | Andrew Evans, Sean Salazar, Victor Gurel (Experience Fayetteville Cycling Team)
1ST PLACE MEN’S 4/5 | Neil Huffaker, Wesley Deckard, Jordan White
1ST PLACE WOMEN’S OPEN | Barbara Mariani, Lindsey Petruk, Caroline Poole
Hot & Hilly Mountain Bike Challenge. A two-person mountain bike relay format on the single-track trails at Lake Atalanta Park. Total prize payout: merchandise valued at $500.
OPEN CATEGORY | Darren Gierth & Ryan Amthauer (Mojo Cycling)
Frisco 5 Poker Ride. A relaxed, family friendly 2-mile course laid on the paved trail around Lake Atalanta. Prizes were awarded to the best poker hands. There were a lot of winners!
The Walnut Valley Road Race. This year, the festival was excited to host the 2017 Arkansas State Road Race Championships. This USA Cycling sanctioned road race was held on a 6.1-mile loop in the Walnut Valley area outside of northeast Rogers. Total prize payout: over $2,000 in cash and merchandise.
SATURDAY – AGE BASED CHAMPIONSHIPS
WOMEN’S OPEN WINNER | Leah Thorvilson
WOMEN’S MASTERS (45+) | Barbara Mariani*
WOMEN’S MASTERS (35-44) | Jessica Brooks*
MEN’S 1/2/3 WINNER | Kevin Solomon
MEN’S 30-44 WINNER (40-44) | Victor Gurel*
MEN’S 30-44 WINNER (35-39) | Shanley Mullikin*
MEN’S 30-44 WINNER (30-34) | Duncan Warner*
MEN’S 45-59 WINNER (55-59) | Jonathan Johnson*
MEN’S 45-59 WINNER (50-54) | Hunter East*
MEN’S 45-59 WINNER (45-49) | Bruce Edlund*
MEN’S 4/5 WINNER | Austin Morris
MEN’S 60+ WINNER | Pete Lantz
MEN’S 60+ WINNER (60+) | Frederick Beland*
JUNIOR WOMEN WINNER (15-18) | Marie Brown*
JUNIOR WOMEN WINNER (13-14) | Alia Vanderhoff*
JUNIOR MEN WINNER (15-18) | Joseph Pardue*
JUNIOR MEN WINNER (13-14) | Samuel Lee Donovan*
JUNIOR MEN WINNER (11-12) | Will Mertins*
JUNIOR MEN WINNER (9-10) | Owen Dixon*
SUNDAY – CATEGORIZED CHAMPIONSHIPS
WOMEN’S 1/2 WINNER | Leah Thorvilson
WOMEN’S 1/2 WINNER | Caroline Poole (Pinnacle Velo)*
WOMEN’S 3 WINNER | Jessica Brooks (Experience Fayetteville)*
WOMEN’S 4 WINNER | Madison Gramling (Experience Fayetteville)
WOMEN’S 5 WINNER | Susan Hubbard (Experience Fayetteville)*
MEN’S 1/2 WINNER | Tanner Ward (Oklahoma Bicycle Project)*
MEN’S 3 WINNER | Scott Hall (CARVE)*
MEN’S MASTERS WINNER (40+) | James Holcomb
MEN’S 4 WINNER | Austin Morris
MEN’S 4 WINNER | Jonathan Barba (Edge City Cycling)*
MEN’S 5 WINNER | Jason Blackketter*
CITIZENS | Remi Mendoza
JUNIOR WOMEN | Alia Vanderhoff
JUNIOR MEN | Zekiel Vanderhoff
*Designates 2017 Arkansas State Champion
Cruiser Sprints. A second-year event showcased the bikes provided from the Rogers Community Bike Program by having participants race over the course, all using the same bikes seen at various trail heads. Participants had one block to show who was the fastest on a cruiser!
JUNIOR WINNER | Owen Polumbo
OPEN WINNER | Jeremiah Stone
Rats Kids MTB Race. The Rogers Area Trail Supporters (R.A.T.S.) partnered with the Festival to host a kid’s mountain bike race. The course was set up using the lower level trails around the Pleasant Ridge Rd. tract and was targeted to kids 4-10 years old.
1st PLACE (7-10) | Reid Ronck
1st PLACE (4-6) | Alex Gilbert
The Gambler Endurance. “The Gambler” is a spectator friendly 4-hour solo or team endurance event featuring the Lake Atalanta mountain bike trail system. Start/finish was at the Pleasant Ridge Rd. trailhead. Trophies were awarded to the top 3 finishers in every category. An after party was held at GPP Cycling in Downtown Rogers.
ACE OF SPADES – SOLO MALE | Andy Arkfeld
DEUCES WILD – 2-PERSON TEAM (OPEN) | Mike Lewis & Steve Cox (Beerdid Pumas)
KINGS – 4-MAN TEAM (TEAMS W/ 2 OR MORE CAT 1 OR CAT 2 RACERS) | Jeffry Heath, Michael Carman, Ken Sluyter, & Brian Brennfoerder (Anchor Men 4)
QUEENS – 4-WOMAN TEAM (OPEN) | Tandie Bailey, Candice Stone, Adriana Perez, & Kyla Templeton (Babes of Braptown)
JACKS – 4-MAN TEAM (TEAMS PRIMARILY OF CAT 3 RACERS) | Alex McKinstry, Zach Couture, Jabon Smithpeters, & Rick Barrett (3 Quarters)
The Whitney Gravel Ride. Riders grabbed their gravel bikes (as road bikes won’t do here) for an all-out adventure ride featuring 30 miles of scenic gravel (70%) and paved back country roads including a climb to the highest point in Benton County, Whitney Mountain. No winners here, just a fun ride with good friends!