Wilmington/Whiteface 100K Presented by SRAM Field begins to Fill

Wilmington, NY - From doctors to lawyers, Olympians to professional cyclists and even NFL punters, the inaugural Wilmington/ Whiteface 100K Mountain Bike Race presented by SRAM (WW100) will have a wide array of riders. Some of the more than 200 cyclists for Sunday’s, June 19, race are trying to qualify for August’s Leadville 100 MTB (LT 100), while others are hoping they can just complete the grueling 57-mile long course.

“Some of the cyclists have already been on the course preparing themselves physically and mentally,” said David Weins, the race’s technical director. Weins is also a six-time Leadville champion. “From what I’ve heard so far, everyone likes the course and the terrain that it covers. Some have even said the ‘climbs are fun.’ It’s demanding and will test these riders. This event will bring out the best from everyone in the field.”

“I’m pretty good at climbing, but my specialty is weaving through trails and trees,” added 2010 men’s singles luge Olympian Chris Mazdzer, of Saranac Lake, N.Y. “There are some pretty good climbs, especially up Whiteface … that’s a tough one to finish on.”

The race is scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m., with a shotgun start from the Whiteface Mountain bridge. From there, the cyclists will tear down paved and dirt roads near Jay and Saddleback Mountains before returning to the Olympic mountain where a 2,566 foot climb awaits them before crossing the finish line.

The field’s top riders are expected to cross the finish line in about four hours. Racers will have a total of eight hours to complete the race.

“I really haven’t had a lot of time on a bike this summer,” continued Mazdzer. “I’m not really sure what to expect, but I plan on riding as much as I can, get some hours in, over the next several days and take it from there. I really don’t have a finish time in mind.”