Cannondale-3Rox racer Erin Huck 2nd in Whiskey 50, Zandstra 6th
Erin Huck finished second at the women’s Whiskey 50 Proof race on Sunday, narrowly edging out 2016 winner Rose Grant by just seven seconds after nearly four hours of racing. Kate Courtney of Specialized Racing won the race with a nearly 10 minute gap.
Huck and Courtney broke away from the group about 40 minutes into the race, and began to open up a lead. On the climb out of Skull Valley, Huck lost traction and her bike slid out from under her. The loss of time quickly compounded and Courtney was gone out front, choosing to ride the remaining three hours on her own to the finish.
“That was just her climbing prowess, where she put more time [between me and her] coming out of Skull Valley,” said Huck to the Prescott Daily Courier. She had been unable to preride that section of the course.
“I was feeling good and ended up riding three hours by myself, but just was able to do my own pace, keep it consistent,” said Courtney. “It worked really well mentally, and physically I was able to just ride my own race.”
Grant and previous winner Chloe Woodruff finished third and fourth respectively, each riding at less than 100% health. Grant has a leg injury, and Woodruff was still recovering from her crash in the Fat Tire Crit. Katerina Nash finished fifth.
Maghalie Rochette was the best placed Canadian, finishing in sixth place riding for Clif Bar.
In the men’s race, Sam Gaze won handily, finishing 34 seconds ahead of Specialized Racing teammate Howard Grotts. Kristian Hynek finished third, just over two minutes back from Gaze.
Cannondale-3Rox rider Derek Zandstra finished sixth as the best placed Canadian. Zandstra came into the weekend recovering from food poisoning, and was not feeling at full strength. Zandstra finished fourth in the Fat Tire Crit held on Friday.
Fellow Canadian and former 3Rox teammate Geoff Kabush crossed the line in eighth position.
“My first time on the extended course and the pace set by the boys at the front was intense,” posted Kabush on Instagram. “Recovered enough this week to fight but was suffering on the steep bits most of the day.”
