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Cohutta 100
April 22, 2006
Maiden Cohutta 100 takes to Smoky Mountain Wilderness
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The inaugural running of The Cohutta 100 Mountain Bike Race and Epic 35, a charity-supporting event staged Saturday, April 22, showed contestants little mercy. Entrants from across the country faced a unique Smoky Mountain challenge on a course skirting two federal wilderness areas, with start and finish at the Ocoee Whitewater Center, showcased in kayaking events during the '96 Olympics.
Race promoter and veteran endurance athlete Barbara Border, owner of New Leaf Adventures which organized the race, welcomed entrants and noted that no similar contest has been held so near the wilderness area before. She said the staging of the race required special permission and asked all in attendance to take away all trash and debris when they departed to prevent attracting bears and other wild scavengers to campgrounds and other areas used by humans. The wilderness areas provide habitat for wild boar, turkeys, deer, unusual varieties of songbirds and a several endangered species. SAG crew and other volunteers rode the entire course the day after the race to police the area.
“We timed our adventure challenge to tie in with the Tour de Georgia, with all the enthusiasts attracted to the area for the professional race,” Barbara said. “The Cohutta 100 gives mountain bikers an opportunity to challenge themselves on a world-class course on Saturday, and become observers at the Tour de Georgia finish on Sunday.”
The namesake event, a 100-mile endurance mountain bike race, is staged on what may be the most diverse race course in America. Ranging from deep, dark river bottom forest with rushing trout streams at Jacks River, to tight curves and high-rising forest glens that abruptly give way to sweeping Smoky Mountain vistas at Big Frog Mountain, the field of intrepid mountain bikers tested their mettle on single- and double-track legs of the demanding journey.
The challenge was heightened significantly by severe, steady thunderstorms several days before the race, adding slippery red Georgia clay to the demanding mix of gnarled roots and irregular rocky outcrops on the 35 miles of single-track paths passing through deep hardwood forest. Some 65 miles of the course covered ranger fire trails. Intermittent drizzle fell at race time, but the racers were undaunted and they rose to the challenge. Of more than 50 entrants in all events, only two were listed as DNFs due to mechanical difficulties.
Six aid stations supported the riders, each with medical, mechanical assistance and a broad range of nutritional supplements. A crew of SAG volunteers dropped rider packs at the designated stations. New Leaf Adventure's Barbara Border said the race proceeds provided a significant donation to the American Association of AdaptiveSports, an organization that assists challenged children participate in sporting events. She said the race will be an annual spring event.
Men's Cohutta 100 winner Mark Hendershot of the Santa Cruz Syndicate, finished the course in 7:49:23, closely followed by Shey Lindner, 7:49:43, Team Cannondale, and Garth Prosser,7:59:49, Team Cannondale.
Karen Masson, Litespeed, completed the Cohutta 100 in 8:36:38, and finished 11th overall. Carey Lowery, Team Outdoor Bike, was 2nd in the women's 100, finishing at 9:18:49, 20th overall.
In all, 33 men and six women finished the inaugural run of the Cohutta 100.
In the single-speed division, Rich Dillen, Team Dicky, finished first at 8:42:42. Kate Cook, Bad Lasses-Sorella Cycling, lead the women's Epic 35 with a 3:41 finish, and Jason Howard, Outdoor Chattanooga, won the men's Epic 35, finishing at 2:42.
Results
Men's 100 Mile 1 Mark Hendershot (Santa Cruz Syndicate) 7.49.23 2 Shey Lindner (Cannondale) 0.20 3 Garth Prosser (Cannondale) 10.26 4 Peter Joski (Atlanta Pro Bikes) 21.41 5 Nicholas Kindt (Land Rover/Vespa) 31.26 6 Alex Dolpp (American Cycle) 34.57 7 Andy Sanidas (Crank Racing) 35.33 8 Jeff Whittingham (Western Cycle) 40.45 9 Scott Chambers (Founders Ales) 43.12 10 Harvey Minton (Independent/ Western Cycle) 46.14 11 Eddie O'dea (Cartecay Bikes) 56.13 12 Chris Hansen (Yeti Cycles) 1.11.35 13 Marvin Mason (Georgia Spinal/Atlanta Pro Bikes) 1.17.42 14 Mike Moore (Team Moab) 1.21.06 15 Taylor Sullivan (South Park Cycles) 1.29.23 16 Stephen Omilianowski (Middle Tennessee Velo) 1.35.01 17 Bradley Cobb (Motor Mile Racing) 1.39.29 18 Chad Smith (Hammer Nutrition) 1.47.03 19 Jamie Dial (Hammer Nutrition) 1.54.07 20 Greg Casteel (Knoxvelo) 1.58.26 21 Kent Davidson 2.03.19 22 David Cook (Rhyms with bucket) 2.18.14 23 Doug Milliken (Stamford Bikes) 2.22.24 24 Doug Smith (Gator Cycle) 2.23.01 25 Mark Stewart (Cartecay Bikes) 2.28.42 26 Patrick Jones 2.41.36 27 James Hurst (Motor Mile Racing) 2.42.24 28 Lee Shimril (Litespeed/Inov8) 2.48.15 29 John Shook 2.51.59 30 Tim Barnack (Monte In Sano) 3.00.27 31 Chad Wamack (GDI) 3.03.23 32 Roger Dunn 3.43.10 33 Mike Cooley (Los Locos) 3.46.16 Single Speed 1 Rich Dillen (Team Dicky) 8.42.42 2 Jason Morgan (ABRC) 12.23 3 Zachary Broussard (Chaos Engine) 13.04 4 Brian Blair (Warrior's Society) 46.09 5 Quinn Hershburger (Black Water Bike Shop) 1.21.56 6 David Branch (Black Sheep Cycles) 1.31.12 Women's 100 1 Karen Masson (Litespeed) 8.36.38 2 Carey Lowery (Team Outdoor Store) 42.11 3 Danielle Musto (Slingshot Bikes) 1.15.59 4 Brenda Simril (Litespeed/Inov8) 1.35.19 5 Lisa Randall (Cherokee Bike Shop) 2.06.32 6 Sandra Gross (Litespeed) 2.35.45 Women's 35 Mile 1 Kate Cook (Bad Lasses-Sorella Cycling) 3.41.00 2 Renee Passinault 8.00 3 Lorna McGee 36.00 4 Mary Jane Hershburger (Black Water Bike Shop) 44.00 5 Joy Johnson 56.00 Men's 35 Mile 1 Jason Howard (Outdoor Chattanooga) 2.42.00 2 Jeremy Dowlin 29.00 3 James Behning (GTC) 33.00 4 Thomas Becktold 47.00 5 Adam Jones (The Hub) 50.00
