200 competitors lined up for
Saturday's two hard-enduro
competitions, which increased
in difficulty. The amateurs were
provided nearly six hours of ride
time on Saturday, while the pros
and faster amateurs would finish
the laps required in less time.
The top-100 overall finishers
from Saturday were able to line
up on Sunday's race three, which
was a two-lap race on a much
tougher course than expected by
everyone.
The temperature rose a few
degrees and the humidity in
-
creased on Sunday, which added
to the difficulty for race three.
Early on, there was a battle for
the lead involving Trystan Hart
(Red Bull/FMF KTM), Colton
Haaker (Rockstar Energy
Husqvarna), and Ryder LeBlond
(DRT Racing/Husqvarna), who
were making their way through
a long and slippery creek to the
other side of the property. The
creek was the ending point of
over half the field, as 50 riders
didn't even complete a check,
and some just ended up turning
around before getting out of it.
By the halfway point, Hart
had a five-minute lead and was
pulling away from the pack.
LeBlond ended up pulling away
from Haaker, and Will Riordan
began battling for the third spot.
The 14-mile course started to
take a toll on the racers, as the
heat under the canopy and the
constant loss of traction de
-
pleted the energy from everyone.
Hart completed one lap in under
two hours, and LeBlond was
eight minutes behind. Riordan
made a pass on Haaker toward
the end of the first lap but didn't
make a hill, and Haaker passed
him back for the third spot. Josh
Toth (Enduro Engineering/Gas
-
Gas) was riding very strong in
the top five, taking advantage of
his experience riding slick terrain
and humid conditions on the
East Coast.
Kauai's Ryder Guest was near
-
ing the top five but had a flat tire
and swapped wheels on the first
lap. The attrition was significant,
VOLUME ISSUE MARCH , P65
Ryder LeBlond was eight minutes
off the pace in second place.
