More than 150 riders take on the Hoh Rainforest

By Pierre LaBossiere • May 4, 2021 1:30 pm

Nearly 100 racers and 50 untimed gran fondo participants rode in the Hoh-ly Roller this past weekend, the first race of the Gravel Unravel three-race endurance cycling series.

The Saturday event took place on the back roads of the Hoh River-Clearwater River area south of Forks. The event had three distances — 26, 44 and 66 miles, all with significant cumulative elevation gains. The long course had a maximum elevation of 2,700 feet and total climbing of 8,800 feet.

A portion of race proceeds will go to Sarge’s Veterans Support in Forks and to the Junior Naval ROTC in Port Angeles. Race directors also thanked volunteers with the Jefferson County Amateur Radio Emergency Services and the EMT team at Norpoint Medical in Port Angeles for being on standby.

The next race, the Sol Grinder, will take place in the Sol Duc Valley area on June 5. The final race of the season in the Quilcene-Blyn area is the Bon Jon Pedal Bender on June 26.

For more information, go online at PeninsulaAdventureSports.com.

If people are interested in volunteering or sponsoring future races, email to contact@peninsulaadventuresports.com.

Results: Gravel Unravel Hoh-ly Roller, Saturday, May 1

• Long Course

Mens Masters (45+) — Timothy Ellis, Sequim, first, 5:50:23; Matt Albee, Bainbridge, second, 5:50:33; Roger Burton, Bothell, third, 5:50:53.

Womens Open — Rachel Urban, Seattle, first, 5:24:24; Rebecca Book, Seattle, second, 6:02:46; Keri Bergere, Kenmore, third, 7:58:17.

Mens Open — Forest Hietpas, Sequim, first, 5:01:03; Juan Camilo Echeverri, Washington, D.C., second, 5:09:54; Stuart Ayling, Lake Tapps, third, 5:13:09.

• Medium Course

Mens Masters (45+) — Gary Calton, Southern Pines, first, 3:39:46; Tim Wood, Bellevue, second, 3:43:23; Jared Despain, Sequim, third, 4:02:06.

Womens Open — Mollie Bernstein, Seattle, first, 3:56:52; Laura Gould, Sequim, second, 3:58:01; Beth Draeger, Issaquah, third, 3:58:46.

Mens Open — Kakey Campbell-Garcia, Seattle, first, 3:00:25; Jeremy Kalmus, Redmond, second, 3:14:38; Apollo Leonard, Bellingham, third, 3:30:11.

• Short Course

Womens Open — Michaela Krisiansson, Seattle, first, 2:42:06; Kristina Zeh, Lake Stevens, second, 3:46:30; Amy Ostwald, Elma, third, 3:53:10.

Mens Open — Patrick O’Conner, Camano Island, first, 2:11:54; Brian Abrams, Auburn, second, 2:30:35; Peter Berg, Bainbridge Island, third, 2:33:41.