Year number 4 is in the books! Thanks to those that braved the cooler temps and toed the line once again. Always a humbling experience. Brian and I both are bit saddened this is our last year, for a bit...not forever, of running the Dirt Bag. It's not going away but to new, excited hands. It will live on and only get better....stay tuned.
It appears, to be cliche, that is was an epic year of gravel in Minnesota.
- Almanzo was ushered in with two days of solid rain to only give way to sunny skies the day of the race. However the ankle deep creek crossing turned into a raging mountain river, sending riders and their bikes down stream!
- The Dirty Benjamin started out THICK. The humidity was not wanting to go anywhere. The majority of the race was fine but many of the riders got caught in a torrential downpour.
- The Inspiration 100 riders battled soft, dusty roads with increasingly high temps. Forcing many into the hurt locker...myself very much included.
- The Heck of the North is epic by itself but toss in cooler temps and all day rains and you have a true rider and bike beat down.
- The Dirt Bag has been hosted on 3 sunny, average temp days. This year the riders were escorted around Wright County by rain, sleet, and snow. The sleet at times felt like sand paper on the face.
Yep, and epic year.
Below are the results. Hoping they are correct.
1.) Josh Roeser 4:27
2.) Jim Bell 4:27
3.) Monika Sattler 4:27 (1st women)
4.) Sean Mailen 4:27:30...disc brake failure!
5.) Jon Kern 4:32
6.) Brent Kvittem 4:32
7.) Corey Shouse Torino 4:34
8.) Tim Oolman 4:35
9.) Sam St. Pierre 4:38
10.) Steven Yore 4:46
11.) Jay Dodig 4:50
12.) Jeff Bushendorf 4:51
13.) Darryl Shoemaker 4:59
14.) David Strachan 4:59
15.) Steve Cragle 5:02
16.) Justin Pitts 5:12
17.) Brett Sloma 5:16
18.) Peter Gustafson 5:18
19.) John Egbers 5:20
20.) Galen Murray 5:28
21.) Craig Gustafson 5:29
22.) Jared Gazda 5:31
23.) Mark Nestande 5:32
24.) Matt Reeve 5:37
25.) Bob Mueller 5:38
26.) Quinn Williams 5:38
27.) Greg Knoll 5:40
28.) Monte Dirks 5:42
29.) Justin Schuetz 5:47
30.) Gary Lindberg 5:47
31.) John Carline 5:57
32.) David Knox 6:10
33.) Steve Schoo 6:10
34.) Aaron Blumke 6:17
35.) Mike Rathlisberger 6:20
36.) Steve Van Vleet 6:20
37.) Willie Humke 6:22
38.) Kristine Larsen 6:22
39.) Ben McCoy 6:22
40.) Jessica Baltzley 6:22
41.) Adam Turman 6:22
42.) Chris Kvaal 6:28
43.) Bronwyn Cole 6:28
44.) Aaron Olson 6:40
45.) Ed Matthiesen 6:47
46.) Jere Mohr 6:51
47.) Leah Gruhn 6:51
48.) Craig Rittler 6:58
49.) Joel Dahlin 6:58
50.) Ryan Newman 6:58
51.) Kris Ensrud 7:05
52.) Jim Smith 7:09
53.) Carol Markham-Cousins 7:12
54.) Bryon Amo 7:37
55.) Sheila Amo 7:37
56.) Geoff Archibald 7:38
57.) Eric Younger 7:38
58.) Adam Curtis 8:00
59.) Barbra Curtis 8:00
60-86.) DNF
Thanks everyone...
