Why have just one gravel race when you can have an entire series? That’s the thought behind the Mudslinger Gravel Series that features three races held in Upstate New York.
With fog covering the 55-mile course near the Swain Ski Resort on Saturday, there was plenty of mud to sling (literally, not metaphorically) and racing to be done. The series-opening Ossian Giant Gravel Grinder drew an impressive field headlined by Jeremy Powers, who we have heard is a pretty big deal in the cycling world.
J-Pow! 2018 Ossian Giant Gravel Grinder. photo: Ciara Noelle Costley
Top honors in the Women’s race went to gravel noob Rachel Andrews of Geneseo. Andrews beat out Ruth Sherman by 47 seconds, and Emily Flynn rounded out the podium.
Rachel Andrews won the Women’s race. 2018 Ossian Giant Gravel Grinder. photo: Ciara Noelle Costley
The Men’s race featured a number of familiar names. There were Jeremy Powers, Anthony Clark (🦑) and two-time Masters national champion Matt Timmerman. However, the man of the afternoon was one of the youngest riders in Magnus Sheffield. Sheffield rolled to a win in the Junior 15-16 race in Reno and looked equally adept at picking on riders not his own age. Sjaan Gerth finished second and Clark third.
Young gun Magnus Sheffield won the Men’s race against an impressive field. 2018 Ossian Giant Gravel Grinder. photo: Ciara Noelle Costley
After Saturday’s race, Powers and Clark stuck around for a charity gravel group ride on Sunday to benefit the GVCC 2018 Junior CX camp hosted by Park Ave Bikes that will be held this fall. The 25-mile charity ride raised over $700, and Powers donated a frame from his second national championship for a raffle. Magnus Sheffield started his racing career with Park Ave Bikes before moving to Cannondale and now Hot Tubes, so his win in the gravel race was fitting.
Jeremy Powers with 2018 Ossian Gravel Grinder organizer Tony Sylor (left) and camp coach Craig Mattern (right). photo: courtesy
Full results for the Women’s and Men’s races are below.
Women's Results: 2018 Ossian Giant Gravel Grinder
| Rank | Last | First | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrews | Rachel | Once Again Nut Butter Multi-Sport Racing p/b LCC | 2:54:30 | 0:00:00 |
| 2 | Sherman | Ruth | GGWDW | 2:55:17 | 0:00:47 |
| 3 | Flynn | Emily | Nicollet Bike Team | 3:00:40 | 0:06:10 |
| 4 | Sheffield | Marit | Park Ave Bike p/b Borah Teamwear | 3:12:21 | 0:17:51 |
| 5 | Graves | Lilynn | GGWDW | 3:13:24 | 0:18:54 |
| 6 | Higgins | Jennifer | 3:16:17 | 0:21:47 |
Men's Results: 2018 Ossian Giant Gravel Grinder
| Rank | Last | First | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield | Magnus | Hot Tubes Cycling | 2:16:20 | 0:00:00 |
| 2 | Gerth | Sjaan | Mariposa Cycle Racing Team | 2:17:31 | 0:01:11 |
| 3 | Clark | Anthony | Squid Squad | 2:17:42 | 0:01:22 |
| 4 | Jones | Mike | Nalgene/ Borah Teamwear cycling team | 2:21:32 | 0:05:12 |
| 5 | Edwards | Kevan | Mello Velo Racing | 2:21:33 | 0:05:13 |
| 6 | Timmerman | Matt | Cannondale/ CyclocrossWorld | 2:21:38 | 0:05:18 |
| 7 | Marchesseault | David | Mariposa Cycle Racing Team | 2:23:49 | 0:07:29 |
| 8 | Artza Agirre | Aitor | Etxeondo Team | 2:27:01 | 0:10:41 |
| 9 | Perry | Spencer | Premium Mortgage | 2:27:05 | 0:10:45 |
| 10 | Powers | Jeremy | Aspire Racing | 2:28:15 | 0:11:55 |
| 11 | Smitley | Matthew | Full Moon Vista | 2:28:32 | 0:12:12 |
| 12 | Kuhns | Cory | Team Towpath powered by Rochester Solar | 2:28:48 | 0:12:28 |
| 13 | Stahnke | Ryan | Trek Mid-Atlantic | 2:28:58 | 0:12:38 |
| 14 | Popple | Ryan | LWCX squad | 2:31:45 | 0:15:25 |
| 15 | Boone | William | Once Again Nut Butter | 2:32:02 | 0:15:42 |
| 16 | Yorks | Christian | 2:32:15 | 0:15:55 | |
| 17 | Castor | Jake | Once Again Racing p/b Livingston Cycling Club | 2:36:19 | 0:19:59 |
| 18 | Paul | Timothy | Once Again Nut Butter Multi-Sport Racing p/b LCC | 2:38:12 | 0:21:52 |
| 19 | Bowker | Kevin | Morning Glory Cycling Club | 2:38:15 | 0:21:55 |
| 20 | Hayes | Chris | Doylestown Bike Works p/b Fred Beans | 2:39:51 | 0:23:31 |
| 21 | Hojnowski | Jared | 42 North Brewing Cycling Team | 2:41:27 | 0:25:07 |
| 22 | Kless | Andrew | University of Rochester Cycling | 2:44:32 | 0:28:12 |
| 23 | Urckfitz | Jason | Full Moon vista | 2:45:34 | 0:29:14 |
| 24 | Shaffer | Dillon | 2:46:07 | 0:29:47 | |
| 25 | Battles | Christopher | Mello Velo Racing | 2:46:41 | 0:30:21 |
| 26 | Hall | Jason | Summit FreeWheelers | 2:46:46 | 0:30:26 |
| 27 | Jackson | Cameron | Summit Freewheelers | 2:48:42 | 0:32:22 |
| 28 | Martina | Matt | 2:54:56 | 0:38:36 | |
| 29 | Norvold | Chirs | JAM Fund | 2:56:56 | 0:40:36 |
| 30 | Smeyak | Stephen | Summit Freewheelers | 2:58:58 | 0:42:38 |
| 31 | Repkoe | Thomas | 3:03:12 | 0:46:52 | |
| 32 | Thompson | Rick | Summit Freewheelers | 3:04:07 | 0:47:47 |
| 33 | Courain | John | 3:06:26 | 0:50:06 | |
| 34 | Phillips | Brian | 42 North Brewing Company Cycling Team | 3:07:26 | 0:51:06 |
