Earlier this month the second annual Bootleggeer 100 gravel race took place in Lenoir, North Carolina. The event was race number 3 of the Appalachian Grinder Series and started in downtown Lenoir at Luna Cycles where the idea for the race was concocted. With multiple gravel sections and Appalachian mountain passes, the event is not for the faint of heart. Add to that that torrential rains at the start and you had the making of a truly epic race.
The overall men’s winner was Reid Beloni (Greenlife-Organic Valley), of USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship Donut Race fame. The overall women’s winner, and second overall behind Reid, was Nina Laughlin (Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling). Interestingly, Beloni and Laughlin are both CTS coaches.
Below is a race recap video, which was first published over on Gravel Cyclist, that shows just some of the 100 miles and 10,000 feet of climbing, much of it over gravel, as well as video interviews with the overall men’s and women’s winners Beloni and Laughlin.
