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Blevins and Courtney fastest at Grasshopper Low Gap

The short but challenging race in northern California is the first big test in a gravel calendar that runs through to October across the USA

The Low Gap Hopper from the Grasshopper Adventure Series opened the US gravel season on Saturday with wins for two of America’s top mountain bike pros: Kate Courtney and Christopher Blevins.

The USA’s first major gravel race of the year rolled out of Ukia in Northern California on Saturday 27 January, with over 535 graveleurs tackling a 48 mile mixed course with around 6,400 feet of climbing.

Part of the Grasshopper Adventure Series, now in its 27th year, the Low Gap race attracted a large field of elite and amateur gravel racers eager to showcase the fruits of their winter training. 

The two former World MTB Champions in cross-country and short track, respectively, took the wins ahead of the gravel specialists on the short but hilly course around Mendocino County, California.
 
Peter Stetina settled for second in men's sprint as mud made for high stakes at Low Gap with Sean Bennett in third to complete the men's podium.
 
Blevins and Courtney fastest at Grasshopper Low Gap
 
It rained for days in northern California leading to the opening round of the Grasshopper Adventure Series, now in its 27th year. 
 
Blevins said afterwards "It's quickly becoming an early season tradition to battle with Pete Stetina at a couple California gravel races, and I always appreciate how we can push each other into race mode in a fun way.

It was super climby course with some muddy conditions which helped me get away on the last descent. I haven't done much gravel, but enough to say this kind of full on / shorter race style is my favorite."
 
Even with a puncture to her front tyre, Courtney coasted the final one mile of tarmac into Ukiah for back-to-back wins in the Women's Pro race. Flavia Oliveira Parks was second, outsprinting Katerina Nash to complete the podium, the pair finishing more than seven minutes behind Courtney. 
 
16 year-old Casey Warren won the Junior Men’s race in 2h 59m 31s in a close sprint over Jack O’Neal. Alex Tripcevich soloed across the finish line in 3h 23m 43s to convincingly claim the Junior Women’s race.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Grasshopper Adventure Series (@grasshopperadventureseries)

 

2024 Grasshopper Low Gap Pro Women Top 10

1 Kate Courtney 2:52:02
2 Flavia Oliveira Parks 0:07:28
3 Katerina Nash 0:07:30
4 Jennifer Tave 0:11:22
5 Anna Hicks 0:15:39
6 Caroline Dezendorf 0:15:40
7 Leslie Ethridge 0:19:05
8 Kelly Brennan 0:26:16
9 Maude Farrell 0:31:41
10 Saralita Flamm 0:35:02

2024 Grasshopper Low Gap  Pro Men Top 10

1 Christopher Blevins 2:28:40
2 Peter Stetina 0:00:06
3 Sean Bennett 0:04:36
4 Ian Lopez de San Roman 0:07:19
5 Brennan Wertz 0:07:47
6 Tobin Ortenblad 0:07:48
7 Andy Lydic 0:07:51
8 Jurd Hurd 0:08:01
9 Ben Frederick 0:09:57
10 Skyler Taylor 0:10:03
 
Link to 2024 Grasshopper Low Gap Results.