UCI Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo tops 1100 riders

With a new time trial and the traditional Century ride since 2004, the Cheaha Challenge in Jacksonville, Alabama keeps on innovating and expanding!

More than 1,100 riders challenged themselves on one of the various distances on offer and enjoyed the warm and welcoming hospitality of the event. Altogether 25% growth compared to last year!

The UCI Qualifying 12 mile time trial on Saturday saw Brock Mason fastest overall in a time of 24m 42s and an average speed of 30.3 Mi/h (48.7km/h) which was 1:44 faster than John Hart who won his 40-44 age group and Jacob Tremblay who was the fastest in the men 35-39.

Fastest female in the time trial was Amanda Coker before Melissa Lee and Emily Payonk, all three from the youngest age group. The winning time of 29m 38s was good for an average speed of 25.3 Mi/h (40.7km/h).

The Gran Fondo the next day started in waves with Dan Netzer (M45-49 - VA) scoring the fastest overall time half a minute ahead of Nick Theobald (M50-54 - CA) and Kyle Glerum (M50-54 - CA). The second wave of riders over 45 years old, closed the 3 minute gap on their younger opponents who started in the earlier wave.

33-year old Kat Sweatt was the fastest lady over the 100 miles, finishing almost 4 minutes ahead of time trial winner Amanda Coker while Beth Mitchell won her F40-44 age group to take overall third. 

For those of you who don't know American cyclist Amanda Coker, she is a legend in endurance cycling, She is Guinness World Record holder for greatest distance cycled in a year (overall) & Fastest person to ride 100,000 miles and UMCA World Record holder for Highest Annual Mileage Record, Highest Monthly(30 day) Mileage Record, Fastest person to ride 100,000 miles, to name a few! 

Amanda had mechanical problems in the Gran Fondo race, recovered, pressed on to take second place.

2019 UCI Gran Fondo World Champs take place August 29th to September 1st in Poznan, Poland. The younger categories will race on a 150km course and older males and females will race on a 124km course. There is also the 21.5 km time trial course too.

Amanda said afterwards, "Today was the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Cheaha Challenge 100-miler. With 10,000 feet of climbing and with two trips up Mt Cheaha (the highest point of Alabama), it made for a challenging yet grueling race. Was feeling really good today after yesterday’s time trial, but unfortunately at mile 31, while cranking it up a climb, my chain dropped and got stuck between my frame and small ring. Lost some time on the lead group, but got it worked out and hammered the next 69 miles trying to make up lost time. I was able to finish in second overall women, with less than four minute back from the winner, with a time of 5:02:04. The good news is, my finishing place qualified me for Worlds!"

"If you want to take on a challenging yet professionally run UCI qualifier, in a beautiful location, put this Gran Fondo on your calendar for next year!"

Link to 2019 results: http://www.topviewsports.com/cheaha-challenge-19