Riders to the south for Fool’s Gold 100

Riders to the south for Fool’s Gold 100:Riders are already making their way down to Deep South to challenge the seventh race in the National Ultra Endurance Kenda Series (NUE), Fool’s Gold 100. Race, now in its fourth year, is a reliable North Georgia mountains with a combination of gravel roads, doubletrack and classical Georgian singletrack. 100-mile course consists of two 50-mile loop and a population of over 14000 feet of elevation gain. Fool’s Gold also offers a single 50-mile loop for those who are not up to the full distance.

The weather on race day calls for a mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms and high humidity. The high temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit, with light and variable winds are expected. And the probability of rain? 40 per cent.

This year the race begins with an immediate 10-mile climb expand the field from the outset. King and Queen Mountain will be taken at the top of the first primary partition, Cooper Gap, about three miles into the race. From there, riders will enjoy the historic Bull Mountain trail system, the original of the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) Epic route, as well as large tracks in Dahlonega, Georgia area.

According to race director Eddie O’Dea, this year will be a slight change of course in which racers descending Bull Mountain, and not climb.

All the current leaders of the NUE Series are registered, which will make the race interesting July 1 for some. After the race on Saturday, just one more round still to determine the number of Champions. Division champions will be crowned and awarded in the finals at the Shenandoah Mountain 100 in Virginia on the weekend of Labor Day. All winners will receive a free NUE unit entry to all events NUE in 2011, as part of their remuneration.

People :fools gold:

In the division of people, the current NUE series leader Jeff Schalk (Mountain way Co-Op) will contest the 2009 Gold Winner Fool’s, Christian Tanguy (Team CF). Shock is not new in this course race of Georgia, setting up what could be a very close race between them. Other top contenders in the men’s Open include Mike Simonson (path / SRAM, not pipes), Ernesto Marenchin (Speedgoat.com) and South-East local Charlie Storm (Inland Construction). Although the shock of men wrapped up the division with 4 wins already this year fight for second and third places on the podium NUE remains unresolved.

Undefeated champion 100 Breckenridge, Josh Tostado (Bach Builders / Santa Cruz), currently the second place, however, Tanguy, we can assume that, if he succeeds, even fourth place in Georgia thanks to fourth place in the Cohutta and second place finishes Lumberjack in both 100 and 101 of the wilderness. Simonson need to finish at least fourth without eating dust Tanguy go to number two position.

Women:

Perhaps one of the most exciting race will be held in Divsion women. 2008 Fool’s Gold 100 winner and current points leader of the NUE series, Cheryl Sornson (Team CF), intends to regain its title winner. Nevertheless, it will not be easy to Amanda Carey (Kenda / Felt) and Sue Haywood before rolling line. Carey fresh from second place in the Leadville 100 last weekend and 2 victories in the early NUE series on both Cohutta and Mohican, only 1 place ahead of Sornsen in both races.

For Carey, to win on Saturday in conjunction with a win or second place in the Shenandoah could put it over the top of its first NUE Series championship. This is a difficult task for Sornson, however, to protect its top position, it must be race in her career, because only the defeat of Carey and Haywood would guarantee her second NUE Series championship. Anything less may make the race on the final to determine the champion of the series.

Sornson will be hoping her an extra week of recovery after placing second Sue Butler (River City Bicycles) High Cascade 100 2 weeks ago would give it a competitive advantage it needs to beat Carey.

Former champion Sue Haywood, although now retired, continues to remain a force in women, when she decides to mix it with NUE rivals. Brenda Simril (Motor Racing Mile) has steadily improved season, most recently finishing third in the desert 101. Simril currently ranks second in the overall series, but will face stiff competition from two bidders, along with Laureen Coffelt (Velosoul / natural way), which stands in the fifth place overall after three races, and local Namrita O’Dea ( Topeak-Ergon), who is also one of the organizers of the race Fool’s Gold with her husband Eddie O’Dea.

Singlespeed

Singlespeed division of a lot of disputes and the top three contenders will all be there. NUE Series Singlespeed Championship and gold Fool’s 2009 singlespeed winner Jerry Pflug (Salsa / SEC / Pro Bikes) faced only two people that can take away from his second straight championship NUE. This may be a long shot, but Matthew Ferrari (Hubcap-Freeze thaw) can win the series, if he manages to win the gold Fool’s then win at Shenandoah. No less will suffice. Ron Sanborn (McClain Cycle & Fitness) currently sits in fourth place in the table points will undoubtedly will seek his own chances of a podium in the series finale.

Described as a dark horse in the series since he was MIA for most of the season, former champion NUE male Harlan Price (Team CF) proved he can take on the ruling Pflug on beating him twice at the beginning of the season at the Cohutta and again the Mohicans, but it remains an open question whether he can do it now? However, throwing his helmet into the ring at the fool’s gold, all bets are on again! With win, Price will need only the first or second place in the Shenandoah, provided that he keeps it in front of Nobbys ruling champion, Pflug, in both events. While Pflug spends most of his cards in poker game, as the price and Pflug worked well in the long dirt. Winning Gold price Fool’s will be created, perhaps, the most interesting finish ever NUE series, the last battle between two experienced champions.

Master Men

In the Masters 50 + division, Bill Nagel at (Bicycle Guy’s Racing) to win in the desert 101 moved him to first place overall, however, Robert Herriman (path 29er Crew / WSC / ACFStores.com) with three straight wins at the Cohutta, Mohican, and Woodman returned at the end that seems to be late season bid to lock in his first championship NUE before the finale in Virginia. Since winning the Gold fools, no one could touch Herriman, which could just show up to claim their awards in Shenandoah. However, this 100-mile race, and all the guns seem to gather in the mountains of Georgia. Mechanical or poor placement of gold Fool’s make Herriman do well at Shenandoah, a risky strategy for the racer needs only one victory for more than a castle on the series. Watch for the results of this year.

James Wilson (Team CF) are currently ranked # 2 in the series, and is officially listed with the top 10 contenders Erik Lenzing (freeze thawing), currently in fourth, and Ed McCallie (Team Ed), which could get five if he can finish the race on Saturday and will end in Shenandoah.

Noticeably absent current roster NUE Masters Champion John Williams (Bike Line Newark, DE), which should be just another good finish for a shot at the podium in Virginia. It is interesting to note that Williams first rider ever to complete all the NUE Series race, a feat can be agreed this year, but never did last season, not to mention the driver who would go on to become a champion of the Masters. If Williams shows, none of the last two events, the owners of race on the podium will be another big one.

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