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UMCA 24-Hour Returns in Style
Iowa is not quite as flat as they imagined.
by Tom Buckley
photos by Paul Pierce
John Marino Competition for ultra riders of the season
All riders set off at 6 a.m. as the eastern skies brightened with the promise of a perfect day of weather, riding and great competitions in all categories. Six- and 12-hour riders and hand cyclists started their event on a challenging 34.5-mile loop that showed riders not from the area that Iowa is not quite as flat as they imagined. Riders in these two divisions were allowed to switch to a shorter 6.9-mile loop after completing at least one 34.5-mile loop.
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Meanwhile, 24-hour riders headed for northwestern Illinois on a 181-mile loop. All riders faced numerous hills along the courses; however, the 24-hour riders had the added bonus of climbing two 15% grades.
The organizers used a new an electronic lap counting system that worked flawlessly in tracking riders on the intermediate and night loops.
In the six-hour race Dave Thompson of Moline, IL established a significant lead that was never challenged. He completed the race with 114.6 miles, 15 miles ahead of Scott Swanson from Silvis, IL and 20 miles ahead of Ronnie Rodriguez from Oak Lawn, IL who rounded out the podium finishers.
In the 12-hour competition, the Englanders took top honors in both the men and women's divisions. Chris Hopkinson, the first British rider to finish solo RAAM, easily outdistanced the men's field covering 236.4 miles while William Ford from Illinois City, IL and Bruce Woodard from Van Meter, IA had a close battle for second place. Ford completed 228.1 miles to Woodard's 226.8.
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In the women's race, Ann Wooldridge was the runaway winner with 205.2 miles with Christine Graham, from Westerville, OH finishing second and Veronica Meridith from Downers Grove, IL finishing third.
In the men's 50-59 category, RAAM finisher Dave Meridith of Downers Grove, IL outdistanced Stephen Geering from Blue Grass, IA. Richard Rupp of Angola, IN took the men's over 60 age group with Steve Gerbig of Evansville, IN finishing second. Wayne Donahue from Red Oak, IA was the over 70 victor with 183.6 miles
In the Recumbent Division, Troy, Ohio's John Foote with 207.3 miles bested Jim Johnson of Hallowell, ME and Randy Johnson, Yorkville, IL.
Men's 12-Hour Winner |
Justin Rumley from Ankeny, IA the first 24-hour rider to complete the grueling 181-mile day loop. He finished just two minutes ahead of John Jurczynski from Holderness, NH, who was followed closely by John Fuoco (Lewistown, PA) Virgil Moehsmer (St Louis, MO) and Bryce Walsh (Chicago, IL). As the evening wore on the hills had taken their toll on Rumley forcing him off the bike in the early morning hours with 314 miles completed. Jurczynski had earlier moved to the lead and continued to ride steadily, never really being challenged again for the lead. Jurczynski add to his JMC points total by claiming the overall title of the UMCA 24 Hour Challenge with 408 miles on a very difficult course.
Steve Kulwicki of Lakeville, IN claimed the 18-24 category with 278.2 miles.
John Fuoco finished second overall and won the 25-49 division with 398.4 miles. Bryce Walsh took second in the 25-49 division. Paul Carpenter (Batavia, IL) took third in that division by the narrowest margin I've ever seen in an ultra event, crossing the line a mere eight seconds before RAAM veteran John D'Elia (Middletown, CT).
Women's 12-Hour winner. |
The women's race was almost as close with perennial champ Nancy Guth (Stafford, VA) besting newcomer Caroline Atkins of Mars Hill, NC for the overall title by less than three and one half minutes. Atkins led through much of the first 185 miles before Guth moved to the lead but never by more than seven to eight minutes. With less than one hour and thirty minutes remaining, Guth had a six-minute lead on Atkins, but managed to hold on for the closest of victories. When Guth accepted her award she remembered what many of us were thinking, that this race will always be a testimony to Dave Holmes's commitment to ultra cycling.
Virgil Moehsmer took first in the 50-59 age group, besting John Grunske (Pettigrew, AR) and John Guth (Stafford, VA). Jim Cartwright of Muncie, IN was the 60-69 age group champion and Larry Graham of Westerville, OH, despite a rather long detour, claimed the recumbent division.
Men's 24-Hour winner. |
The ride was physically challenging and more than one of the participants commented on the climbs that they endured, but most were in good spirits, although ready for a long sleep. A special thanks to some of our international riders: JMC 12-Hour Champion Chris Hopkinson and Ann Wooldridge, winner of the women's 12 hour race, both of whom flew from Great Britain for the event! And Charlene Barach and Rowan James Burns who came from Canada and Australia respectively. They joined great athletes from around the country. Many riders from the Quad Cities area participated, including the Mutels, a father and son trio from Solon who rode together for 200 miles and earned the nickname The Family Plan. To these and all the rest we offer congratulations and safe riding 'til next year!
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Tom Buckley and his good friend Paul Pierce drove 100 miles from their homes on Thursday night to Leclaire IA.
Kneeling: Joe & Rosemary Jamison Standing: Dave & Lori Parker, Jim & Kristen Hanson & son, Ron, Tom Buckley, behind camera Paul Pierce |
They helped all day with packet pick up on Friday, the dinner and pre-race meeting for riders Friday night...all day and night Saturday plus tear-down Sunday morning. Then Paul continued at home organizing the pictures he had taken during the three days of the event and Tom wrote the follow up story. Tom and Paul are examples of how our sport depends on people who care passionately about ultracycling.
Many, many thanks to all of the other volunteers who helped make the UMCA races a success.
- Joe Jamison and Dave Parker, Race Directors.
More information: UltraMidwest WebsiteResults
| 24-Hour | |
| Men | Miles |
| Under 25 | |
| Steve Kulwicki, 24, Lakeville IN | 278.2 |
| Matt Mutel, 22, Solon, IA | 201.8 |
| 25-49 | |
| John Jurczynski, 48, Holderness, NH | 408.0 |
| John Fuoco, 49, Lewistown, PA | 398.4 |
| Bryce Walsh, 34, Chicago, IL | 381.1 |
| Paul Carpenter, 46, Batavia, IL | 367.5 |
| John D'Elia, 43, Middletown, CT | 367.5 |
| Jeff Weible, 48, Wildwood, MO | 353.4 |
| Peter Brennan, 44, Glenview, IL | 318.8 |
| Justin Rumley, 30, Ankeny, IA | 312.6 |
| Mitchell Rossman, 48, Mendota Heights, MN | 263.3 |
| Scott McIntosh, 35, Chicago, IL | 256.2 |
| David Skogley, 47, Chicago, IL | 228.6 |
| Ken Priddy, 45, Naperville, IL | 215.7 |
| Chris Mutel, 28, Solon, IA | 201.8 |
| Jerry Schemmel, 45, Littleton, CO | 201.8 |
| Mike Feirstein, 45, Chicago, IL | 194.9 |
| Bernie Comeau, 42, Olympia, WA | 194.9 |
| Jim Rosa, 48, Noblesville, IN | 181.0 |
| 50-59 | |
| Virgil Moehsmer, 56, St. Louis, MO | 388.1 |
| John Grunzke, 50, Pettigrew, AK | 346.4 |
| John Guth, 51, Stafford, VA | 312.0 |
| Paul Black, 56, Des Moines, IA | 304.8 |
| Rowan James Burns, 50, Hobart Tasmania, Aus | 242.5 |
| Robert Mutel, 59, Solon, IA | 201.8 |
| 60-69 | |
| James Cartwright, 67, Muncie, IN | 325.8 |
| Recumbent | |
| Larry Graham, 46, Westerville, OH | 215.6 |
| Handcyclist | |
| Bill Schwarz, 60, Kinderhook, NY | 180.0 |
| Women | |
| 25-49 | |
| Caroline Atkins, 43, Mars Hill, NC | 316.8 |
| Charlene Barach, 38, Red Deer, Alb Canada | 242.4 |
| 50-59 | |
| Nancy Guth, 54, Stafford, VA | 319.2 |
| 12-Hour | |
| Men | |
| 25-49 | |
| Chris Hopkinson, 37, Derbyshire, UK | 236.4 |
| William Ford, 40, Illinois City, IL | 228.1 |
| Bruce Woodard, 48, Van Meter, IA | 226.8 |
| Richard Castle, 45, Urbana, IL | 212.4 |
| John Mangin, 32, Madison, WI | 207.3 |
| Michael Forkenbrock, 47, Downers Grove, IL | 198.0 |
| John McCarthy, 46, Tinley Park, IL | 193.6 |
| Tom Berube, 40, Chicago, IL | 183.6 |
| Joe Mann, 42, Muscatine, IA | 172.9 |
| Mark Verwoerdt, 37, Chicago, IL | 172.8 |
| Ed Hoffman, 42, Oak Forest, IL | 172.8 |
| Michael Doyle, 48, Muscatine, IA | 166.0 |
| 50-59 | |
| David Meridith, 51, Downers Grove, IL | 210.0 |
| James Hack, 55, Essexville, MI | 201.6 |
| Stephen Geering, 50, Blue Grass, IA | 195.6 |
| 60-69 | |
| Richard J. Rupp, 63, Angola, IN | 199.2 |
| Steve Gerbig, 60, Evansville, IN | 152.1 |
| 70+ | |
| Wayne Donohue, 72, Red Oak, IA | 183.6 |
| Recumbents | |
| John Foote, 48, Troy, OH | 207.3 |
| Jim Johnson, 50, Genoa, IL | 172.8 |
| Randy Johnson, 60, Yorkville, IL | 165.6 |
| Women | |
| 25-49 | |
| Ann Wooldridge, 45, Gloucester, UK | 205.2 |
| Christine Graham, 43, Westerville, OH | 124.7 |
| Veronica Meridith, 47, Downers Grove, IL | 103.7 |
| 6-Hour | |
| Men | |
| 25-49 | |
| Scott Swanson, 49, Silvis, IL | 99.0 |
| Cliff Massie, 42, Chicago, IL | 82.9 |
| 50-59 | |
| David Thompson, 50, Moline, IL | 114.0 |
| Ronnie Rodriguez, 57, Oak Lawn, IL | 93.6 |
| Hand Cyclist | |
| John Enrietto, 43, Fort Wayne, IN | 75.9 |