Dmitry and Jennifer nab top spots at the inaugural Hampshire 100K mountain bike race

Sunny skies, paired with moderate temps made for perfect conditions for
Jennifer, Dmitry, and Terry, Dmitry’s long-time friend and training partner
from KC (visiting for the weekend), as they rolled up to the start-line for
the first ever EFTA Hampshire 100K mountain bike race. The start and finish
of this 62.9 mile, single-loop race was Greenfield, New Hampshire. The
course began with 20 fairly fast miles of paved and gravel roads, bike
paths and railroad tracks before the real fun began. Riders who went out
too fast would feel their legs as they hit the power lines about mile 30
for the first major climb of the day. It would just get worse from there as
the climbs on jeep roads and single track from miles 30-55 felt as if no
descents were given as payback for all the hard work. The race was to
support the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center, but Jennifer started
to wonder about mile 55 if it was a benefit or a recruitment activity.
Finally, at the top of Crotched Mountain, there HAD to be a descent…
Ironically, there was a violin player on top playing what sounded like
music for a funeral, then the Summit Trail descended off for the most
technical riding of the day—multiple rock drops, followed by a stone wall
crossing and winding, rocky tight single-track. In the end, Jennifer took
the top spot among the Expert women (although she notes she was beaten by a
sport woman by 5 minutes in the final times), Dmitry was third in his age
group for the Sport division and Terry broke Dmitry’s bike.