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25th Annual Assault on Mount Mitchell Draws Large Field of Contestants
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The 25th Annual Assault on Mount Mitchell drew a large field of contestants on Saturday, May 20th. The bicycle road race continues to grow in popularity even though it is one of the most grueling bicycle road races. The Assault on Mount Mitchell is a 102-mile road race that starts at approximately sea level in Spartanburg, SC, and ends on the highest peak in the eastern United States, Mount Mitchell. Mount Mitchell, at its peak, is 6,684 in elevation. Bicycling Magazine has rated the Assault on Mount Mitchell as one of the ten toughest climbs in the country.
This year's winner of the 25th Annual Assault on Mount Mitchell road race was George Hincapie of Greenville, South Carolina. Hincapie completed the race in five hours and eight minutes. The defending champion, Eliot Hubbard, came in second with a time of five hours and 16 minutes. Hubbard set the record for the road race last year with a time of five hours and 55minuets.
Over 1,400 contestants competed in this year's road race. There was a large crowd of spectators at the 6:30 a.m. start time to cheer on the racers. The mild weather and partly overcast skies helped the contestants to complete the daunting race. Riders have 12 hours to complete the race. If they are able to complete the race in 12 or less hours they receive credit for completing the race and are eligible to enter the race again next year. The race course follows Highway 9 between I-85 and Parris Bridge Road and then takes the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mount Mitchell.
The race organizers supply 10,000 oranges, 15,000 bananas, 20,000 cookies and 17,000 gallons of water for the contestants. These supplies are made available to the bicyclists along the course of the race. Volunteers man each of the supply stations to dole out the refreshments for the contestants. Entry fees pay for the supplies and the cost of organizing the road race.
John Bryan, of Spartanburg, SC, is the race's founder. The idea for the race came from Bryan and a friend racing from Spartanburg, SC, to the top of Mount Mitchell in 1974. They invited some friends to join them the next year and the race's popularity has continued to grow each year.
Pick your own apples at Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville.
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