Antonio Donabo, of Patrick County, took third place in the One-hour Race Men’s Division (40-49) in last weekend’s “punishing two-hour elite race” at the sixth US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship, according to a release.
Formidable under even ideal conditions, this year’s weather added layers of grinding complexity with never-ending wind speeds of 20 to 25 miles-per-hour with gusts as high as 37 mph.
“The degree of difficulty was ten out of ten,” said Fischer Maris of Richmond. who pedaled to victory in the Two-hour Elite Race – Men’s Division. “The sand was so difficult and so slow. On a road bike, you can keep up because you’re drafting, but all that is eliminated. So, you’re going to use everything you have on the beach. Whoever’s the fittest is going to win.”
“We’re pleased to have a lot of racers from the Wilmington region, a large Raleigh contingent, representation from Asheville, and Ohio, Virginia, and New Jersey bikers,” said Dave Ellegood, race director and president of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association’s Cape Fear Chapter. “Many racers trained throughout the winter, so their fitness is good. We have multiple age groups, men and women. Our 50+ is the largest age group this year – that is cool to see.”
