Plews, Rusch win Arkansas six-hour enduro

While most of the United States was focused on an Olympic hockey rematch with Canada, Rebecca Rusch was defending her title at the Spa City 6-hour Mountain Bike Race, while Evan Plews was working on his own hat trick: The 12 hours of Santos and the Spa City Double which included both the six-hour mountain bike race and an off-road duathlon in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Last week, Plews vanquished all comers in the 12 hours of Santos in Florida while Rusch was training and racing in Argentina.

Hot Springs, Arkansas, was the second stop in the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Ultra-Endurance Calendar. Mother Nature brought sunshine for the weekend's events, and it was the quest for warmer, drier weather that brought Plews out from his Salem, Oregon, home.

The six-hour race should have been easier after 12 hours in Santos, but tanner legs and fitter bodies were everywhere. A short Le-Mans start and a decent open stretch let the riders seed themselves before they hit the singletrack.

The trails at Garland County's Cedar Glades Park are carved through the pine forests of the Ouachita Mountains and demand strong legs. There was 1,000 feet of climbing tucked into every 10-mile lap. Concentration and the ability to do intervals are required.

Plews pulled ahead but Scott Henry had the moxy to reel him back in. A strong effort by Plews on the last lap and bike issues for Henry left the latter in arrears.

Fresh from riding in Patagonia the women's event was dominated by the queen of pain, Rebecca Rusch. Rita Borelli finished in fifth to lay claim to the overall series lead.

Rusch settled into solid and consistent pace, pulling away from the rest of the female field with each pedal stroke. This two-time 24 Hour World Champion, had a big smile on her face throughout the day.

Plews wins duathlon, too

A second day of competition offered the Du it in the Dirt off-road Duathlon (2 mile run/10 mile bike/ 2 mile run). It started with the local high school cross country runners opening a two-minute gap on everyone.

Plews arrived in the transition three minutes back and crushed the 10-mile bike lap in 46 minutes flat. The youth just need a few more years of seasoning to be competitive on the bike. Steven Ericson, in second, had the legs to stay in front of Plews for half the race.

Plews hopped off his steed for the final two-mile run. Was he running scared or for his flight? No worries, his lead was enough to hold off Ericson. Having the pHitpills posse as his crew gave him the opportunity to race at 11:00 am, come within seconds of a course record, collect his bling (a gnome with shovel), shower, eat, pack and get to the Little Rock Airport an hour away for a 3:30 pm. flight home.

Amy Johnson brought the win home on the woman's side, crushing the field with a strong performance.

Plews took a commanding lead in the USAC Ultra Endurance Series with 120 points. Scott Henry and Sebastian Ortiz are tied for second with 40. The women are closer with Rita Borelli (80) leading Rebecca Rusch (60). Andrea Wilson and Selene Yeager are tied for third with 40 points.

The next stop for the USAC Ultra Endurance Series is Dirt, Sweat and Gears in Fayetteville, Tennesee on May 15.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Top Men overall (for prizes)
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Evan Plews7laps
2Scott Henry7Row 1 - Cell 3
3Ernest Marenchin7Row 2 - Cell 3
4Frank Webber7Row 3 - Cell 3
5Ray Hall7Row 4 - Cell 3
6Noah Singer7Row 5 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Top women overall (for prizes)
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Rebecca Rusch6laps
2Andrea Wilson5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Laureen Coffelt5Row 2 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Singlespeed
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Craig Zediker6pts
2Charles Parmain6Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sean Williams6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Bob Ocken6Row 3 - Cell 3
5Clayton Bell6Row 4 - Cell 3
6Andy Barton6Row 5 - Cell 3
7Ray Porter5Row 6 - Cell 3
8Troy Cowin5Row 7 - Cell 3
9Larry Wagner5Row 8 - Cell 3
10Adam Moore5Row 9 - Cell 3
11Erik Blaty5Row 10 - Cell 3
12Allen Black4Row 11 - Cell 3
DNSCarter ChappellRow 12 - Cell 2 Row 12 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Other pro men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ray Storm6laps
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women 39 and under
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Heather Ladd5laps
2Rita Borelli5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Kay Lehman5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Sonya Tomes4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Angela Breeden4Row 4 - Cell 3
6Maria Hernandez3Row 5 - Cell 3
7Meredith Link3Row 6 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women 40+
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Suzanne Henne5laps
2Julie Burroughs5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Susan Williams5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Vivian Chwalinski4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Beth Weimer3Row 4 - Cell 3
6Denise Weber3Row 5 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men 29 and under
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ryan Cook6laps
2Joshua Snyder5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Kristofer Karwisch5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Will Frank5Row 3 - Cell 3
5Zane Jeffers5Row 4 - Cell 3
6Charles Wooley5Row 5 - Cell 3
7Derek King5Row 6 - Cell 3
8Matthew Mcculley5Row 7 - Cell 3
9Luke Kuschmeader4Row 8 - Cell 3
10Clayton Stich4Row 9 - Cell 3
11Kevin Williams3Row 10 - Cell 3
12Justin Woodruff3Row 11 - Cell 3
13Josh Wiersig3Row 12 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men 30-39
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Mark Gullett6laps
2Michael Christopher6Row 1 - Cell 3
3Calvin Hill6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Karl Hanson6Row 3 - Cell 3
5Robert Mooney5Row 4 - Cell 3
6Chad Parker5Row 5 - Cell 3
7Cody Rankin4Row 6 - Cell 3
8Todd Gallagher4Row 7 - Cell 3
9Clint Barbar4Row 8 - Cell 3
10Korrey Kersteter4Row 9 - Cell 3
11Scott Hopkins3Row 10 - Cell 3
12Beau Mooneyham3Row 11 - Cell 3
13Jared Sorrells2Row 12 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men 40-49
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Chris Renshaw6laps
2Sammy Davidson6Row 1 - Cell 3
3Steven Wells6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Scott Dollar5Row 3 - Cell 3
5Dennis Rathke5Row 4 - Cell 3
6Mark Swezey5Row 5 - Cell 3
7Wes Wright5Row 6 - Cell 3
8Roger Williams5Row 7 - Cell 3
9Chris Welch5Row 8 - Cell 3
10John Ashby5Row 9 - Cell 3
11Lonnie Kinkade5Row 10 - Cell 3
12Brook Mayberry4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Jeffrey Foes4Row 12 - Cell 3
14Gary Fenton3Row 13 - Cell 3
15Duane Moore3Row 14 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men 50+
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Todd Henne6laps
2Mark Little6Row 1 - Cell 3
3Douglas Smith6Row 2 - Cell 3
4Chris Irving6Row 3 - Cell 3
5Michael Moriarty5Row 4 - Cell 3
6Craig Morris5Row 5 - Cell 3
7Robert Nielsen5Row 6 - Cell 3
8Frank Stich5Row 7 - Cell 3
9Paul Hart5Row 8 - Cell 3
10Ed Garrison5Row 9 - Cell 3
11Steve Cole4Row 10 - Cell 3
12Jim Barton4Row 11 - Cell 3
13Ed Hawkins4Row 12 - Cell 3
14Murray Wilmerding4Row 13 - Cell 3
15Richard Bell4Row 14 - Cell 3
16Paul Geoly3Row 15 - Cell 3
17Kenneth Bedford3Row 16 - Cell 3
18Bill Nelson3Row 17 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men duo team
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Warren Bradley and Shane Waites6laps
2Tom Burks and Roger Smith5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Barney Long and Tristen Long5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Tim Anderson and Robert Knapp4Row 3 - Cell 3
5Brett Frizzell and Jesse Livingston3Row 4 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Coed duo team
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Douglas Bittinger and Cindy Reese5laps
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women duo team
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kristin Snyder and Brook Wiersig3laps
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women's 3-person team
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Jake Norton, Greg Poole, Carlie Mock5laps
Swipe to scroll horizontally
3 Person Male Team
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Eric Camp, Jason White, Garret White6laps

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews