Tanguy and Simril win Mohican 100

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Under Ideal conditions, The Mohican 100 dispatched nearly 600 racers along some of the most popular singletrack trails Ohio has to offer on a grand single loop that spans the four counties that make up what is locally known as "Mohican Country".

The new start for this year's race included a stream crossing and offered racers several more miles of hilly pavement as a run out which helped spread racers before the course leads to miles of double track followed by many more miles of pristine singletrack in the forest. Two other course changes this year included a newly completed tunnel beneath SR62 on the Holmes County Trail for the 100-mile route and the relocation of Aid Station Three to Mohican Wilderness Campground which offered racer's more singletrack and the addition of a third brutal hike a bike about 45 miles into the race.

The first racer to crest at the city limit and finish the race is awarded a $200 cash prime courtesy of the Loudonville Visitors Bureau and Kim's Bikes. This year, 100k racer Jason Blodgett (Spin/Litzler Automation) took that honor before going on to finish fifth in the men's 100km.

"I was riding Tinker's (David "Tinker" Juarez) wheel," said Blodgett. "Tinker was riding directly behind the NUE Champion Christian Tanguy, who led out the race. I glanced back and noticed that the SiMonster (Michael Simonson, last year's winner) was creeping up from behind. It was at that moment that I decided to stand on the pedals and make a push for the city limits. Tanguy and Juarez did not respon, and I was able to get around them to reach the summit first."

Men

In his first NUE race of this season, Christian Tanguy (Rare Disease Cycling) proved he could still turn up the heat when it counts after a long, cold, Michigan winter by finishing the Mohican in 6:55:44, one of just two racers who went sub-seven hours on the day.

"Coming from Detroit, the drive to Mohican 100 is always a little disconcerting," said Tanguy. "There are no hills to speak of, just very large fields on each side of the road. But even so, the Mohican 100 has some great trails and, yes there are hills that challenge legs and spirit. This year, with the birth of our second child, the racing front has taken a back seat so I came to this race not as prepared as I wished."

Tanguy hasn't done 100 miles in awhile and though he tried to go for the prime, it didn't work out.

"About 1.5 miles in, the second place rider had a flat and it was just the lead 100km rider, Steve Twinning, and me," said Tanguy. "For the first two miles of singletrack, we could see the chasers about 20 back, but we were riding fast enough that nobody reached back, except for Tinker Juarez. The three of us stayed together until the run-up before aid #3. Our guide, Steve Twinning, was fading so I kept going with Tinker right behind me."

Tanguy started to feel the effort later and he asked for help from Tinker, who declined to pull. "After 50 miles, I was wondering if I should start saving some energy for a sprint finish should the two of us keep our lead to the end," said Tanguy. "To answer my concerns, I simply asked him. He replied that he would be satisfied to finish second, and I deserved the win. It kind of re-motivated me when I needed it the most. I was satisfied with my effort. Every time I looked down at my computer it was at least 19mph."

The Lumberjack and Mohican 100 will be the only two 100 milers for Tanguy in 2014.

Inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, two-time US Olympian, David "Tinker" Juarez (Sho-Air/Cannondale) received a hero's welcome at the finish line, rolling into second place two seconds behind the NUE Champion at 6:55:46. Juarez has literally become a living legend in the mountain bike world.

Gerry Pflug (Rare Disease Cycling) finished third at 7:17:50. Following last year's incredible win at Mohican where he become the first racer to EVER to win the overall on a singlespeed, the five-time NUE singlespeed Champion returned, but this time, on a geared machine.

"My Rare Disease teammate, Christian Tanguy, and second place finisher, Tinker Juarez, rode a fast race together and I was never able to catch either of them by the finish. I'm very happy with my third place finish, though, and I must admit that using a bike with more than one gear for this race was a lot of fun and made the ride much easier for me than doing it on a singlespeed."

Just minutes separated fourth through sixth place. Finishing fourth was Andrew Dillman (Blazing Saddles Racing) in 7:29:26. Anthony Grinnell (Dirty Harry's/Highland Training) finished in 7:31:02. Derek Treadwell took the final podium spot in sixth place at 7:32:12.

Women

Following a third place finish at Mohican last year, Brenda Simril (Motor Mile Racing) won the Mohican 100 for the first time in 8:49:01 and was the only woman to go sub-nine hours on the day. For Simril, this marks six years of competing at Mohican and she has now racked up 41 NUE race finishes since she began racing with NUE. With her early season win at Cohutta and her win at Mohican, Simril now leads all women in the NUE Race Series.

Fourteen minutes behind Simril, Carla Williams (Joe's Bike Shop Racing Team) finished second in 9:03:37. Linda Shin (Blacksmith Cycles) finished third in 9:23:06. "Mohican 100 is probably my favorite 100 miler. It's a good mix of terrain and really sweet singletrack that's so much fun to ride!."

"The course felt a bit tougher than in 2012 when I first raced it, as my time was longer but I finished with a better position this year and so I am super happy," said Williams.

Since winning the 2012 Ohio OMBC Race Series, Shannon Tenwalde (Paradise Garage Racing) has excelled in the longer NUE Series races, finishing seventh overall last season. She finished fourth at Mohican this year in 9:41:11. Tenwalde was more than an hour faster and improved on her fifth place finish last year.

Fifth place went to Anne Pike (Blue Ridge Cyclery Racing), in 9:43:30 and sixth place to Simona Vincenciova (Vanderkitten VIP), who finished 9:56:44.

Singlespeed

Joe Malone (Pro Bikes Mountain) smoked the competition this year with a commanding lead to finish 7:24:22, one of just two singlespeed racers to go sub-8.

"Having never raced a NUE 100-miler before, I had no idea how I'd feel racing for a hundred miles," said Malone. "I knew it was going to hurt, and it did, a lot. At the start, a few of us tried to line up as close to the front as we could, as we squeaked in and looked around I realized I was lined up right next to Mr. Tinker Juarez. The day could have ended there, with that super cool moment I'll never forget."

Fifteen minutes later, Will Crissman (B2C2/Commonwealth) secured second in 7:49:30. Ten minutes later, Trevor Rockwell (Team Noah Foundation) finished third overall at 8:00:57.

"I finally got the monkey off my back of the last two years of cramp-filled Mohican 100s, putting together a pretty good race this year," said Rockwell. "I had a smile on my face the whole first 30 miles riding the kick butt single track of Mohican State Park with Daniel Rapp of Toasted Head Racing who would finish fifth SS overall. I will be back next year again."

Three minutes later, Jason Pruitt (LAS Peoples Brewing) claimed fourth in 8:03:02. Daniel Rapp (Toasted Head Racing) took fifth in 8:08:29.

Masters

Roger Masse (Rare Disease Cycling) finished 8:10:29, one of just seven masters to go sub-9 on the day. After a tough start, Masse tried to be patient and work with the riders around him.

"By mile 30, I was running on all cylinders and by mile 50, I felt like I had what it takes to win. Unfortunately, right then I missed a turn and did an extra several miles before returning to my miss queue and getting back on course," said Masse. "This mishap dropped me to, probably, third position as I know that, at least, David Jolin and Marland Whaley got by. Fortunately, I had the legs to chase and was able to reel them both in to regain the lead and eventually the win. This is my first win here at Mohican. I'm thrilled!"

NUE Defending Champion, Marland Whaley (Hammer Nutrition) finished eight minutes behind the leader at 8:18:49 in his first attempt at Mohican. Local favorite, David Jolin (Stark Velo) finished third in 8:31:09. Jolin, who trains on the Mohican trails, finished second overall in the NUE Race Series last season.

Next Stop NUE #6

On June 14, The NUE Series heads west for the series debut of the Bailey Hundo in Bailey, Colorado. The sold out race is a fundraiser for Trips for Kids and the Colorado High School Cycling League. Starting from the heart of Bailey, the race features over 45 miles of singletrack as it winds from Bailey through the Buffalo Creek Trail system and along the Colorado Trail to the South Platte, to Deckers up Stony Creek Pass, to Wellington Lake.

Results