Race Director Tom Speigel has confirmed to MTBracenews.com that the American Mountain Classic (AMC) stage race will return to Brian Head, Utah, in 2009. The race, which consists of an opening prologue followed by three stages in and around the Brian Head area, will be held August 20-23rd.
The American Mountain classic ran it's inaugural race in 2008 and was contested by many top professional riders including race winners Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW) and 24-Hour National Champion Pua Sawicki (Ellsworth). Last year's race will be best remembered for the epic battles between Bishop and Subaru/Gary Fisher racer Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. With Bishop finally taking the GC win by just 4 seconds after 4 consecutive sprint finishes between the two.Other top-level pros who attended the race included Lea Davison (Trek/VW), Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher), Amanda Carey (Kenda/Titus/Hayes), Ryan Trebon (Kona), Manuel Prado (Sho-Air), Tinker Juarez, and National Collegiate Champion Ben Sonntag (3D Racing). Following the 2008 event, almost all riders who participated were ecstatic about the stage race format, excellent race organization, and unbelievable high-mountain racing terrain offered at the AMC.
As a racing locale Brian Head, Utah, offers a virtually endless variety of outstanding mountain biking that will challenge the very best mountain bikers. At this point Spiegel does not plan to make any changes to the race format in 2009.
The four day, 170 mile stage race includes a day one six-mile prologue on Brian Head's town trail. Stage two, also known as "The Rim", is a 55 mile trek on the Virgin River Rim trail which features 30 miles of singletrack. Stage three "The Peak" sees riders climb above 11,000 feet twice during the 55 mile stage. Finally, stage four "Dark Hollow" challenges racers with two laps on the challenging NMBS course which features a trip down the Bunker Creek and daunting Dark Hollow descents each lap finishing with a total of 54 miles for the day.MTBracenews.com will have full coverage of the American Mountain Classic, August 20-23 with race reports, results, and photos.