U.S. Marathon and Short Track Champion Jeremiah Bishop proved this weekend he can get it done on his feet as well as his bike. After a long night of heavy rains the racecourse at Saturday's Dirt, Sweat, and Gears was a soggy mess. A condition not uncommon for Tennessee in early May. It's when the rains stopped that things took a turn for the worse. The thick soggy mud quickly turned sticky. The mud stuck to everything, clogging up derailleurs and drivetrains, packing thick into wheels, forks and chainstays until pedaling or even pushing the bike became impossible. As the mud thickened, like old oatmeal, lap times began to climb from one hour, to two, and finally over three hours to complete one ten mile lap. The rider's bikes were so packed with mud the wheels no longer turned but the mud also made them too heavy to carry and many riders simply stood on the side of the trail for long periods of time wondering what they could possibly do to reach the finish line.
Jeremiah Bishop hiking his way to first place
In 2008, Tinker Juarez took first in the Pro male category by completing 11 laps. In '09 Jeremiah Bishop would take the top spot with just 4 laps completed. Bishop proved that mountain biking is as much mental as physical as he adjusted to the conditions and hiked his way, bike on back, to the top step of the podium. Experienced endurance speicalist Harlan Price took second while Andy Applegate finished third.
Specialized rider and 24 Hour World Champion Rebecca Rusch also completed 4 laps which was enough to take first place. Rusch, a veteran of multiple editions of the grueling Cape Epic stage race, won her World Champion crown in similar conditions last summer in Canada. Second went to rising endurance star Rebecca Tomaszewski (Niner) while Sandra Tomlinson took third ahead of much more familiar names like Pua Sawicki and Danielle Musto.
All finishers of the 2009 Dirt, Sweat, and Gears deserve to be commended for their heroic efforts battling against conditions almost unheard of in the history of mountain bike racing.
Pro Men's Podium
Pro Men
1, Jeremiah Bishop (Monavie-Cannondale.com) 4 laps
2, Harlan Price 4 laps + 40.12
3, Andy Applegate 4 laps +2.16.9
4, Brandon Draugleis (Cannondale) 2 laps
5, Ernesto Marenchin 2 laps
6, Erik Nelson 2 laps
7, Lee Unwin 2 laps
8, Chris baker 2 laps
9, Evan Plews 1 lap
10, Chris Janiszewski 1 lap
Pro Women
1, Rebecca Rusch (Specialized) 4 laps
2, Rebecca Tomaszewski (Niner) 3 laps
3, Sandra Tomlinson 3 laps
4, Pua Sawicki 2 laps
5, Danielle Musto 2 laps
6, Suzan Falvey 2 laps
7, Rita Jett 1 lap
Duo Pro
1, Outspokin Bicycles/Gary Fisher 5 laps
2, Terrapin Racing Duo 1 5 laps
3, Union College 4 laps
4, Terrapin Racing Duo 2
5, Velocity Bicycles
6, Moots
7, Team Swiftwick