A new mostly-dirt course and wintry conditions complete with snow and hail didn’t deter Katerina Nash (Clif Bar Pro Racing) and Stephan Davoust (Giant Factory Off-Road) at the 2019 Grinduro.
The two versatile pros conquered the 59.5-mile-long 2019 Grinduro with commanding wins, both taking more than a minute over four timed segments to win their respective pro fields. Both pro fields were stacked with plenty of cyclocross and gravel pros.
Grinduro was historically the final stage of the Lost Sierra Triple Crown series, which also included the Lost and Found gravel race and the Downieville Classic mountain bike race. The three events help raise funds for the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship.
Fire-Altered Course, Wintry Conditions
While the 2019 event still featured camping, a handmade bike show, meals and music, the devastating Walker Wildfire in Plumas County forced Grinduro organizers to re-route the course.
Camping at the start with the sounds of a lumbermill in the background lull racers to sleep. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Despite firefighters containing the fire before the event’s start, organizers changed Stages Two, Three and Four to avoid any chance of racers approaching the burn area.
The new course turned Stage Two from a pedal-y descent into a ripping downhill, on a gravel road that local framebuilder Cameron Falconer described as a “gravel superhighway.”
The third stage transformed from a paved time trial into a dirt 4.64 mile-long segment.
And Stage Four, a technical singletrack descent, moved further up Mt. Hough.
Mother Nature added to the new terrain challenges with a mix of everything she had on tap.
Rain, snow, hail and cold temps kept down the dust but still presented visibility issues and numbed extremities.
Katerina Nash Tops Stacked Field of Cyclocrossers
Nash, fresh off her 2019 World Cup Waterloo win, showed she’s still got a lot more than 45 minutes of pedaling in her legs this time of year.
Katerina Nash celebrates her muddy win. Faces of the 2019 Trek CX Cup weekend. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Nash tackled the 59.5 mile-long course and climbed 8,432 feet over the wildfire-altered course. Yet the efforts that counted were perfect in duration for the cyclocross star, as her winning overall four-segment total time was 47 minutes and 33 seconds—similar to a UCI cyclocross race.
2018 Mountain Bike World Champ Kate Courtney (Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team) lost time to Nash on the climbs and descent, but took some back on the flatter dirt time trial on Stage Three to finish second.
Other cyclocross and gravel stars took part with Caitlin Bernstein (Easton/ Velocio/ McGovern Cycles) in 3rd, Courtenay McFadden (Pivot Maxxis pb Stan’s NoTubes) in 6th, Serena Gordon (Liv Racing) finishing 7th, 2019 Singlespeed Cyclocross Champ Sarah Sturm (Specialized Rocket Espresso) finishing in 8th, retired cyclocross pro Meredith Miller (Rapha) in 10th, CXM contributor Caroline Nolan (Voler / Easton / HRS / Rock Lobster) in 11th, and 2019 DK 200 winner Amity Rockwell in 12th.
Full 2019 Grinduro Pro Women Results below.
Davoust Devours Quincy Dirt
Stephan Davoust (Giant Factory Off-Road) seems to excel in the Sierra mountains. We saw him at the front of the 2018 Cyclocross Nationals in Reno, then battling the top pros at the same venue in Reno Cross.
Stephan Davoust rode aggressively to a sixth place. 2018 RenoCross men’s race. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
On Saturday, further north in the California Sierra, Davoust took Stage 1’s climb and Stage 4’s technical descent to claim the 2019 Grinduro crown ahead of past winner Duncan Riffle (SRAM/ZIPP/RockShox).
Veteran cyclocross racer Carl Decker, Davoust’s teammate, finished fourth, while stairmaster Cody Kaiser (LangeTwins / Specialized) took Stage Three on his way to sixth, Grant Ellwood (Pivot Maxxis p/b Stan’s NoTubes) finished seventh, with defending champ Ted King (Cannondale) finishing in eight.
World Tour pro Taylor Phinney skipped the road worlds in Yorkshire to take the Grinduro start.
I’m not going to be in Yorkshire … going to #grinduro instead because all I do is shred now #findmeinthewoods
— Taylor Phinney (@taylorphinney) September 23, 2019
Phinney shredded his way to 28th in the Pro Men.
Grinduro now heads to Japan on October 12.
2019 Grinduro Results - Pro Women
| Pos | Bib | Name | Age | Time 1 | Rank | Time 2 | Rank | Time 3 | Rank | Time 4 | Rank | Total | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54 | Katerina Nash | 42 | 7:50 | 1 | 12:12 | 1 | 13:38 | 3 | 13:53 | 1 | 47:33:00 | Clif Pro Team/ Sierra Nevada |
| 2 | 45 | Kate Courtney | 24 | 8:02 | 3 | 13:09 | 2 | 13:19 | 1 | 14:11 | 2 | 48:41:00 | Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team |
| 3 | 43 | Caitlin Bernstein | 30 | 8:24 | 5 | 13:39 | 4 | 13:55 | 5 | 15:22 | 3 | 51:20:00 | Easton/ Velocio/ MCGOVERN Cycles |
| 4 | 59 | Moriah Wilson | 23 | 8:25 | 6 | 13:44 | 5 | 13:39 | 4 | 15:33 | 4 | 51:21:00 | Huck |
| 5 | 47 | Maude Farrell | 28 | 8:15 | 4 | 14:03 | 7 | 13:36 | 2 | 16:50 | 11 | 52:45:00 | Huck Racing |
| 6 | 52 | Courtenay Mcfadden | 34 | 8:48 | 8 | 13:52 | 6 | 14:00 | 6 | 16:19 | 8 | 52:59:00 | Pivot Maxxis pb Stan's NoTubes |
| 7 | 48 | Serena Gordon | 41 | 8:31 | 7 | 14:36 | 11 | 14:00 | 7 | 16:01 | 6 | 53:08:00 | Liv Racing |
| 8 | 57 | Sarah Sturm | 30 | 7:53 | 2 | 14:56 | 12 | 14:11 | 8 | 16:18 | 7 | 53:18:00 | Specialized Rocket Espresso |
| 9 | 50 | Kathryn Hicks | 29 | 10:13 | 14 | 13:13 | 3 | 15:28 | 13 | 15:42 | 5 | 54:36:00 | |
| 10 | 53 | Meredith Miller | 46 | 9:18 | 11 | 14:10 | 8 | 14:15 | 9 | 17:05 | 12 | 54:48:00 | Rapha |
| 11 | 55 | Caroline Nolan | 30 | 8:59 | 10 | 14:33 | 10 | 14:35 | 10 | 16:48 | 10 | 54:56:00 | Voler / Easton / HRS / Rock Lobster |
| 12 | 56 | Amity Rockwell | 26 | 8:56 | 9 | 16:42 | 16 | 14:42 | 11 | 16:32 | 9 | 56:52:00 | EASTON OVERLAND |
| 13 | 46 | Leslie Ethridge | 29 | 9:44 | 13 | 14:22 | 9 | 14:56 | 12 | 19:59 | 13 | 59:00:00 | SANTA CRUZ X ORNOT |
| 14 | 44 | Libby Caldwell | 25 | 9:29 | 12 | 15:39 | 13 | 15:31 | 14 | 20:24 | 14 | 1:01:03 | |
| 15 | 51 | Laura King | 1 | 10:27 | 15 | 15:46 | 14 | 16:19 | 16 | 21:07 | 15 | 1:03:40 | Cannondale Bicycles |
| 16 | 49 | Michelle Hance | 25 | 11:26 | 17 | 16:23 | 15 | 16:03 | 15 | 25:55:00 | 17 | 1:09:46 | |
| 17 | 42 | Ivy Audrain | 31 | 10:29 | 16 | 22:46 | 17 | 18:08 | 17 | 21:52 | 16 | 1:13:16 | Speedvagen |
2019 Grinduro Results - Pro Men
| Pos | Bib | Name | Age | Time 1 | Rank | Time 2 | Rank | Time 3 | Rank | Time 4 | Rank | Total | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Stephan Davoust | 24 | 6:38 | 1 | 11:43 | 4 | 12:04 | 3 | 12:05 | 1 | 42:30:00 | Giant Factory Off-Road |
| 2 | 31 | Duncan Riffle | 33 | 6:56 | 3 | 12:09 | 14 | 12:09 | 4 | 12:40 | 3 | 43:54:00 | SRAM/ZIPP/RockShox |
| 3 | 38 | Sam Vickery | 24 | 7:11 | 6 | 12:06 | 11 | 12:20 | 8 | 12:39 | 2 | 44:16:00 | Myth Cycles |
| 4 | 836 | Carl Decker | 44 | 7:27 | 10 | 11:45 | 5 | 12:11 | 6 | 13:02 | 6 | 44:25:00 | Giant Factory Off-Road |
| 5 | 33 | Dylan Stucki | 31 | 7:42 | 16 | 11:45 | 6 | 12:16 | 7 | 12:52 | 5 | 44:34:00 | Myth Cycles |
| 6 | 18 | Cody Kaiser | 27 | 7:21 | 9 | 11:56 | 8 | 12:00 | 1 | 13:25 | 12 | 44:42:00 | LangeTwins / Specialized |
| 7 | 11 | Grant Ellwood | 23 | 6:58 | 4 | 12:37 | 23 | 12:02 | 2 | 13:05 | 9 | 44:42:00 | Pivot Maxxis p/b Stan's NoTubes |
| 8 | 19 | Ted King | 36 | 7:03 | 5 | 12:26 | 19 | 12:11 | 5 | 13:05 | 7 | 44:45:00 | Cannondale Bikes |
| 9 | 3 | Scott Chapin | 37 | 8:02 | 20 | 11:23 | 1 | 12:53 | 13 | 12:50 | 4 | 45:08:00 | Santa Cruz Factory Racing |
| 10 | 14 | Matthew Fox | 33 | 7:29 | 11 | 11:54 | 7 | 12:54 | 15 | 13:10 | 10 | 45:27:00 | Tesla |
| 11 | 21 | Jason Moeschler | 40 | 8:09 | 23 | 11:33 | 2 | 13:08 | 20 | 13:05 | 8 | 45:55:00 | EVIL BIKES |
| 12 | 15 | Nick Geddes | 26 | 8:34 | 28 | 11:40 | 3 | 13:12 | 21 | 13:26 | 13 | 46:52:00 | Team Super Vacation |
| 13 | 10 | Tim Eaton | 33 | 7:53 | 17 | 12:07 | 12 | 13:08 | 19 | 14:00 | 16 | 47:08:00 | Cannondale Bicycles |
| 14 | 2 | Jeremy Benson | 40 | 7:37 | 14 | 12:41 | 26 | 12:58 | 17 | 13:52 | 15 | 47:08:00 | Olympic Bike Shop |
| 15 | 27 | Phillip Pearce | 35 | 6:50 | 2 | 12:52 | 27 | 12:34 | 9 | 14:53 | 22 | 47:08:00 | Hope Technology |
| 16 | 1 | Jacob Albrecht | 25 | 7:36 | 12 | 12:31 | 20 | 12:59 | 18 | 14:08 | 17 | 47:14:00 | Ibis Cycles |
| 17 | 8 | Josh Direen | 27 | 7:37 | 13 | 12:36 | 21 | 12:41 | 11 | 14:36 | 19 | 47:30:00 | Ornot // Santa Cruz |
| 18 | 850 | Ryan Gardner | 32 | 7:37 | 15 | 12:16 | 18 | 12:52 | 12 | 14:46 | 21 | 47:31:00 | Kona/fox/bell/ethirteen/dharco/wtb |
| 19 | 17 | Kyle Johnson | 30 | 7:17 | 7 | 12:38 | 24 | 12:41 | 10 | 15:09 | 24 | 47:44:00 | Santa Cruz x OrNot |
| 20 | 25 | Dillon Osleger | 25 | 8:10 | 24 | 12:37 | 22 | 14:24 | 29 | 13:11 | 11 | 48:21:00 | Patagonia/CLIF |
| 21 | 41 | Dain Zaffke | 37 | 8:28 | 26 | 12:10 | 15 | 13:38 | 24 | 14:18 | 18 | 48:33:00 | GIRO SPORT DESIGN |
| 22 | 23 | Tydeman Newman | 17 | 7:18 | 8 | 12:09 | 13 | 12:54 | 14 | 16:37 | 26 | 48:58:00 | Cannondale/Fabric/Team Dream |
| 23 | 12 | Sean Estes | 41 | 8:45 | 30 | 12:01 | 9 | 14:31 | 31 | 13:43 | 14 | 48:59:00 | Cycle Sport - Specialized |
| 24 | 29 | Matt Quann | 44 | 8:50 | 32 | 12:16 | 17 | 13:55 | 26 | 14:57 | 23 | 49:57:00 | Ornot |
| 25 | 40 | Derek Yarra | 32 | 8:43 | 29 | 13:14 | 29 | 13:58 | 27 | 14:37 | 20 | 50:31:00 | Above Category |
| 26 | 26 | Hamish Paine | 23 | 8:04 | 22 | 12:05 | 10 | 13:48 | 25 | 17:07 | 27 | 51:04:00 | Cannondale |
| 27 | 28 | Taylor Phinney | 29 | 7:59 | 19 | 12:38 | 25 | 13:31 | 23 | 18:00 | 28 | 52:08:00 | Cannondale Bicycles |
| 28 | 39 | Connor Wolff | 26 | 8:02 | 21 | 13:28 | 30 | 13:19 | 22 | 18:10 | 29 | 52:59:00 | Team Super Vacation |
| 29 | 32 | Justin Sorensen | 39 | 9:24 | 34 | 14:23 | 33 | 14:54 | 34 | 16:29 | 25 | 55:10:00 | Ornot |
| 30 | 37 | Hans Van Housen | 32 | 10:36 | 38 | 13:06 | 28 | 14:16 | 28 | 18:16 | 30 | 56:14:00 | spokesman bicycles |
| 31 | 6 | Steve Denny | 30 | 8:28 | 27 | 14:32 | 34 | 14:36 | 32 | 20:16 | 33 | 57:52:00 | Ragged Mountain Sports |
| 32 | 845 | Sean Talkington | 40 | 10:57 | 39 | 13:47 | 31 | 16:04 | 38 | 18:21 | 31 | 59:08:00 | Team Dream |
| 33 | 30 | Shawn Remy | 35 | 9:34 | 36 | 15:33 | 38 | 15:46 | 37 | 18:41 | 32 | 59:34:00 | Michael David Winery/Cranked Naturals |
| 34 | 13 | Alvin Escajeda | 27 | 8:24 | 25 | 15:22 | 37 | 14:31 | 30 | 22:36 | 34 | 1:00:52 | Cannondale CNPT |
| 35 | 16 | Eric Highlander | 36 | 9:49 | 37 | 12:14 | 16 | 15:34 | 36 | 30:36:00 | 38 | 1:08:12 | Jon Palmer Racing |
| 36 | 4 | Will Curtis | 27 | 7:54 | 18 | 23:41 | 42 | 12:57 | 16 | 27:04:00 | 35 | 1:11:36 | Santa Cruz Factory Racing |
| 37 | 9 | Michael Easter | 44 | 9:23 | 33 | 23:02 | 41 | 15:10 | 35 | 28:29:00 | 36 | 1:16:03 | Cannondale |
| 38 | 7 | Dustin Denton | 33 | 11:23 | 40 | 18:46 | 39 | 18:53 | 40 | 29:29:00 | 37 | 1:18:31 | Michael Daid Winery/Cranked Naturals |
| 39 | 24 | Dave Noakes | 39 | 9:31 | 35 | 15:00 | 35 | 14:46 | 33 | 43:48:00 | 39 | 1:23:05 | Marin Bikes |
| 40 | 34 | Mike Szerszunowicz | 36 | 14:38 | 42 | 14:00 | 32 | 17:34 | 39 | - | - | 46:13:00 | Cannondale CNCPT |
| 41 | 20 | Tim Mcgee | 29 | 13:07 | 41 | 15:22 | 36 | 19:10 | 41 | - | - | 47:38:00 | Cannondale CNCPT |
| 42 | 35 | Alonso Talbert | 31 | 8:48 | 31 | 19:04 | 40 | - | - | - | - | 27:52:00 | Cannondale CNCPT |
