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One of the fastest growing bike racing series in the U.S., the 2019 four-race Epic Rides Off-Road series kicked off over the weekend at the Whiskey Off-Road in Prescott, Arizona.

The pro and amateur series provides a weekend of mountain bike racing action, with the pros competing in a “Fat Tire Crit” on Friday night, and then racing a 50ish-mile one-lap backcountry race on Sunday. Mixed in is amateur backcountry racing of all categories at several distances.

The 2019 series includes four races, with the finale in October at the Oz Trails Off-Road held on the trails that helped birth the 2022 Cyclocross Worlds bid.

For the Fat Tire Crit, riders must run the same bike they will ride for the backcountry race, but they are allowed to run tires as narrow as 38mm as measured—kind of a bizarro UCI cyclocross tire rule.

Riders race for 20 minutes plus 3 laps on a course typically set in downtown with a fun party atmosphere. As this social post from Russell Finsterwald (Team CLIF, Groove Subaru, ODI Grips, Union Sport) shows, the Fat Tire Crits are no joke.

Sunday’s 50 Proof backcountry race (officially 48 miles) headed south of Prescott into Prescott National Forest on singletrack, doubletrack and gravel fire roads, packing in 6,000 feet of climbing focused on two big climbs.

Part of the appeal of the Pro category is the impressive cash purses. Equal payouts go to the top 12 women and men, with winners taking home $5,000 for their afternoons of work.

Fat Tire Crit Results

Why do we follow the Epic Rides Off-Road series? Well, part of it is some FOMO since it looks like an awesome way to race mountain bikes. The other is that there are a lot of cyclocrossers and gravel grinders who toe the line at each of the series races. This past weekend was no different.

The Women’s Fat Tire Crit win went to Chloe Woodruff (Stans, Pivot, Maxxis, Shimano, ASSOS, Natural Delights), but in second and third were Katerina Nash (Clif Pro Team) and Sofia Gomez Villafane (Stan’s Pivot Pro Team p/b Maxxis).

Catharine Pendrel (Clif Pro Team) finished 6th, Courtney McFadden (Pivot Cycles/Maxxis p/b Stan’s/DNA Cycling) 12th, Hannah Finchamp (Clif Pro Team) 13th, Crystal Anthony (Liv Cycling) 15th, Raylyn Nuss (Orange Seal Off Road Team) 20th and Rebecca Gross (Zero D Racing) 33rd.

The Men’s win went to Keegan Swenson (Stan’s / Pivot p/b Maxxis), with Land Run 100 winner Payson McElveen (Orange Seal Off-Road Team) taking second and the abovementioned Finsterwald finishing third.

Stephan Davoust (Giant Factory Off-Road) finished 4th, Josh Berry 5th, Geoff Kabush (Giant Factory Off-Road) 6th, Brian Matter (Linear Sport Racing, Trek, Shimano, Clif Bar) 8th, Drew Dillman (SDG – Muscle Monster) 30th, Gosse van der Meer (Kali Protectives, Fox, Evoc, Bombtrack, Hunt, Ritchey, Ride100%, Northwave) 36th, Brannan Fix (Kali Protectives, Fox, Evoc, Bombtrack, Hunt, Ritchey, Ride100%, Northwave) 39th, Caleb Swartz (Bear Professional Team) 44th, Henry Nadell (Bear Professional Team) 67th and Fernando Riveros (Bear Professional Team) 82nd.

Full Fat Tire Crit results are below.

Backcountry Results

Kate Courtney (Scott – SRAM MTB Racing) came into the weekend atop the CXHairs MTB Heat Check Power Rankings and delivered on the hype, taking the win in the Backcountry race by over 3 minutes.

Woodruff finished second and Pendrel third.

Gomez Villafane finished 7th, Nash 8th, Anthony 11th, Finchamp 13th, McFadden 17th, Nuss 25th and Gross 28th.

Swenson swept the weekend for the Men, getting the Backcountry win by over 6 minutes. Finsterwald took second and Georwill Perez Roman (TrekPuertoRicoRacing) third.

Riveros took 5th, Davoust 7th, McElveen 10th, Kabush 13th, Nadell 14th, Matter 15th, Berry 21st, Swartz 26th, Fix 39th, Troy Wells 40th, Van der Meer 42nd and Dillman 45th.

Full results for all races are below.

Pro Women's Results: 2019 Whiskey Off-Road Fat Tire Crit

PlaceFirstLastCityStateTeam
1ChloeWoodruffPrescottAZStans, Pivot, Maxxis, Shimano, ASSOS, Natural Delights
2KaterinaNashLittletonCOClif Pro Team
3SofiaGomez VillafaneHeber CityUTStans Pivot Pro Team pb Maxxis
4ErinHuckPhoenixAZCZracing
5KateCourtneyKentfieldCAScott-SRAM MTB Racing
6CatharinePendrelLittletonCOClif Pro Team
7AlexisSkarda
8HaleyBatten
9RoseGrantColumbia FallsMTStans No Tubes, Pivot Cycles, Maxxis
10EvelynDongHeber CityUTPivot Stans
11KayseeArmstrongNewbury ParkCALIV Cycling
12CourtenayMcfaddenBellinghamWAPivot Cycles, Maxxis Tires, Stans NoTubes, DNA Cycling
13HannahFinchampKennewickWACLIF Bar
14JasminDuehringMission ViejoCAJ.A.King / Felt Bicycles
15CrystalAnthonyNewbury ParkCALIV Cycling
16ChloeCrossWhistlerBCTeam Whistler
17AmyChandosFlagstaffAZCZracing
18HollyBreckSan DimasCAGo Fast - Incycle
19KellyCatalePepperellMAConnect / Seven Cycles
20RaylynNussLake St LouisMOOrange Seal Off Road Team
21EricaClevengerLakewoodCOFelt
22BethannOrtonBendORTeam S&M
23JenniferSmithGunnisonCOKenda Cannondale Stans Notubes Magura
24AshleyCarelockDoloresCOAmy D Foundation
25CeciliaDepuePrescottAZArizona DEVO / Pivot / Stans
26StaciNashAnaheim HillsCATeam Baghouse
27ErinOsborneFlagstaffAZFlagstaff Bicycle Revolution
28TracyLeishmanCalgaryABnone
29LydiaTannerBoulderCOn/a
30IvyAudrainPortlandORSpeedvagen
31JenHanksLas VegasNVPearl Izumi/Pivot Cycles/Continental MTB
32CourtneyBoydHaileyIDCima Cycles, CarboRocket
33RebeccaGrossGoldenCOKHS Bicycles Voler Kenda
34AbigailSnyderFort WayneINTeam Neighborlink / Summit City Bicycles & Fitness

Pro Men's Results: 2019 Whiskey Off-Road Fat Tire Crit

PlaceFirstLastCityStateTeam
1KeeganSwensonHeber CityUTStans-Pivot p/b Maxxis
2PaysonMcelveenDurangoCOOrange Seal Off-road Team
3RussellFinsterwaldColorado SpringsCOTeam CLIF, Groove Subaru, ODI Grips, Union Sport
4StephanDavoustNewburry ParkCAGiant Factory Off-Road
5JoshuaBerryTucsonID
6GeoffKabushSquamishBCYeti, Maxxis, Shimano, Fox, Stans NoTubes, GU
7TristanUhl
8BrianMatterPrescottAZLinear Sport Racing, Trek, Shimano, Clif Bar
9HowardGrottsDurangoCOSpecialized
10BryanLewisRaleighNCCutaway, USA
11JakeYackleCarson CityNVFSA, Shimano, Primal Wear, Orange Seal, Panaracer, KHS, Clif Bar, Kali Protectives
12AlexeyVermeulenPinckneyMIBianchi, Shimano, Carhartt
13BenSonntagDurangoCOCLIF Bar, Niner Bikes, NoTubes, Maxxis
14CalSkilskyDurangoCOCZracing
15AndrewClemenceBoulderCOCZracing
16AlexGrant
17PeteKarinenCalumetMIBroken Spoke Racing
18NicBeechanIdyllwildCATrek, Shimano, 100%, ODI, Fox, Kenda
19NickolasZukowskySte Lucie Des LaurentidesQCFloyds, Van Dessel, Biemme, Pioneer
20OliverZurbrueggLauterbrunnenBEBiXS Pro Team
21CoryWallaceJasperABKONA
22TravisMccabePrescottAZFloyd’s Cycling
23TaylorSheldenBreckenridgeCOTokyo Joes - Scott
24NashDoryDurangoCOCZracing
25GeorwillPerez RomanPrescott, AzAZTrekPuertoRicoRacing
26JordenWakeleyGraylingMINorthbound Outfitters/GIANT Bicycles/Oakley
27ManuelSalasNuevo Casas GrandesTXJoyerias meza, manzanisima, crazy cat
28KoheiYamamotoMatsumotoJP20Dream Seeker MTB Racing Team
29SpencerCiammittiCave CreekAZ
30AndrewDillmanFairdaleKYSDG - Muscle Monster
31KyleTrudeauPhoenixAZCZracing
32RyanPetryBoulderCOCZracing
33ElliottBaringCummingGAPivot Cycles/Maxxis Tires
34CypressGorryPisgah ForestNCRouleur Devo p/b DNA Cycling
35AdamSabanSioux FallsSDRoots Racing p/b Athletes in Action
36GosseVan Der MeerKranenburgKali Protectives, Fox, Evoc, Bombtrack, Hunt, Ritchey, Ride100%, Northwave
37RyanStandishAlice SpringsNTMerida Bikes Australia
38KeiranEagenDurangoCOScott, Voler Apparel, 2nd Avenue Sports
39BrannanFixGrand JunctionCOAlpha Bicycle Co.-Groove Subaru
40AlexWildLos GatosCASpecialized Factory Racing
41RotemIshayDurangoCOSka Brewing / Zia Taqueria / Trek Bikes
42LeviKurlanderDurangoCOVoler Apparel, Trek Bikes
43JacobMorales
44CalebSwartzMadisonWIBear Professional Team
45LewisElliotPhoenixAZCZracing
46CalebReeseGoldenCOPedal Pushers Racing
47SeanKickbushTraverse CityMI3T, Q+M
48EthanMoyerSteamboat SpringsCOSteamboat Velo
49EvanPardiTempeAZCBT Nuggets/ Full Send Triathlon/ Adventurous Stills
50ClaytonOttoSalt Lake CityUTPivot Cycles,TRP, Rotor
51CodyCuppDurangoCOSET Coaching
52ErnieWatenpaughOphirCOJack Daniels, BMC, Telluride Venture Accelerator
53JasonRowtonDurangoCORouleur Devo p/b DNA
54HarrisonBuckleyDurangoCOProcycling, SRM
55TaylorLideenPhoenixAZPivot Cycles, Infinit, Shimano, Stans, TOGS
56StefanoBarberiNewbury ParkCASeriousCYCLING, KENDA, TheBlackBibs
57JustinDesiletsRivertonUTBingham Cyclery-Peak Fasteners
58BrentWoodFeltonCABuy Cell Racing / Ibis
59JustinMartinColorado SpringsCOSpecialized bikes, Amphuman, Biketogs
60TomSampsonBoulderCOYeti Cycles/Hope/Vittoria
61TerolPursellGoldenCOAmy D Grassroots
62DeanHillAspenCOAspen Pro Cycling - Cima Cycles
63ZachFernauShow LowAZSoul Ride Racing
64AaronCampbellFarmingtonUTBountiful Bicycle Racing p/b Nate Wade Subaru
65DavidKrimstockCarbondaleCO
66KurtRefsnider
67HenryNadellCarbondaleCOCZracing
68JosephWilliamsTucsonAZNATIVE
69CodyWaiteLakewoodCOASEA, Sessions:6
70BrianFirleBoulderCOAthletes in Action, Roots Racing, Shimano
71KevinQuattlebaumHigh RollsNMHigh Altitude, Specialized, ESI grips, Stans No Tubes, Maxxis, Oakley
72ZackVillarsApple ValleyCABear Valley Bikes
73AustinRileyBoulderCOAminoRip, AltRed, CeramicSpeed
74AmaNsekOntarioCASariol Legal
75LucasRowtonDurangoCO
76DuaneMyers
77WilliamDowlingDurangoCOHoney Stinger, Santa Cruz, Fort Lewis College
78JeffMinottoSteamboat SpringsCOSteamboat Velo p/b Moots
79PatrickCaroClaremontCAGo Fast
80EnriqueGaribay
81KyleThomasDenverCOGo 4 Graham
82FernandoRiverosColorado SpringsCOCZracing
83WillFoleyGoldenCOSpecialized-MI3

Pro Women's Results: 2019 Whiskey Off-Road Backcountry

PlaceNameTimeCityStateTeam
1Kate Courtney3:46:44KentfieldCAScott-SRAM MTB Racing
2Chloe Woodruff3:49:54PrescottAZStans, Pivot, Maxxis, Shimano, ASSOS, Natural Delights
3Catharine Pendrel3:50:14LittletonCOClif Pro Team
4Haley Batten3:50:14
5Erin Huck3:51:43PhoenixAZCZracing
6Alexis Skarda3:59:16
7Sofia Gomez Villafane4:00:41Heber CityUTStans Pivot Pro Team pb Maxxis
8Katerina Nash4:01:14LittletonCOClif Pro Team
9Rose Grant4:02:36Columbia FallsMTStans No Tubes, Pivot Cycles, Maxxis
10Evelyn Dong4:08:05Heber CityUTPivot Stans
11Crystal Anthony4:08:57Newbury ParkCALIV Cycling
12Kaysee Armstrong4:08:57Newbury ParkCALIV Cycling
13Hannah Finchamp4:12:38KennewickWACLIF Bar
14Amy Chandos4:15:29FlagstaffAZCZracing
15Jasmin Duehring4:20:06Mission ViejoCAJ.A.King / Felt Bicycles
16Jennifer Smith4:23:21GunnisonCOKenda Cannondale Stans Notubes Magura
17Courtenay Mcfadden4:24:36BellinghamWAPivot Cycles, Maxxis Tires, Stans NoTubes, DNA Cycling
18Kelly Catale4:25:56PepperellMAConnect / Seven Cycles
19Erin Osborne4:28:17FlagstaffAZFlagstaff Bicycle Revolution
20Lydia Tanner4:32:24BoulderCOn/a
21Chloe Cross4:33:16WhistlerBCTeam Whistler
22Ashley Carelock4:39:32DoloresCOAmy D Foundation
23Staci Nash4:41:39Anaheim HillsCATeam Baghouse
24Erica Clevenger4:43:22LakewoodCOFelt
25Raylyn Nuss4:44:16Lake St LouisMOOrange Seal Off Road Team
26Holly Breck4:49:24San DimasCAGo Fast - Incycle
27Bethann Orton4:50:15BendORTeam S&M
28Rebecca Gross4:54:57GoldenCOKHS Bicycles Voler Kenda
29Courtney Boyd4:55:33HaileyIDCima Cycles, CarboRocket
30Jen Hanks5:02:16Las VegasNVPearl Izumi/Pivot Cycles/Continental MTB

Pro Men's Results: 2019 Whiskey Off-Road Backcountry

PlaceNameTimeCityStateTeam
1Keegan Swenson3:12:29Heber CityUTStans-Pivot p/b Maxxis
2Russell Finsterwald3:18:46Colorado SpringsCOTeam CLIF, Groove Subaru, ODI Grips, Union Sport
3Georwill Perez Roman3:21:24Prescott, AzAZTrekPuertoRicoRacing
4Ben Sonntag3:21:32DurangoCOCLIF Bar, Niner Bikes, NoTubes, Maxxis
5Fernando Riveros3:21:48Colorado SpringsCOCZracing
6Kohei Yamamoto3:22:46MatsumotoJP20Dream Seeker MTB Racing Team
7Stephan Davoust3:22:46Newburry ParkCAGiant Factory Off-Road
8Nic Beechan3:23:07IdyllwildCATrek, Shimano, 100%, ODI, Fox, Kenda
9Taylor Lideen3:23:45PhoenixAZPivot Cycles, Infinit, Shimano, Stans, TOGS
10Payson Mcelveen3:26:38DurangoCOOrange Seal Off-road Team
11Cal Skilsky3:26:47DurangoCOCZracing
12Ryan Standish3:26:47Alice SpringsNTMerida Bikes Australia
13Geoff Kabush3:27:09SquamishBCYeti, Maxxis, Shimano, Fox, Stans NoTubes, GU
14Henry Nadell3:28:03CarbondaleCOCZracing
15Brian Matter3:28:26PrescottAZLinear Sport Racing, Trek, Shimano, Clif Bar
16Alexey Vermeulen3:28:30PinckneyMIBianchi, Shimano, Carhartt
17Jacob Morales3:28:46
18Taylor Shelden3:30:28BreckenridgeCOTokyo Joes - Scott
19Alex Wild3:31:12Los GatosCASpecialized Factory Racing
20Howard Grotts3:31:12DurangoCOSpecialized
21Joshua Berry3:31:13TucsonID
22Garrett Gerchar3:31:16BoulderCOTHG Ent.
23Oliver Zurbruegg3:31:19LauterbrunnenBEBiXS Pro Team
24Alex Grant3:31:20
25Rotem Ishay3:33:27DurangoCOSka Brewing / Zia Taqueria / Trek Bikes
26Caleb Swartz3:33:59MadisonWIBear Professional Team
27Nickolas Zukowsky3:34:33Ste Lucie Des LaurentidesQCFloyds, Van Dessel, Biemme, Pioneer
28Nash Dory3:35:17DurangoCOCZracing
29Manuel Salas3:36:13Nuevo Casas GrandesTXJoyerias meza, manzanisima, crazy cat
30Cypress Gorry3:36:33Pisgah ForestNCRouleur Devo p/b DNA Cycling
31Tristan Uhl3:37:09
32Bryan Lewis3:37:09RaleighNCCutaway, USA
33Zach Fernau3:38:42Show LowAZSoul Ride Racing
34Keiran Eagen3:39:18DurangoCOScott, Voler Apparel, 2nd Avenue Sports
35Ryan Petry3:39:48BoulderCOCZracing
36Kyle Trudeau3:40:12PhoenixAZCZracing
37Jorden Wakeley3:40:23GraylingMINorthbound Outfitters/GIANT Bicycles/Oakley
38Spencer Ciammitti3:40:47Cave CreekAZ
39Brannan Fix3:42:12Grand JunctionCOAlpha Bicycle Co.-Groove Subaru
40Troy Wells3:42:57
41Caleb Reese3:43:23GoldenCOPedal Pushers Racing
42Gosse Van Der Meer3:43:33KranenburgKali Protectives, Fox, Evoc, Bombtrack, Hunt, Ritchey, Ride100%, Northwave
43Andrew Clemence3:45:11BoulderCOCZracing
44Cory Wallace3:45:18JasperABKONA
45Andrew Dillman3:45:44FairdaleKYSDG - Muscle Monster
46Pete Karinen3:45:50CalumetMIBroken Spoke Racing
47Levi Kurlander3:45:50DurangoCOVoler Apparel, Trek Bikes
48David Krimstock3:46:08CarbondaleCO
49Cooper Wiens3:46:27DurangoCO
50Lucas Rowton3:47:28DurangoCO
51Ernie Watenpaugh3:48:22OphirCOJack Daniels, BMC, Telluride Venture Accelerator
52Justin Desilets3:49:16RivertonUTBingham Cyclery-Peak Fasteners
53Ethan Moyer3:49:41Steamboat SpringsCOSteamboat Velo
54Evan Pardi3:49:55TempeAZCBT Nuggets/ Full Send Triathlon/ Adventurous Stills
55Travis Mccabe3:49:56PrescottAZFloyd’s Cycling
56Stefano Barberi3:50:23Newbury ParkCASeriousCYCLING, KENDA, TheBlackBibs
57Sean Kickbush3:51:41Traverse CityMI3T, Q+M
58Dean Hill3:52:14AspenCOAspen Pro Cycling - Cima Cycles
59Brian Firle3:52:54BoulderCOAthletes in Action, Roots Racing, Shimano
60Tom Sampson3:53:22BoulderCOYeti Cycles/Hope/Vittoria
61Clayton Otto3:54:31Salt Lake CityUTPivot Cycles,TRP, Rotor
62Will Foley3:55:13GoldenCOSpecialized-MI3
63Terol Pursell3:57:01GoldenCOAmy D Grassroots
64Kurt Refsnider3:58:28
65Justin Martin3:58:54Colorado SpringsCOSpecialized bikes, Amphuman, Biketogs
66Ama Nsek3:58:54OntarioCASariol Legal
67Harrison Buckley3:59:29DurangoCOProcycling, SRM
68Aaron Campbell4:01:12FarmingtonUTBountiful Bicycle Racing p/b Nate Wade Subaru
69Jake Yackle4:07:06Carson CityNVFSA, Shimano, Primal Wear, Orange Seal, Panaracer, KHS, Clif Bar, Kali Protectives
70Lewis Elliot4:07:43PhoenixAZCZracing
71Joseph Williams4:07:44TucsonAZNATIVE
72Duane Myers4:07:51
73Kevin Quattlebaum4:09:16High RollsNMHigh Altitude, Specialized, ESI grips, Stans No Tubes, Maxxis, Oakley
74Jeff Minotto4:10:00Steamboat SpringsCOSteamboat Velo p/b Moots
75Adam Saban4:16:12Sioux FallsSDRoots Racing p/b Athletes in Action
76Cody Waite4:16:32LakewoodCOASEA, Sessions:6
77Jason Rowton4:17:35DurangoCORouleur Devo p/b DNA
78Kyle Thomas4:25:43DenverCOGo 4 Graham
79Enrique Garibay4:27:02
80Zack Villars4:35:00Apple ValleyCABear Valley Bikes
81William Dowling4:37:42DurangoCOHoney Stinger, Santa Cruz, Fort Lewis College
82Cody Cupp4:40:31DurangoCOSET Coaching
83Austin Riley5:01:58BoulderCOAminoRip, AltRed, CeramicSpeed