Sydney’s Marathon Block!
While Samuel, Isabella, and Jeremy wrapped up Vail Lake and Sea Otter, Sydney geared up for her own western block with some time in the high deserts of Utah, Arizona, and Colorado!
Grabbing cash from the crowd during the Fat Tire Crit at the Whiskey 50!
For Sydney's next mini race block she switched focus from XCO to XCM (marathon) racing. Starting with the famous Whiskey 50 race in Prescott, Arizona. Festivities started Friday night on Whiskey Row for the Fat Tire Crit. For the Fat Tire Crit Sydney threw on "slick" tires and a bigger chainring. Before putting on Kenda 2.2” Rushes for the 50 mile backcountry race on Sunday.
Sunday's race was a long day out on the bike with only the Pros on course. The race blew apart in about the first 45 minutes leaving the majority of the women racing as if it were a solo time trial. In the end Sydney finished 11th in the 50 miler race and 10th in the Fat Tire Crit.
The ripping singletrack during the GJ Rides and Vibes in Grand Junction, CO.
Up next is one of Sydney's favorite races of the season, the Grand Junction Rides and Vibes Filthy 40. Just like Whiskey 50, Rides and Vibes also starts with a Fat Tire Crit. Down on main street Friday night Sydney put the "slicks" and big chainring back on to race with some of the best marathon racers. After a fast and tactical race Sydney ended in 5th place.
The next day was the 40 mile race out in Lunch Loops of Grand Junction, Colorado, Sydney's home trails during college. Everything was going smoothly until the top of the Windmill climb when cramps and knee pain started, but luckily it's only about 10 miles to the finish line! Despite those few issues Sydney held onto 5th place!
On the podium for one of her favorite races!
Congrats, Sydney, on the hard earned podium! The rest of the team is jealous and trying to fit these races in for 2027.
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It’s Kenda again for an interesting note:
You’ll notice Jeremy and Samuel run almost exclusively 2.4” tires, Sydney runs almost exclusively 2.2”, and Isabella is back and forth depending on the terrain. For her podium at GJ Rides and Vibes, Sydney ran the ripping fast 2.2” Kenda Rush. The biggest reason for the difference is air volume. Sydney feels comfortable digging the narrower contact patch into the dirt and pushing less rubber up climbs. Meanwhile, Jeremy(at ~50lbs heavier), benefits from a larger volume tire to distribute the forces from hard hits, protect his rim, and allow a larger contact patch to change his direction around corners.
While tire choice often comes down to personal ride style and preference, there’s generally a reason pros do what they do!
Thank you for reading and we look forward to sharing more adventures shortly!
Race report: Sydney Nielson
Formatting: Jeremy Norris
