MARIGOT--VCG’s Dean Hodge Jr. swept to victory in the Elites category to retain his championship title for the second year in a row at the Tri Sport ASM mountain bike championship race in Bellevue on Sunday.
The King of the Dirt didn’t miss a beat in another seemingly effortless performance. While many wilted on the notorious Princess climb, Hodge was as nimble as a mountain goat, losing no perceptible speed or momentum.
He completed the five loops of the 5K course in 1:38:47 adding the fastest lap of the day at 15:51 for good measure.
Cyclone Club’s Joost Huele was second (1:48:05) and VCG’s Otis Paines took third (1:50:49).
Dean Hodge was not the only champion of the day, however. Masters 1 (40-49) was won by Mark Maidwell completing the required four loops in 1:22:41. Christophe Vankerrebroek was second (1:26:35) and race organiser Frederic Quetat third (1:29:21).
Dick Luttekes was back on top form winning Masters 2 (50 plus) in 1:21:25, shaving just over a minute off Mark Maidwell’s time. Ronan Garnier was second (1:27:03) and Michael Bacon third (1:35:54).
The smooth and stylish Sandra Garnier maintained her dominance in the women’s category completing the three loops in 1:13:43. There’s no denying the big engine in that small frame of hers, and the amazing Liesbeth De Falco keeps on pushing back the years, finishing second (1:20:02) to deny the always powerful Annelies Starreveld (1:21:51).
The Cadets category (15-16) was won by Adelio Brooks completing the two loops in 36:36.
Moments after the start there was little chance of shaking down the pack in time and a traffic jam formed on the first climb up Princess but it soon sorted itself out. A highlight of the race was the exhilarating new downhill trail, the Bullet, designed and constructed by Mike Kopec which received a proper christening.
The race was briefly turned into a mud fest when a rain shower threatened to turn the Bullet into a quagmire and lower trails became muddy and slippery. But fortunately the rain was only brief and the trails dried out fairly quickly.
Fifty riders took part in the adult race. Races for children in different age categories over a short course took place after the adults.
Trophies and prizes were sponsored by Atlantic Signs and Tri Sport.
