NUE celebrates a decade of NUE CENTURY Racing and Introduces a NUE Marathon Race Series for 2016
The 10th Annual KENDA National Ultra Endurance (NUE) Series www.nuemtb.com announced the 2016 schedule this week, including the addition of a new NUE Marathon Race Series, complementing the NUE CENTURY Race Series Schedule.
“On behalf of The NUE Race Series, I would like to thank all of our sponsors, many who have been with us for up to a decade now, for believing in our vision and supporting NUE. We are proud to promote our title sponsor, KENDA Tires and the following supporters who have made NUE Possible including Hammer Nutrition, Velocity Wheels, Sigma Sport of Germany, Darn Tough Socks of Vermont, and KMC Chain. Thanks to our newest sponsors, Lauf Forks, Voler, Squirt Lube, and former NUE Champion, Chris Eatough Coaching, providing training plans for all NUE Racers, many tailored to specific NUE race courses based on his success with NUE.
Born in 2006, the Kenda NUE Series began with just six races growing over the last decade to include thirteen races held within thirteen different states. For the first time, in 2015, NUE made the leap to the International stage by introducing the Rincon de La Vieja Challenge, held in Costa Rica, as its first Latin American venue. Race attendance doubled this year.
Rincon Race Director, Juan Carlos, “…The Rincon de La Vieja Challenge 100MTB race has gathered momentum being the first 100 miler of Latin America. It is truly a giant step forward to become part of the NUE (National Ultra Endurance) Race Series. We are honored and thankful for the opportunity and look forward to growing with the NUE, helping the NUE grow and promoting this wonderful sport of endurance MTB cycling internationally.”
“The NUE Race Series would like to welcome the many racers who compete in our shorter distance races held alongside NUE CENTURY events. For the first time, Marathon distance racers will be offered NUE Series Points and national Rewards and recognition within The NUE Marathon specific race series. Racers have been increasingly requesting the inclusion of 50-100k distance races and NUE has responded with a best four of ten race schedule.” Ryan O’Dell, NUE Race Series Director
For 2016, The NUE Race Series will introduce the new “NUE Marathon Race Series schedule”, complementing the larger “NUE CENTURY Race Series”. For its inaugural year, The NUE Marathon Race Series will be made up of ten well known races held at existing NUE venues. Distances will vary ranging from 50-100k. Like the NUE CENTURY Race Series, the NUE MARATHON Race Series will be governed by the same rules and will require the same number of races (BEST 4) to become eligible for series awards and recognition. It is important to note that these are two separate race series. Points will not transfer between the Century and Marathon Race Series.
To claim the NUE Race Series Century title, racers best four finishes will count. NUE requires a minimum of four races to receive a national ranking. ALL racers who complete four of the NUE 100 Mile distance races will receive a national ranking and qualify for series awards, including a share of a minimum $12,000 cash purse, Custom Voler NUE Champion Jersey or discounted NUE Finisher Jersey plus prize packages for virtually ALL NUE Race Series finishers.
Additional Travel awards for NUE Division leaders and/or Champions, including The LaRuta de los Conquistadores, will be announced publicly soon.
To claim the NUE Race Series Marathon title, racers best four finishes will count. NUE requires a minimum of four of the listed Marathon Series races to receive a national ranking. ALL racers who complete four races will receive a national ranking and qualify for series awards, including a share of a minimum $5,000 cash purse or prize packages for virtually every NUE Race Series finisher.
All ties will be broken at the Fool’s Gold 50 and 100 in Georgia on September 17, the final race of the season in Georgia on September 17, the final race of the season. An attractive feature of the NUE Series is that there is NO LICENSE REQUIRED in order to participate. Everyone is welcome to compete on a level playing field alongside top Pro’s. ALL finishing racers receive a score based on their race finishes with a “lowest points wins” formula. The best possible score is 4.
Despite the addition of eight new venues since 2006, nearly ALL NUE Race Series events sold out again last year, some within mere minutes. The NUE Race Series presents racers with a balanced schedule, east and west, with seven races in the east, six races in the west, plus Central America. Costa Rica is now served by Southwest Airlines making airfare to San Jose and Liberia as affordable as traveling across the US.
NUE is currently soliciting the support of additional partners to promote products and services that racers can use. Potential sponsors can receive more information by contacting Ryan O’Dell at nolimit@mohican.net
2016 NUE Century Race Series
Race Date Location
- True Grit Epic March 12 St. George, UT
- Cohutta 100 April 30 Ducktown, TN
- Mohican MTB100 June 4 Loudonville, OH
- Bailey HUNDO June 18 Bailey, CO
- Lumberjack 100 June 18 Wellston, MI
- Tatanka 100 July 9 Sturgis, SD
- High Cascades 100 July 16 Bend, OR
- Wilderness 101 July 23 State College, PA
- Big Bear Grizzly 100 July 30 Big Bear Lake, CA
- Pierre’s Hole 100 August 6 Alta, WY
- Rincon Challenge August 20 Liberia, Costa Rica
- Hampshire 100 August 21 Greenfield, NH
- Shenandoah 100 September 4 Harrisonburg, VA
- Fool’s Gold 100 September 17 Dahlonega, GA
2016 NUE Marathon Race Series
Race Date Location
- True Grit Epic 50 March 12 St. George, UT
- Cohutta Big Frog 65 April 30 Ducktown, TN
- Mohican MTB100K June 4 Loudonville, OH
- HUNDitO 50 June 18 Bailey, CO
- Tatanka 50k July 9 Sturgis, SD
- Grizzly 75K July 30 Big Bear Lake, CA
- Pierre’s Hole 100k August 6 Alta, WY
- Rincon Challenge 100k August 20 Liberia, Costa Rica
- Hampshire 100k August 21 Greenfield, NH
- Fool’s Gold 50 September 17 Dahlonega, GA
Below is a brief on what is new for each of the fourteen races on tap for 2016
The 2016 NUE Series will roll out on March 12 in the southwest at the True Grit Epic and True Grit Epic 50 in St. George, Utah. According to Race Director Cimarron Chacon, “The True Grit Epic is long, tough, and technical. The first twenty miles are along rocky and steep terrain that requires excellent bike handling skills and upper body strength. This course is a roller coaster of desert riding with over 70% of the 89 miles on single track and slightly over 13,000 feet of elevation gain.
From southern Utah, the NUE Series heads southeast near Ducktown, Tennessee for the Cohutta 100 and Cohutta Big Frog 65 on April 30. According to race director Charles Nelson, “For 2016, the Cohutta 100 takes on a fresh route, drawing up the southern end of the course that went into Georgia and displacing it west across more of Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest and the Ocoee region. Staging for the race takes place along the banks of the beautiful Ocoee River — site for the 1996 Olympic White Water Events. Our 100 miles of race course traverses the mountain terrain by world class single track and fire roads. Our single track is fast and flowing, but can get tight and technical in spots. Our fire roads are demanding but rewarding with long ascents, fast descents, and spectacular mountain views.
Out of the gate the race makes about a 3 mile climb on pavement up highway 64. This warm-up serves as a good field displacer and pole position before entering into the fast and flowy single track for the next 20 miles. Next is an out-and-back trip on beautiful mountain fire-roads. Road texture alternates between hard-pack gravel and smooth moist dirt. Expect tenacious climbs (over 12,000 ft of elevation gain overall), hundreds of curves, and peaceful mountain streams. Upon return, racers will re-enter the single track for about 9 final miles of the best trails in these mountains.
The weather in Southeastern Tennessee in late April ranges in expression. Expect a chilly morning for sure on race day, but a quick warming up in the early miles. 8 Aid Stations provide supplemental support throughout the course and a delicious meal and coveted “Finisher” mug await at the Finish Line.”
Next up is the 15th Annual Mohican 100 and Mohican 100k on June 4, the largest attended NUE Race where racers compete for a $10,000 cash purse, the highest single day cash award in the NUE Race Series. Like the Leadville 100, Mohican features a downtown start in Loudonville leading racers up a long climb for a $200 prime. From there the course covers several miles of double track before treating racers to Ohio’s top ranked pristine, flowing single track within the 5000 acre Mohican State Forest along a single loop spanning all four counties that make up what is known as “Mohican Country”. Due to tremendous growth, The Mohican 100 mile and 100k imposed a limit of 700 racers beginning in 2015. This race may sell out quickly so it is recommended to register soon. 100 Mile Race finishers receive a custom Mohican finisher growler to be filled and refilled with a truckload of microbrew provided by Great Lakes Brewing of Cleveland.
From the Buckeye State toward Michigan and Colorado! The NUE Series will feature two great races, east and west on June 18. The Bailey Hundo and Bailey HunDitO 50 in Colorado, is a not-for-profit event invented by a Colorado State Senator benefiting youth biking initiatives in Colorado including Trips For Kids Denver/Boulder, which offers mountain biking opportunities to underserved youth, changing lives “two wheels at a time”, the Colorado High School Cycling League, a new resource for high school students around the state to be exposed to the world of mountain bike racing. Bailey also continues to support the advocacy and trail building work of the Colorado Mountain Biking Association as it builds new trails in the Platte Canyon area that both serve the local community’s recreation needs and is developing Bailey into a mountain biking destination.
Starting from the heart of Bailey, the race features over 45 miles of single track as it winds from Bailey through the Buffalo Creek Trail system and along the Colorado Trail to the South Platte then on to Deckers up Stony Creek Pass to Wellington Lake, and, finally, finishing to a fabulous new festival-like finish area in a private meadow by the river.
One the same day, many racers will be heading into the Great Lakes State of Michigan for the Lumberjack 100 on June 18. Located deep within the Manistee forest in Wellston, Michigan, The Lumberjack will cap off the spring portion of the series. If you like fast flowing, mostly non-technical single track, and Founders Brewing, this is your race. Perhaps that is why this event always sells out early, so don’t miss your opportunity to register.
As summer arrives, The NUE Race Series returns, to the Black Hills of Sturgis, South Dakota July 9 for the Tatanka 100 and Tatanka 50k. The Tatanka 100 is NUE’s first and only point-to-point race beginning beneath Iconic Mount Rushmore and finishing in Sturgis! From the shrine of democracy to the city of riders, racers will test their mettle as they navigate South Dakotas famous Centennial Trail. The Tatanka 50k will retain many of the same challenges albeit over a shorter distance that now offers NUE Marathon Race Series points.
One week later, think Big Foot and Volcano’s as Mudslinger Events hosts The High Cascades 100 in Bend returning for its eighth year to represent the state of Oregon on July 16. The Trails around Mt. Bachelor are truly epic and racers are treated to quality craft brews from Deschutes Brewing. With just 300 spots available, racers are encouraged to register as soon as possible.
On July 23, The Wilderness 101, headed by Chris Scott, is located in the Rothrock and Bald Eagle State Forests just outside of State College, Pennsylvania, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions. If you enjoy technical backcountry single track and hair raising downhill thrills, nothing rocks quite like PA! W101 was one of just six races included in the inaugural NUE Race Series.
On July 30, NUE moves to the west coast Big Bear Grizzly 100 and Grizzly 75k in Big Bear Lake, California. Directed by Derek Hermon, racer’s familiar with the 100k Grand Fondo course will be treated to an extended portion of trail along a ridgeline with amazing views. Big Bear has attracted racers from five countries and eleven states!
The final five races will occur within a month-long period, which could, as usual, create chaos in the series standings before the final tie breaking event.
First up are the 8th Annual Pierre’s Hole 100 and Pierre’s Hole 100k located near Alta, Wyoming, on a new date, one week earlier than last season, August 6. “Pierre’s Hole, a mountain valley tucked up to the Wyoming border on the western side of the Tetons, was once known as the strategic center for fur trade in the Northern Rockies. Today it is known as the strategic gathering place to ski unfathomable deep powder and ride some of the best unknown single track in the nation.
According to race director Andy Williams, “The Pierre’s Hole 100 and Pierre’s Hole 100k at Grand Targhee Resort new course layout adds even more new single track without the nasty climb down to the ranch from the early years of the race that many old timers may recall. The 2016 course will take racers through fields of wild flowers, aspen trees and old growth forest right in the shadows of the Tetons.” The “Grand Loop” which is all a part of the Pierre’s race course was recently named as an IMBA Epic trail!”
On August 20 The NUE Race Series goes Latin to beautiful Liberia, Costa Rica with the Fourth Annual Rincon Challenge and Rincon Challenge 100k, a 100 mile and 100k loop around a volcano that features both jungle and desert conditions. Now served by Southwest Airlines as of November 1, Travel to Costa Rica has become much more affordable with airline pricing about the same as a ticket from the east to the west coast in the US. Enjoy Costa Rican cuisine and hospitality competing alongside local Tico’s and fellow mountain bike racers from all over the world.
The very next day, NUE heads from the Caribbean northeast to New England for the 10th Annual Hampshire 100 and Hampshire 100k, located in Greenfield, New Hampshire scheduled for Sunday, August 21. In 2015, significant changes to the course layout were made in an effort to become more inclusive of those endurance riders new to the discipline and unfamiliar with the rocky terrain in New Hampshire. However, all competitors will still need to embrace their adventurous spirit as they travel over the varied terrain that New Hampshire can dish out.
On September 4 over Labor Day Weekend in the USA, The Shenandoah Mountain 100 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, will send up to 650 racers into the George Washington National Forest. Shenandoah is the grand-daddy of them all, and the largest strictly 100 mile race in the NUE Race Series! Shenandoah not only has a great reputation for amazing trails but is also well known for the outstanding support of volunteers and aid stations that many racers would agree sets the bar for excellence.
The final NUE race will break all ties on September 17. The NUE Series Championship race returns to Georgia for The Fool’s Gold 100 and The Fool’s Gold 50, aptly named after the first American Gold Rush that occurred near the town of Dahlonega, well before the California Gold Rush began. This final NUE Race breaks all ties and, as a result, will determine the new Champions of the 10th Annual NUE CENTURY Race Series and the first ever NUE MARATHON Race Series.
According to Race Director, Lisa Randall, “Nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Fools Gold 50 and 100 course features a challenging but fast course up long gravel road climbs, rolling ridgelines, and buff, flowy singletrack descents. Many of the singletrack sections of trail have been recently reconstructed to improve trail flow. The climbs are rewarded with wooded mountain views and high speed roller-coaster descents. Well stocked aid stations are located every 10-15 miles to ensure racers stay well fueled and well-motivated. Cooler September temperatures and the beautiful Montaluce Winery provides a stunning backdrop for the NUE season finale and the after party, where riders can enjoy local brew in their finisher chalice as well as a filling fajita and nacho bar.”
The NUE series schedule is tentative and subject to change as race organizers are still in the usual process of procuring forest service permits and other logistical race planning details. Stay tuned here for upcoming information about NUE Series Sponsors, Prize Money, and other race details. www.nuemtb.com
