The 4th annual Jerdon Mountain Challenge kicked off a weekend of racing in Old Fort on Saturday, with more than 150 racers tackling the Off-Road Assualt on Mt. Mitchell’s “little brother.” At 26 miles, Jerdon features two main climbs, both followed by ripping singletrack descents.
With sunny skies, tacky trail conditions, and some recent improvements to Jerret Creek Rd, the potential for fast times was there, and last years winner, Brian Schworm (Think Green/Pedal the Planet) wasted no time in setting a vicious tempo up the first major climb on Jerret Creek. Very quickly, Schworm’s efforts reduced the lead group to just 4 riders, with Brad Perley (Brevard College), Matt Williams (Epic Brewing), and Ben Brown (J.A. King) joining Schworm at the front. Brown was the first to crack, followed shortly by Williams.
At the front, Schworm and Perley stayed together until Perley bobbled over the railroad tracks at the bottom of Heartbreak Ridge, allowing Schworm to open up a gap heading into the second climb of the day up Mill Creek Road. Perley would not be detered, however, and he put in a massive effort to catch and then drop Schworm before the final singletrack down Kitsuma Ridge. He was able to maintain his gap all the way to the line, setting a new course record in the process. Schworm rolled through for 2nd, while Williams rounded out the podium in 3rd.
Men’s Podium.
On the women’s side, eventual winner Nina Otter (Liberty Bikes) had an uncharacteristically slow start. “I got caught up behind some people getting around the gate at the entrance to Jerret Creek,” she would explain later, “and a couple of women got ahead of me.” She was able to claw her way back to the front though, and take the lead before entering the singletrack on Star Gap and Heartbreak Ridge. While she never opened up a big gap on second place rider Jennifer Moos (Pink Siren Sports), Otter was able to cruise home for the win with a comfortable margin. Moos to a well earned 2nd place, while Beth Freye (Blue Ridge Outdoors) took 3rd.
Women’s Podium
Men Overall:
| Position | Bib # | Name | Start | Finish | Total | Division | Gender | City | State | Team Name |
| 1 | 677 | BRADFORD PERLEY | 7:59:58 | 09:48:46.992 | 01:48:48.808 | Open Men | M | BREVARD | NC | BREVARD COLLEGE |
| 2 | 631 | BRIAN SCHWORM | 7:59:58 | 09:52:11.712 | 01:52:13.528 | Open Men | M | MOREHEAD | KY | Think Green-Pedal the Planet p/b SWORD Cycling Team |
| 3 | 657 | MATT WILLIAMS | 7:59:58 | 09:57:43.426 | 01:57:45.242 | Open Men | M | ASHEVILLE | NC | Epic Brewing/MTBRacenews.com |
| 4 | 638 | PATRICK SMITH | 7:59:58 | 10:04:52.834 | 02:04:54.650 | Open Men | M | NORTH AUGUSTA | SC | Team Greenville Health System |
| 5 | 682 | BRAD COBB | 7:59:58 | 10:05:34.779 | 02:05:36.595 | Master Men | M | LOOKOUT MT | TN | MOTOR MILE RACING |
| 6 | 523 | IAN BALDWIN | 7:59:58 | 10:05:54.439 | 02:05:56.255 | Open Men | M | ALEXANDER | NC | Suspension Experts |
| 7 | 547 | KEVIN CONRECODE | 7:59:58 | 10:05:54.625 | 02:05:56.441 | Open Men | M | ASHEVILLE | NC | Industry Nine |
| 8 | 653 | JEFF WELCH | 7:59:58 | 10:06:35.772 | 02:06:37.588 | Senior Men | M | LENOIR | NC | Fiets Maan Racing p/b Luna Cycles |
| 9 | 594 | CHRIS LARSEN | 7:59:58 | 10:07:48.725 | 02:07:50.541 | Open Men | M | ASHEVILLE | NC | ABRC |
| 10 | 675 | JIMM MCELROY | 7:59:58 | 10:07:59.614 | 02:08:01.430 | Open Men | M | WEAVERVILLE | NC | Fiets Maan Racing p/b Luna Cycles |
| 11 | 681 | CHRIS BROWN | 7:59:58 | 10:11:21.021 | 02:11:22.837 | Master Men | M | CHATTANOOGA | TN | Industry Nine p/b ABRL |
| 12 | 581 | MICHAEL HUDSON | 7:59:58 | 10:12:25.879 | 02:12:27.695 | Master Men | M | ASHEVILLE | NC | Juggernaut ESF |
| 13 | 658 | JEFF WINE | 7:59:58 | 10:12:26.846 | 02:12:28.662 | Master Men | M | LOUISVILLE | KY | Friends of Roll/ Effov |
| 14 | 575 | MICHAEL HODGES | 7:59:58 | 10:14:31.809 | 02:14:33.625 | Master Men | M | COCONUT CREEK | FL | The Best Bike Shop.com |
| 15 | 627 | CHRIS READY | 7:59:58 | 10:15:26.147 | 02:15:27.963 | Senior Men | M | ARDEN | NC | VeloSports Racing |
Women Open:
| Position | Bib # | Name | Start | Finish | Total | Division | Gender | City | State | Team Name |
| 1 | 620 | NINA OTTER | 7:59:58 | 10:17:00.905 | 02:17:02.721 | Open Women | F | ASHEVILLE | NC | Liberty Bikes/Industry Nine |
| 2 | 671 | JENNIFER MOOS | 7:59:58 | 10:18:12.645 | 02:18:14.461 | Open Women | F | FORT LAUDERDALE | FL | PINK SIREN SPORTS |
| 3 | 561 | BETH FRYE | 7:59:58 | 10:28:06.698 | 02:28:08.514 | Open Women | F | BOONE | NC | Blue Ridge Outdoors |
| 4 | 618 | LEAH NICHOLSON | 7:59:58 | 10:42:51.240 | 02:42:53.056 | Open Women | F | BREVARD | NC | |
| 5 | 580 | LAURA HOWELL | 7:59:58 | 11:03:36.013 | 03:03:37.829 | Open Women | F | CHATTANOOGA | TN | |
| 6 | 665 | KIRA ZAZZI | 7:59:58 | 11:31:10.593 | 03:31:12.409 | Open Women | F | DENVER | NC | Velo 16 BSG |
| 7 | 599 | LAUREL LONG | 7:59:58 | 12:57:36.014 | 04:57:37.830 | Open Women | F | HUNTERSVILLE | NC | Carolina Youth Cycling |