Ludlow, VT. – Andrew Gardner and Charles McCarthy escaped the New England racing circuit this weekend to compete at the Okemo Bike Hill Climb.  This year marks the first year hillclimb organizers have collaborated to combine their events to form a summer-long points series called BUMPS, or Bike Up the Mountains Point Series.  Okemo is part of an eight-race series, all happening within the Northeastern US, only New York’s Whiteface out of New England.  While the climb up Okemo Mountain isn’t particularly steep (as we soon found out), it was unknown to many riders, some of whom paid dearly for hitting the gas too early.  Andrew and Charles hoped to hit the climb together and pace each other up most of the way until, well, things sorted themselves out.  What they didn’t plan for was the appearance of the helium balloon who is pro rider Anthony Colby seen warming up on the course.  Curses!  This would be a tough one to win.  Arizona Cat. 1 and sometimes Warren, VT, native David Glick was also there, one surely to watch.

Nearly 100 riders awaited the pain in parking lot two miles north of the turn onto  Mountain Road.  The final few moments were tense and silent, not so much because of race anticipation but because the live mini-cannon parked five feet to the riders’ right crouched tied to a pull-trigger.  When that thing went off, it probably rattled some people’s water bottle cages it was so loud.  The race began much like a road bike race with people jockeying for position on the steep S-turns down to Route 103.  Those not familiar with mass start road races were already falling far behind.  The climb was still two miles away.

Out on 103, the pace steadied at 26 mph with eight elite riders efficiently working their way down the road until a flagger down the road waved us right and up the first angry steeps of Mountain Road.  The climb begins below the base of the main base lodge at Okemo and then literally goes right up the main trail where the pitch really roars.  Anthony Colby immediately lifted the pace with David Glick, Andrew, and Charles all gasping for breath.  Colby stood a few more times and it was clear he was off on his own.  Glick, Charles, and Andrew continued  to pace off one another until Andrew couldn’t keep up.  Gerry Clapper, 48 years old, came from behind and overtook a now second-place Charles.  The duo went back and forth up the rest of the mountain until at one-mile to  go, Charles attacked with whatever strength he could muster and help on to a 14 second gap by the top, Glick overtaking Clapper just barely in the last 250 meters, too.  Andrew would come in moments later, sixth overall.

Both MetLife riders  agreed they did not have a good day.  It was pretty much a given the multi-time winner of the Mount Washington Hill Climb, Anthony Colby, was going to take first place.  But the gap he had over McCarthy of 1:37 by the top was puzzling and meant either that Colby was way on form or that Charles was sluggish.  Either way, second and sixth place are very respectable and the Vermont duo hopes to continue their hillclimbing addictions to a New England mountain near you soon.