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Bike riders cross a stream during a recent Laurel Classic Mountain Bike Challenge.

The Laurel Classic Mountain Bike Challenge is known by riders for its awesome mix of grinding climbs, smooth single and double track, creek and log crossings and fast technical descents on trails and forestry roads in the Asaph section of the Tioga State Forest.



”Its other great features include 22 miles of continuous course without any repeat laps and 2800 feet of climbing,” said Race Director Sandy Beideman.
 


Preregister online at bikereg.com by typing in Laurel Classic Mountain Bike Challenge.

 Online preregistration will close at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5. Those who preregister at bikereg.com on or before Sept. 5 at 5 p.m., will pay a $35 entry fee and be guaranteed a free event T-shirt in the size they order.

On race day, Saturday, Sept. 10, registration and sign-in will be at 8:30 a.m. at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Northern Appalachian Research Branch. It’s just off Route 6 in Asaph, eight miles west of Wellsboro.
 

The entry fee for those who register on Sept. 10 is $40. Credit cards will not be accepted on race day.

The start of the 11-mile course for beginner riders will be at 10 a.m. and the 22-mile course for expert and sport entrants will be at 11 a.m.
 
The 22-mile course covers the 11-mile short course plus an additional 11 miles of challenging terrain.

The long course has a cut off of 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the first loop, which includes two long climbs. It takes up to three hours to finish the long course and up to two hours for the short course.
 




There are six age groups in the male and female expert, sport and beginner classes. They are: Junior (up to 18 years old), Senior (19-34), Vet (35-44), Masters (45-57), Super Senior (58-67) and Super Master (68+).




There is no longer a single speed category for males or females for this race.



Expert class first and second place winners will receive cash prizes. Sport and beginner class first, second and third place winners in each age group will receive awards and get to choose an item from the prize table, which will be filled with bike gear from Oswald Cycle Works in Mansfield and C S Sports, Inc. in Wellsboro. 


All entrants must wear a helmet. Falcon Race Timing is providing chip timing and the Morris Firemen’s Ambulance Association is providing ambulance and rescue services. The Tioga County Amateur Radio Club is handling communications.
 




Other sponsors are: Citizens and Northern Bank, Christopher Bean Coffee, Heckler Design, Mountain Graphics, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Twisted Spokes Bicycle Club and UPMC Wellsboro.

Course maps and a link to the registration page are available online at the Laurel Classic Mountain Bike Challenge’s Facebook page. For information, call the chamber at (570) 724-1926.

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800