Florida Gravel Grinder series #2 + Time Trial #2 – 3 Forks Grind – Palm Bay, Fl
Chilly & windy, sound familiar? At last year’s memorable race, the wind speeds were 40 to 50 mph & cold, this year was not as bad only around 20-25 mph and while yes it was around 45 degrees when the race started it did warm up to a sunny almost 60 degrees by awards time. So with a strong North wind carrying the racers South to the turnaround point, the second half of the course was brutal as the head winds never let up all the way to the finish, hats off to all of the competitors as this race was tough both physically and mentally.
On Saturday the second of two individual time trials took place on the first half of the course (seven miles down and seven miles back) and Carlos Pacheco proved to be the fastest with a time of 37:58 and an average speed of 22.1 mph. Nicole Blessing had a time of 44:25 to top the female categories and ninth overall.
Sunday the course traveled further South for 14 miles and then turned and came back North into the headwinds. The men’s overall came down to a 3 way battle after 56 miles with Tayor Warren getting the nod by less than a second while Adriana Leon claimed her first win of the series in the women’s marathon division. Top Sprint distance racers (28 miles or one loop) were Felipe Schumacker Guagliard in the men’s and Phoebe Maisto.
Florida Gravel sponsored primes for the fastest lap in the men’s sprint & marathon 40+ while Gravel Riding Concepts sponsored the primes for the men’s sprint & marathon 50+ classes many thanks to both! Next FGG race will be February 25th in Eustis.
