Florida Gravel Grinder series #3 – Seminole Grind – Eustis, Fl
It was a chamber of commerce type of day, just what all the broachers advertise when it comes to wintertime in Florida, sunny & mild and a big switch from what the racers have been facing in the series so far. The 16.8 mile double lolly pop loop has a lot of variation with some open areas, some canopy roads, some small hills and plenty of turns and holes to help keep the focus. The park is proving to be very popular with the riders and this year there was even a double water crossing just to keep things interesting and as in the past at this location the sprint folks did two laps and the marathon did four.
The racing was intense as always but it did seem that there were more packs forming up during the day and only a few breakaway wins. Rafael Lopez had a time of 3:10:13:66 and averaging 21.2mph over 67.2 miles which was enough to claim the overall male marathon win and Nicole Blessing took home the women’s long distance class win. In the sprint divisions it was Allison Mellas with the women’s and in the men’s it was Felipe Schumacker Guagliard taking the win,both averaging well over 20mph.
Florida Gravel sponsored primes for the fastest lap in the men’s marathon 50+ and women’s sprint amateur classes. Winter Garden Wheel Works sponsored the prodium prizes many thanks to both!
Next and final FGG of the series will be March 30th (a Saturday) in Middleburg, Fl.
