Peak2Peak MTB Race – Michigan

Jorden Wakeley and Kaitlyn Patterson Welcome Fall with Peak2Peak Wins

Written by: Michael Simonson

It’s officially fall in Michigan, which means mountain bike racing is at it’s peak with everyone getting ready for some of the biggest events of the year.

This past weekend saw a great venue at Crystal Mountain nestled right in Thompsonville, Michigan. The Peak2Peak, promoted by Endoman Promotions, is in it’s 10^th year and going strong. The promoter has this event dialed in and it runs super smooth. The venue is beautiful, and there’s more to do than just mountain biking. Big payouts for both the elite men and women draw top talent from the Midwest and this year was no exception.

It’s a fast course, and this year, it was particularly dialed in. The moisture leading up to the event was just the perfect blend to make the top soily/sandy course set up nice and tacky and the slug fest up the ski hill at the end of every lap was sure break up the pack.

For the elite men, there were multiple past winners and podium finishers present. After a fast start, and a blazing fast first lap, it settled into a 5 man group, Cole House, Jorden Wakeley, Alex Vanias, Nathan Guerra, and Michael Simonson. The singletrack sections saw multiple attacks from all, but when the course opened to the 2 track sections, the racing neutralized.

Attacks at the end of each lap saw Simonson dangling, but he would recover and chase back onto the group. It all came down to the final ascent and decent of the ski hill on the last lap. It was Wakely first to the top and into the downhill shoot followed by the others with Simonson getting gapped off the back.

A mad dash to the finish saw Wakeley come in for the win, followed by Cole House in 2^nd, Nathan Guerra 3^rd, Vanias 4^th, and Simonson 5^th.

The elite Women saw a changing of the guard with a tight battle between multiple past winners Mackenzie Woodring and Kaitlyn Patterson. In the end it was Patterson who pulled out the win.

Overall this race is a sure winner and I would highly recommend anyone who is interested in seeing what Michigan Mountain Biking is all about to attend.

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