QUILCENE — Nearly 200 hardy souls took on hills, mud, rain and even some hail in the rugged Olympic Mountains northwest of Quilcene in the annual Gravel Unravel race put on by Peninsula Adventure Sports this weekend.
Because of forecasted chance of thunderstorms, the long course of the race was cut by 25 miles, from 80 to 55, the same as the medium course. Thunderstorms did not happen, but some riders were pelted by hail. Nearly 300 people signed up for the race, the largest number ever for the Gravel Unravel, but with the dangerous weather forecast, about 100 people did not race.
The race this year also featured a famous cyclist, Ted King, who retired from pro cycling, last racing for UCI Cannondale-Garmin, to take on mountain biking. He ended up winning the open long course division — by just four seconds over Mark Laughery of Seattle. Race sponsor Rene Herse works closely with King and invited him to participate.
One of the winners of the women’s super masters (age 60-plus) was 71-year-old Gay Hunter of Port Angeles. She recently also ran the North Olympic Discovery Marathon, swam in the Orca Bait event and kayaked from Victoria to Port Angeles on Friday for a Crossing for a Cause fundraiser.
Other local winners include Nichole Braun of Port Angeles in the women’s masters (45-plus), Todd Anderson of Sequim in the medium super masters (60-plus) and 15-year-old Isaac Hales of Port Angeles in the short course juniors.
The people who signed up for the long course had separate results from the people who signed up for the medium course, though both races ended up going over the same course. There was also a noncompetitive Gran Fondo division.
“Despite all the rain again this year — we are weather cursed — everyone reported they had a good time, and they hung around for podium awards, food and camaraderie at Worthington Park,” said race director Lorrie Mittmann.
Food this year was from Halfway House Restaurant in Brinnon and there was a beer garden at Worthington Park.
“The village of Quilcene has really thrown open the doors for us — they are so welcoming and provide tons of volunteer support for the race. We feel so supported and we appreciate the partnership with them so much,” Mittmann said.
Brad Whidden of Tumwater was the short course winner Todd Hunt of Auburn was the medium course winner. Among the women, Sabrina Hirsch of Duvall was the short course winner, Kelsey Cohan of Tacoma won the medium course and Rebecca Book of Seattle took first in the women’s long course.
Peninsula Adventure Sports also puts on other outdoor endurance events such as the Great Olympic Adventure Trail run on Sept. 7, the Big Hurt in Port Angeles on Sept. 27 and the Salt Creek 24 on Oct. 26-27.
For a complete list of finishers, people can go online to www.tinyurl.com/GravelUnravelResults.
Complete winners
Gravel Unravel 2024
Men
Long course — Ted King, Richmond, Vt., 3:10:03.63.
Medium course — Todd Hunt, Auburn, 3:46:41.86.
Short course — Brad Whidden, Tumwater, 2:32.33.
Long course masters (45-plus) — Garrett Ianacone, Olympia, 3:20:19.43.
Medium course masters (45-plus) — Toby Sington, Seattle, 3:46:29.17.
Short course masters (45-plus) — Fenton Carey, Portland, Ore., 2:59:04.86.
Short course super masters (60-plus) — James Willson, Bellingham, 3:42:05.77.
Medium course super masters (60-plus) — Todd Anderson, Sequim, 4:30:55.05.
Women
Long course — Rebecca Book, Seattle, 3:47:42.11.
Medium course — Kelsey Cohan, Tacoma, 4:44:41.1.
Short course — Sabrina Hirsch, Duvall, 2:34:14.81.
Medium course masters (45-plus) — Rachel Taylor, Bellingham, 4:35:35.52.
Short course masters (45-plus) — Nichole Braun, PA, 4:00:37.21.
Medium course super masters (60-plus) — Sara Graham, Gig Harbor, 5:21:34.33.
Short course super masters (60-plus) — Gay Hunter, PA, 4:43:59.39.
Single speed
Long course — Bryan Kevan, Berkeley, 3:44:57.59.
Non-binary
Medium Course — Jason Devaney, Seattle, 4:40:22.81.
Juniors
Medium course — Theo Mason-Todd, Poulsbo, 3:59:23.48.
Short course — Isaac Hales, PA, 4:12:09.52.
Erin Uloth, left, and Reid Parker, both of Bellingham, celebrate at Worthington Park in Quilcene finishing the Gran Fondo division during the Gravel Unravel. (David Goetze)
There was mud, rain and even some hail for riders in Saturday’s Gravel Unravel in the mountains above Quilcene. (David Goetze)
