PORT ANGELES — Closely contested downhill mountain bike races come down to the smallest details.
“It could be hitting a root the wrong way,” Northwest Cup co-director Scott Tucker said, “or not pedaling when someone else did.”
Such was the case at Dry Hill, west of Port Angeles, over the weekend.
Kevin Aiello of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., won the men’s pro race by 15 hundredths of a second over Remi Gauvin of Nanoose Bay, B.C.
“That’s almost one pedal stroke,” Tucker said, estimating the difference between winning and taking second or third.
Third place was claimed by Kingston’s Kyle Sangers, who was 66th hundredths of a second behind Aiello.
The top eight were separated by 2.3 seconds.
The victory was Aiello’s first in the Northwest Cup.
Miranda Miller of Garibaldi Highland, B.C., took firs by six seconds in the pro women’s race.
Tucker said the first leg of the Northwest Cup drew its largest crowd ever.
“There were a lot of people,” he said. “It was our biggest race ever. We had in the area of 475 riders.
“That’s the largest turnout in an American race anyone has ever heard of.”
The races at Dry Hill featured four categories of riders — beginner, intermediate, expert and professional.
Tucker said the professional category drew approximately 140 riders.
“That’s pretty significant. You don’t get that many at a U.S. race,” Tucker said, adding that the Northwest Cup’s previous best was about 100 pros.
The Northwest Cup drew riders from throughout the United States, including Colorado, New Mexico, New Jersey and Vermont.
Along with the varied track set-ups, Tucker said the location is part of the draw.
“I want to thank the restaurants and everyone,” Tucker said. “That’s why people love to come here.
“People just love to come to Port Angeles, so thanks to Port Angeles.”
Only a handful of the riders are from the North Olympic Peninsula.
The expert, intermediate and beginner races are divided into age groups.
The best area finisher in the expert division was Port Townsend’s Jason Queen, who placed sixth in the 40 and older race.
Port Angeles High School student Sam Stevenson placed sixth in the age 15-18 intermediate race.
In the 19-29 intermediate race, Port Angeles riders Zach Fraser and Jesse Hoch took 15th and 22nd, respectively.
The Peninsula’s highest finishers were in the beginner division.
Ezra Northern, age 12, won the 0-14 age group, and Talon Northern, age 10, was fifth. Ezra and Talon Northern are the sons of Northwest Cup co-director Casey Northern.
Will Stevenson, Sam Stevenson’s father, was the runner-up in the men’s 50 and older race.
The Northwest Cup consists of six races. Two more will be at Dry Hill: May 16-18 and September 12-14.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
