Winona Iditafat 2021
by Rob Price • March 06, 2021
As far as fatbike races go this one has it all- consistent snow, long distance options, singletrack, and nicely groomed trails.
4 laps = 33 miles with 2,000 vert
Snow conditions were firm/packed powder, but slippy.
18 degrees at the start warming to 23/finish.
The race kicks off with a classic LeMans start. A short prologue loop helps sort things out, and soon 8 of us made the break. Using the group's momentum I attacked on the only steep climb, and opened a gap on lap 1. The group kept me in check, so I decided to fall back, and save it for later. Each lap then played out as a race of attrition. The pace was fast, but consistent. One rider said to me "this is like a slow crit".
We lost four riders by the half way point then two more at the end of the 3rd. Not wanting to gamble with a sprint finish I attacked on a long gradual climb with around 2.5 miles to go. There's no better feeling than riding away solo, and I kept the hammer down all the way to the line.
Special thanks to race director Tom Hall, Winona forest trail crew, and all the race volunteers.
(Podiums, and festivities were not allowed due to covid).