One of the most challenging point-to-point mountain bike races in the country returns to the Wasatch as the Park City Point 2 Point hits the singletrack on Labor Day Weekend. This summer marks the fourth year of the event, and it’s more popular than ever, proven by the fact that the race sold out in 3 minutes, 17 second when registration opened last February.
The race takes place on Saturday, September 1st, where 350 cyclists are anticipated to ride 80 miles and climb 14,000 feet through the Wasatch Mountains without ever using the same trail twice. It’s the only sanctioned National Ultra Endurance Series with a distance shorter than 100 miles.
The course will traverse three ski resorts, including Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort, and will finish in the Forum at Canyons Resort. Organizers say the course is 90% singletrack and that there are very few sections for resting. In a press release, three-time defending PCP2P champion Alex Grant said the race is “harder than any 100 miler that I have done because of the amount of singletrack and climbing. It requires focus during the entire race, and your body never gets a break. That said, it’s a super fun course and one that any mountain biker that claims to like ‘epic’ rides should aim to complete.”
Joining Grant this year are other world-class, pro endurance athletes, like Josh Tostado, Bryson Perry (two-time Leadville 100 winner), Ben Sonntag (LaRuta champ), Pua Mata, Amanda Carey and Jennifer Smith.
As we said before, the 350 slots for the Park City Point 2 Point filled up in 3 minutes and 17 seconds during registration in February, compared to 6 minutes in 2011. So if you’re thinking about signing up for the 2013 event, better get your super-fast modem connection in order, let those typing fingers fly, and be ready to register this upcoming February. Need even more incentive? How about a $14,000 cash purse that will be divided equally among the top five men and women racers in the Open Male and Open Female divisions, plus a payout to the top rider in each age group?
For more information on the PCP2P, visit www.thepcpp.com.