Mueller Edges LeMonds to Win Climbing Title

October 20, 2009 on 12:34 am | In Mountain Biking | 9 Comments

Thomas Mueller of Growlers Gulch Racing fought off challenges from a group of talented riders to claim the Growlers Gulch Climbing Championship on Saturday, October 17th. It was the fifth and final event on the 2009 GG ride circuit. 

In rainy conditions that turned the five climbs to gumbo in places, 59-year-old Jeep LeMonds, riding for Growlers Gulch Racing and Team AARP, nearly pulled off an upset of Rocky-like proportions. But Mueller – the former XC racer, who is under investigation by the U.S. Forest Service for an unsavory trail-building incident north of Mount St. Helens – held on for the win.

Mueller racked up 1,186 of a possible 1,550 feet, while LeMonds finished with 1,133. Cage Aaron (1,092) of Northwest Trail Alliance and Al Hansen (1,054) of Project 529 and Fort George Brewery were the only other riders to break the 1,000-foot mark.

Mueller was required to attend a  baby shower after the event and did not make himself available to reporters.

Creek Trail (200): Mueller served notice that he was a force to be contended with when he blew over the Creek Trail hill like it was a parking-lot speed bump. Hansen and Jeff Muldoon were the only other riders who could match Mueller’s effort.

Lower Jekyll (300): The easiest of the five climbs was in great shape. Mueller, Muldoon and Hansen cleaned it with ease, as did Ryan McMaster, Paul Norris, and Jeep and Dave LeMonds.

Secret Garden (175): Hansen seized the top spot and appeared to be in the driver’s seat, as he put on a display of raw pedaling power to conquer this steep, slick and rutted climb. No other rider was able to break the 100-foot barrier. 

Creation (525): The paradigm changed dramatically on the longest of the day’s climbs. Hansen, Aaron and seven other riders navigated the 90-degree turn at the bridge but were stymied by a narrow, muddy rise at the 235- to 245-foot mark. Meanwhile, Mueller and LeMonds were the only riders to crank up the middle hill, clean both switchbacks, and ring up all 525 feet. That effort put them in the top two spots as the group headed for the final climb.

Lung Buster: A number of riders had practiced the tough, off-camber switchback at the 135-foot mark. But nobody anticipated that the first right, only 65 feet in, would pose a problem. It was incredibly slick, and only Norris, Hansen and Aaron were able to clean it.

Aaron recorded the ride of the day, as he went into hop-mode to nail both the first turn and the off-camber switchback. His 293-foot total enabled him to vault past Hansen and earn a spot on the podium. 

Mueller failed to make the first turn, totaling only 63 feet, leaving the door open for LeMonds to claim the title if he could make the corner and reach the off-camber switchback. But there was no magic for the old dude. LeMonds spun out at 60 feet, and Mueller walked away with the climbing title.

Mueller and Hansen led the way with three clean climbs apiece. Muldoon and Jeep LeMonds each had two, while Ryan McMaster, Paul Norris, and Dave LeMonds had one.

Totals:

1. Thomas Mueller – 1,186
2. Jeep LeMonds – 1,133
3. Cage Aaron – 1,092
4. Al Hansen – 1,054
5. Jeff Muldoon – 909
6. Andy Jansky – 843
7. Paul Norris – 842
8. Kevin Knorr – 820
9. Ryan McMaster – 782
10. Bob Juntenen – 760
11. Andy Crump – 744
12. Dave LeMonds – 731
13. Mike Van Hoose – 683
14. Erik Carlson – 626
15. Brad Burger – 598 (four climbs)
16. Randy Toney – 553
17. Dara Muldoon – 543
18. Mel Norris – 448
19. Denise Vernon – 433
20. Mark Norris – 379
21. Bob Horness – 379 (three climbs)