Ride with Pride.

BikePure was conceived to celebrate the cyclists who ride clean and honest, when the media just wanted stories of cheats. Over the last 4 years it is now evolved into a symbol of honor and respect for the sport . We were approached by a fantastic event in the USA to use the BikePure brand as a statement of personal principle. The Assault is a massive sportif and all the riders will wear BikePure wristbands this year- supporting all clean pros, each other and the potential of cyclesport.

We hooked up with race director Peter Kay for more info:

Can you give us a brief breakdown of the event?

At 6:30 AM, Monday May 16, 1400 cyclists will leave Spartanburg, SC to ride to Marion, NC – nearly 74 miles away.  On the route, they will find dozens of brutish and jaggedly steep hills as well as a few short mountains to whet their appetites before the main course.  In Marion, some will finish, but about 1100 others will continue up Highway 80, a sharp, 6-mile climb onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Some won’t make it that far (about 25-30% quit or miss the time cut), but for those who do, they are greeted with 16 more miles of ascension, all the way to the highest peak this side of the Mississippi.  With over 11,000 feet of climbing (mostly in the last quarter of the ride), this is one of the toughest centuries still open to the public.

 

One of the hardships riders will face is weather.  Because of the drastic change in elevation as well as the time of year, temperatures can swing wildly from as low as 5°C up to 30°C by mid-day, again falling quickly to 4-5° by the finish.  Added to that, 8 out of the last 10 Assaults have suffered rain and fog!

Do all riders climb both mountains?

Both the Assault on Mt. Mitchell® and the Assault on Marion® go over Bill’s Mt. – as well as dozens of other, similarly difficult (though unnamed) climbs.  The Assault on Marion riders complete a 74 mile challenge with roughly 5,000 feet of climbing, making this is a very difficult ride in and of itself. Mitchell riders however, continue beyond Marion, NC and are faced with a grueling, nearly constant 25 miles of climbing to the top of the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountain range.  In effect, Marion is the halfway point, as most riders will take 3-4 hours to get there and 3-4 hours to get to the top!

The event started in 1975 how long have you been involved?

In 1995, I participated in my first Assault on Marion.  Since then, I have started (though not always finished) the Assault on Mt. Mitchell 11 times.  This is my first year as Director, and we’ve made some significant and exciting changes to the old methods, while at the same time preserving some of our more eccentric traditions.  (We will always serve the “world’s best tomato soup” to all those who finish!)

How many feet are climbed on the day?

The journey to the top is brutal – mainly due to the fact that most of the climbing is done in the last 25 miles.  After Marion, NC cyclists can expect to climb 6,000+ feet, giving them a total of 11,000+ feet of climbing for the day!

I see you have two pro teams involved, will there be all abilities catered for?

Absolutely.  In fact, this ride has always been about conquering the mountain… no matter who you are.  With over 1000 participants, we get all kinds – from beginners to top International Pro athletes.  In this way, this is one of the last remaining truly “open” events in the country.  We regularly have domestic pros duking it out on the Parkway, but we always… always… have beginners and weekend warriors seeking the ultimate challenge. 

 

The last person to the top will most likely arrive with more than double the time of the first finisher – and that’s okay!  The goal is not to “race” against others on the course but to overcome the massive obstacles ahead; be they wind, rain, snow, or simply the mountainside itself!

How many competitors will be taking part in 2011?

 In 2011, we have 1100 participants in the Assault on Mt. Mitchell and a little over 200 riders in the Assault on Marion.  In the past, only 70% of riders finish the Assault on Mt. MItchell… it’s just that tough.

 Do you think there are any future world champions in start list?

I do.  “BabyPro” is an incredible athlete.  A 17 year old, blonde powerhouse, she’s holding her own in the Pro field!  Still, it’s tough to say who will make it as far as the Worlds.  I remember years ago hearing about a local kid, storming up the side of the mountain… he is an amazing athlete and many compared him to Armstrong (especially after a near death experience in the Tour de Georgia).  Craig Lewis of HTC, a local hero, can’t make it to the Assaults this year because he’s racing the Giro.  George Hincapie, who has ridden in the Assaults many times in the last 15+ years, will be in the Tour of California this month, but we’re hoping that retirement in 2013 (?) – or a change in our schedule – brings him back to these wonderful events.

Sportif events are the fastest growing sectors of cyclesport. Is it because the riders can race themselves and last years time or just enjoy participating with fellow bikers?

Yes, I agree with that.  Many cyclists aren’t in the sport to compete with other riders – they’re cyclists because they want to better themselves.  They ride for fitness and fun.  They seek out challenges and work to achieve specific goals.  Racing is a different activity altogether and success is much more difficult to measure.  With this type of event, a rider can set his or her goal and work towards obtaining it.  Another rider’s fitness and preparation does not come into the equation, which makes it a much more manageable target and a far more rewarding achievement!

Your partnering with bikepure to support the future of cyclesport and make a statement to the riders, that they respect their fellow competitors and take part in the assault with pride and honor. Do you think the future of our sport is a positive one?

 I do.  Unfortunately of course, there will always be those people who seek short-cuts.  But I believe that cycling is one of the last remaining gentleman’s sports.  Despite all the doping allegations and scandals, most cyclists still practice an unusually high level of good sportsmanship, and doping is no longer “okay.”  For far too long, it was an established practice, and everyone participated out of an understanding that it was the norm.  Thankfully, that is not the case in 2011, and I am confident that the next generation of cyclists won’t even consider cheating in this way.

What are you most excited about for this years event?

We have expanded in several directions this year to include more perks for participants (like free mid-point and finish line photos), more sponsors involvement (like Strava.com), and more top tier athletes like Rahsaan Bahati and Robin Farina coming to test their will on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  But perhaps the most exciting expansion this year is simply the renewed interest of the city of Spartanburg.  This year there will be activities tied to our events, like the SPACE 5K Trail Run/Walk, a cycling Film Showing at Hub-Bub, and the Vélo Social presented by Globalbike (all taking place 2 days prior).  Similarly, Partners for Active Living is putting on a kid’s “Assault on Morgan Square” at the same time as our Expo, the day before the main events.  This is quickly becoming a community affair again, and I hope to continue that into next year.

http://www.theassaults.com

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