It’s been a dizzying week and one of Strava’s toughest challenges to date. The very best of Michigan’s climbers took to the hills.
The kolo t.c. Gentlemen’s Club had 15 of its 38 members join the challenge, a bold turnout ahead of the goal of 6,881 meters, or 22,575 feet in just 7 days. It wasn’t going to be easy, though many of the riders looked at the challenge as extra training and preparation for the immensely hilly Cherry-Roubaix State Championship Road Race.
Hagerty-TOLaw U-25’s Jake Ellis will be a favorite at the race just two years removed from winning the CAT 5 race in 2010. The course’s 2012 format is much closer to his liking, and the Rapha Rising event was absolutely brutal and absolutely perfect training for the young climber. He racked up 9,021 feet of climbing, well surpassing the challenge at 131%. Paul wins a Short’s Brewery t-shirt, a six pack of his choosing and a high-five from Wes Sovis valued at over $1.2 million. Not a bad prize at all.
Jake’s biggest competition came from Boyne City’s vertical expert, the climbing manic himself, Paul Nicholls, who went on a veritable tear near the end of the week, leapfrogging Jake on the last day temporarily to register an astonishing and leg-busting 8,995 meters, or 130% of the challenge. Paul’s strange vertical obsession is also what led to the Michigan Mountain Mayhem, the toughest century in the state. Paul slots in a close second place on the competition and an inspiring example of what man can do with a lot of time to ride your bike!
Joe Lekovish joined late but his accrued miles were enough to rocket him to third place in the Gent’s competition. He registered 7,093 meters over the course of seven days and fourteen rides. The Northville native was the highest place finisher nor riding in Northern Michigan or in the mountains.
Special nods to fourth place finisher Alex Gonzalez from Ortonville for his astounding 6,044 meters climbed. Alex took full advantage of a trip to Wyoming this past week to put in some serious vertical. Hagerty’s Brian Hofstra slotted in fifth place with an impressive 5,198 meters, or 75% of the challenge total. Here’s the full results, and you can click on the name to see that rider’s week of climbing:
| Overall | Rank | Name | Rides | Elevation | Progress | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 381 | 1 |  |
Jacob Ellis Traverse City, MI |
8 | 9,021 | 131% | |
| 387 | 2 |  |
Paul Nicholls Boyne City, MI |
8 | 8,995 | 130% | |
| 1347 | 3 |  |
Joe Lekovish – MCG/Trails-Edge Northville, Michigan |
14 | 7,093 | 103% | |
| 2130 | 4 |  |
Alex Gonzalez Ortonville, MI |
6 | 6,044 | 87% | |
| 2413 | 5 |  |
Brian Hofstra Traverse City, MI |
5 | 5,198 | 75% | |
| 3118 | 6 |  |
Cody Sovis Traverse City, MI |
7 | 3,976 | 57% | |
| 4342 | 7 |  |
Jim Picotte Traverse City, MI |
7 | 2,772 | 40% | |
| 4581 | 8 |  |
Dave Walston Traverse City, MI |
7 | 2,607 | 37% | |
| 4619 | 9 |  |
Joel Bush Grand Rapids, MI |
5 | 2,567 | 37% | |
| 5912 | 10 |  |
Wes Sovis Traverse City, MI |
4 | 1,719 | 24% | |
| 6126 | 11 |  |
Craig Hoogerwerf Grand Rapids, MI |
6 | 1,607 | 23% | |
| 6448 | 12 |  |
Dean Murphey Traverse City, MI |
4 | 1,439 | 20% | |
| 6916 | 13 |  |
Cameron Timmer Grand Rapids, MI |
2 | 1,207 | 17% | |
| 7198 | 14 |  |
Larry Strayhorn Ada Township, MI |
2 | 1,064 | 15% | |
| 7421 | 15 |  |
Rob Goepfrich Traverse City, MI |
4 | 946 | 13% |
Wes Sovis’ Strava didn’t work for two days, otherwise he’d have won. (You’re welcome, Wes.)
Congratulations to Jake and the entire Gentlemen’s Club on an outstanding showing in the Circle of Death Challenge, and be sure to join our next challenge, coming up very soon.