After the snow settled at Mt. McSauba, John Burmeister and Anabel Miller were contented with their wins at the Dog Man Challenge. Their victories, plus an interesting podium in the Men’s Master’s, make the first-ever Fatty Caddy an intriguing finale on the SBFBS season.
Cadillac Is Back
The Fatty Caddy is the first-ever fat bike race at the Cadillac Pathway and kicks off a renaissance of racing in 2023. Ray and John, organizers of the Fatty, have also salvaged the beloved Bear Claw Epic, which returns with a new spring day this year.
The Cadillac Pathway is an ideal spot to race and serves as a sort of “Queen Race” of the Series, stretching the Long race out to 24 miles, the longest distance in the SBFBS for several years. The Short’s distance is closer to 13 miles, still a darn solid day in the saddle.
“Normal” Points for the Final Race Weekend
Originally, Fatty Caddy was slated to be worth 1.5 points to encourage more riders to show up. First, it’s not needed; more than 80 riders are signed up, and with more snow and good weather in the forecast, we could see over 100 on the line on race day. Second, the cancelation of Fat Chance! at Crystal Mountain skewed the total number of points available and the opportunities to race. Organizers decided to level out the points across the four remaining events.
Fatty Caddy Race Preview – The Favorites
It’s a long, rolling lap that suits riders with plenty of power. It’s also going to push the 2 hour mark for even the fastest riders, making endurance a key characteristic of potential winners.
Men’s Masters
All eyes will be on the Master’s race, with three riders all still very much in the hunt. Tied on 151 points, Eric Langley, Jim Jackovatz and Paul Olson all have a chance to win not just the race but the Series on Saturday. So far, only Jackovatz is signed up!
Men’s Open
As noted in the intro, Burmeister’s win at Dog Man throws a speed bump in Jorden Wakeley’s Series campaign. The points haul keeps him very much in the mix, especially if he can take the win. Those two, along with Matt Acker, aren’t all locks for the podium. Woody Woodbury is already registered for Fatty Caddy and could easily sneak into the top 3 with a win.
Women’s Open
The magic number in the Women’s Open might be 60. So far, the highest points totals at a single event were 59 and 58, and Heather Compton pocketed both. If she lines up this weekend, someone will need more points and the win to bridge the gap – but only if Compton races. Otherwise, it’s a toss-up between the ultra-dedicated Nina Waeschenfelder and resurgent Anabel Miller, who won at Dog Man.
Related: Dog Man Challenge Results
Short’s Races
Also, a nod to Piper Shumar and George Shumar, who have locked down the Short’s events for the season – although George will need to race Saturday to get the required 2 events on the board.
Get a clearer picture of the points scenario at SBFBS.com.
What’s Next?
The final SBFBS of the season means all eyes will turn to the early season gravel races leading up to Barry-Roubaix. Stay up-to-date; sign up for our weekly newsletter, Off The Back, delivered every Thursday.