WILMINGTON, N.Y. --- Hundreds of cyclists will hit the roads, back country roads and trails during Sunday’s, June 16, Wilmington Whiteface 100k (WW100) mountain bike race. Cyclists from throughout the northeastern United States and Canada hope that this event will qualify them for one of 70 to 100 spots in the prestigious Leadville 100 (LT100).

The 69-mile race both begins and ends at Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington.  But in between the grueling race will take the fields through some of the region’s most challenging cycling terrain that include twisting jeep and gravel roads, back country trails and demanding hill climbs that measure more than 750 meters each.

From the Olympic mountain, which was the site for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games’ alpine events, and known for having the greatest vertical east of the Rockies, the out and back race will take the cyclists to Route 86, the Fox Farm Road, Springfield Road, Hardy Road, Bartlett Road, Lacy Road and Limkiln Road before reaching Route 9N.

From 9N, the race’s most demanding and technical terrain and climbs await the field, as they peddle through Styles Brook Road and the Jay Mountain Road ahead of Carlott Road and Blood Hill Road.  From there, the field makes its way to Roscoe Road, Bronson Lane, Blueberry Hill and out to Lord Road before returning to the Flume Trails and Whiteface Mountain.

Once at Whiteface, two, three-mile finishing loops and a pair of 350-foot climbs await ahead of the finish line.

Aid stations will be located approximately every 20km along the course (20km, 40km, 60km, 80km, finish).  Each aid station will be stocked with Gu Energy Gels, Gu Chomps, Water, Electrolyte drink, fruit, and light snacks.

The race’s top-three WW100 finishers in each division will be awarded spots to the LT100, while the remaining spots will be distributed based on performance and a lottery system.  Racers who do come away with qualifications will have the opportunity to race in either this year’s LT100 or next year’s.

Cyclists who may not be ready for the full WW100 can also compete in the newly added 50K event.  Added to this year’s race, organizers hope that the 31-mile long race will attract more racers, who might someday race in the full 100K.

Additionally, the organizers are offering a newly established TEAM class which will consist of two-member teams each riding the 50k course.

Both the 100k and 50k races are a part of the June 13-16 fourth annual Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest.  The bikefest is designed to promote and showcase cycling opportunities in and around Wilmington.

This year’s festival will feature a beginner, instructional mountain bike program, the popular jump jam, a “poor man’s” downhill, beach party, food games, lives music, a “best calves” contest and the 12^th annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race.

The uphill race, which is part of the northeast Bike Up the Mountain Points Series (BUMPS), will be contested on the morning of Saturday, June 15, which allows racers to compete in both events.  The course takes cyclist 11 miles up the Whiteface Veterans' Memorial Highway, a 3,500-foot climb to the summit of New York State’s fifth highest peak.  To register for the Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race, log onto www.bikereg.com.

Registration is now available, https://register.bazumedia.com/reg/form?eventID=2181, for the Wilmington Whiteface 100k and 50k races. The 100k entry fee is $105 for solo riders, and $70 for 50k solo racers.

The WW100 is the only LT100 qualifier in the northeast United States and is the third event in the four-race qualifying series. Other races that make up the Leadville Qualifying Series include the Austin Rattler, April 13; the Silver Rush 50 MTB, July13; and the Tahoe Trail 100K, July 20^th.  The Leadville 100 is slated for Aug. 10.

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/WilmingtonBikeFest?ref=ts&fref=ts, or http://www.whitefaceregion.com/.

-- ORDA --

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. ORDA operates Whiteface, Belleayre and Gore Mountain ski areas; the Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg; the Olympic speed skating oval, Olympic jumping complex and Olympic arena. As host to international and national championships, the Authority has brought millions of athletes, spectator and participants to the region, resulting in significant economic development.