WILMINGTON, N.Y. --- From Austin, Texas to Wilmington, N.Y. thousands of mountain bikers are trying to qualify for the prestigious Leadville 100 MTB race, by participating in this season’s Leadville Qualifying Race Series.

Qualifying for the prestigious Aug. 13, 2016 race has begun and on Sunday, June 5, cyclists from throughout the eastern United States and Canada will try to earn an automatic qualifying spot by racing in the sixth annual Wilmington Whiteface 100k Mountain Bike Race (WW100).  As the only qualifying race in the east, between 70 and 100 spots to the Leadville 100 MTB will be awarded to the top three finishers in each division. 

From start to finish, the WW100’s course is as varied as the cyclists competing.

Beginning and ending at Whiteface Mountain the 69-mile long race pushes riders up, down, through and around twisting dirt, paved and gravel roads, back country trails and single track as well as climbs that measure more than 750 meters each.  That’s all before they return to Whiteface where a final 360-foot climb awaits them ahead of the finish line.

“This course offers a little something for every type of rider. It’s technical, steep and fast,” said Town of Wilmington supervisor and race director Randy Preston.  “Some have compared this course to the one in Leadville and in the five years of this event, road cyclists have been just as successful as mountain bikers.

If you’re fortunate enough to come away with one those qualifying spots for Leadville, you’ve earned it.”

Cyclists who may not be ready for the full WW100 can also compete in 50K event.  In its fourth year, the 50K race is an excellent way for riders to experience the event without having to race the full 100K. 

To register for the WW100, log onto http://www.wilmingtonwhitefacemtb.com/.

For mountain bikers, the WW100 is the signature event of the seventh annual Wilmington Whiteface Bike fest, held during the June 3-5 weekend in the upstate hamlet of Wilmington. Road cyclists, however; believe that it’s the Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race.

In its 15^th season, the June 4 uphill race, which also begins at the base of the Olympic mountain, takes competitors through the Town of Wilmington and up the Whiteface Veterans' Memorial Highway, a 3,500-foot climb to the summit of New York State’s fifth highest peak, at 4,865 feet.

The uphill ride isn’t just exclusive to road cyclists, bike fest organizers encourage the WW100 racers to compete.

Preston added that the early Saturday 8 a.m. start of the uphill race was designed so that the WW100 racers would have plenty of time to recover ahead of their race the following day.

To register for the uphill race, visit www.bikereg.com/whiteface-mountain-15th-annual-uphill-bike-race.

You don’t need to be a “hard-core” cyclist to have fun and take part in the Wilmington-Whiteface Bike Fest. The three-day event welcomes everyone who just enjoys being out on a road bike, mountain bike, hybrid or even a unicycle. There’s something for everyone.

The Fest festivities begin Friday, June 3, in the Wilmington Town Park with the free jump jam and trials exhibition. This year’s show has expanded to include a larger performance by the Krushers Stunt Team from Montreal and back by popular demand Sam Perkins and friends.

Afterwards, the festivities will move over to Whiteface Mountain’s Cloudspin Lounge for the sixth annual Best Calves Contest and music provided by Good Time Tunes.

Saturday’s lineup includes the Poor Man’s Downhill and the Bike Fest Beach Party, at Wilmington’s Lake Everest Beach, with live music from Raisanhead.

And while the cyclists compete on Saturday and Sunday, families, friends and visitors can take in the fun at Whiteface Mountain to include the Adventure Zone and vendor expo.

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/WilmingtonBikeFest?ref=ts&fref=ts, or www.WhitefaceRace.com. Twitter #WWBikeFest16.

Photos from the 2015 Wilmington Whiteface Bike Fest Weekend can be found HERE. Photos courtesy of ORDA/Whiteface Lake Placid

-- 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.