Organizers are tabbing last weekend's Brodie Rat Race as the best one yet.
Rider entries were close to 500 for the two-day event along the trails in Roberts Creek. The fifth annual event started Saturday with an intense cross-country race.
The kids' race had 50 to 55 youngsters complete a shorter lap course, while the main attraction was the gruelling 52 km course for the elite and older riders.
"The trails were a bit muddy, but generally the conditions were fantastic," said race organizer Rod Camposano. "It stopped raining about an hour before the mass start, so really, all it did was take the dust down a bit. No one was complaining. Everyone said the course was very challenging."
Neal Kindree from Squamish was the overall winner, finishing in 2:28:25. Matt Martindill was second, Stefan Widmer was third, and Creeker Ruedi Schnyder was fourth with a time of 2:35:31.
"Ruedi had a nice race," Camposano said. "Considering he isn't riding as consistently and only gets on the bike now and then, he finished with a great time."
Matt Cottrell with On The Edge also put in a solid time to finish seventh overall.
Other top Coast riders included Katherine Short and Christine Lynch, who finished one/two in the female U20 category, Jessica Huntington who finished fourth in the female 30 to 34 category and Sean Stanhope who finished second in the male U20 category. See the Sports Ticker on page C4 for all the local results.
After a racers barbecue and party Saturday night, riders took to the course for the downhill race on Sunday.
In all, 134 riders took the plunge.
"We capped the entries at 95, but once we established a better shuttle system for the riders, we were able to increase the entries," Camposano said. "It made for a great competition. The times were fast and everyone enjoyed the course. People came back pretty knackered from both events. This is one of, if not the, toughest course in the province. There are lots of ups and downs, nice descents and some nice flat sections. It provides challenges for every level of rider."
