Rasputitsa Gravel Race Report, Results, PHOTOS – Bessette Wins, Surch Takes Second
by Peter Kraiker
April 19, 2016 (
East Burke, Vermont) – Rasputitsa is Russian for mud season when roads become difficult to traverse. The Rasputitsa Gravel Race is a psychotic 72.42km (45-mile), insane, drop-to-your-knees-and-cry suffer-fest with an absurdly difficult section called Cyberia – so difficult that people won’t believe your stories.
Now in it’s 3rd year the event has grown from a pack of 50 or so enthusiasts to over 600 riders taking to the start line in East Burke, Vermont. It’s not a sanctioned race so there are only bragging rights to be gained. In previous years it’s been defined by the amount of mud and snow challenging riders. For 2016, there was a dramatic departure from past inclement weather as bright blue skies and milder temperatures that surged into the teens were the norm.
The first rider to cross the line was Ansel Dickey from Woodstock, VT, with a time of 2:03:47. Dickey had won the inaugural edition and managed to beat last year’s runner up, Matt Surch from Ottawa, ON, by a little over a minute and a half. In the women’s field it was legendary Canadian rider, Lyne Bessette, who now hails from Topsfield, MA, crossing the line to stop the clock at 2:18:11 – results and more photos below.
Results (brief)
Women
1. Lyne Bessette (1/40-49) 2:18:11.8
2. Kate Northcott (1/24-39) 4:24.4
3. Julie Wright (2/24-39) 10:32.8
4. Magdeleine Vallieres-Mill (1/1-23) 13:27.5
5. Leslie Robinson (2/40-49) 17:37.9
6. Ellen Noble (2/1-23) 21:47.7
7. Sharon Lisa Benedict (3/40-49) 21:47.8
8. Karine Corbeil (3/24-39) 22:54.3
9. Kimberly Quinlan (4/24-39) 22:55.0
10. Elisa Otter (5/24-39) 23:02.0
Men
1. Ansel Dickey (1/1-23) 2:03:47.9
2. Matt Surch (1/24-39) 1:33.6
3. Marc-André Daigle (2/24-39) 3:17.3
4. Geoffroy Dussault (3/24-39) 3:59.0
5. Case Butler (2/1-23) 4:26.4
6. Alec Donahue (1/40-59) 4:28.8
7. Iain Radford (2/40-59) 5:22.1
8. Jean-Francois Blais (3/40-59) 5:22.5
9. Kirk Kardashian (4/24-39) 7:29.2
10. Trent Blackburn (3/1-23) 8:47.8
Full results here.
- Volunteers and cheerleaders © Peter Kraiker
- Andrea Bowker in the pack © Peter Kraiker
- Anthony Fiandaca racing in the fat tire category
- The town of East Burke, home of Kingdom Trails, was awash in cyclists
- John Bayley piloting a tandem © Peter Kraiker
- Jordan Greenberg leading a pack © Peter Kraiker
- Leaving town © Peter Kraiker
- Little Bella's Yeti © Peter Kraiker
- Matt Surch and teammate Iain Radford were at the front early © Peter Kraiker
- Neutral start © Peter Kraiker
- Instructions for the races at the start © Peter Kraiker
- Surch followed by Butler Case and a handful near mid-race © Peter Kraiker
- Surch lost time in Cyberia and took 2nd © Peter Kraiker
- Refreshments from Switchback Brewing Company © Peter Kraiker
- Rasuptitsa, from the Russian word for the mud season
- Lyne Bessette was the top woman © Peter Kraiker
- Live entertainment
- Kate Morgan-Constable enjoying the day © Peter Kraiker
- Don Seib in the final descent © Peter Kraiker
- Christopher Scott nearing the finish © Peter Kraiker
- The finish was at the Burke Publik House © Peter Kraiker
- Bessette at the Rasputitsa Spring Classic in Vermont © Peter Kraiker
- Ansel Dickey won the overall title © Peter Kraiker
- Ansel Dickey 2016 Rasputistsa-20 copy2
- Lyne Bessette © Peter Kraiker
- Bessette © Peter Kraiker
- Bessette © Peter Kraiker
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