The 9th annual White Mountains 100-mile ultra race opened competition on Sunday morning and crowned a champion early Sunday evening; although racers will continue to battle the 100-mile course on bike, foot or ski through the 40-hour time deadline set for competing the event.
Seventy-eight competitors began the White Mountain 100 with 58% competing on bikes, 27% on foot and 17% on skis.
Tyson Flaharty of Fairbanks, racing on a fat tire trail bike, crossed the finish line at 6:44.56 Sunday evening to claim first place in the 2018 White Mountains 100 with an average moving time of 9.1 mph.
Soldotna’s Adam Riemer finished second, also on a trail bike, crossing the finish at 7:15.51 Sunday. Reimer averaged 8.6 m.p.h. over the 95.3 mile course. Amber Bethe was the first female cycle finisher in seventh overall.
The White Mountain 100 course cuts through the heart of the jagged limestone peaks of the White Mountains National Recreation Area north of Fairbanks, with racers beginning at the Wickersham Dome Trailhead near Mile 28 of the Elliott Highway. The rugged wilderness course challenges racers with a variety of terrain and trail conditions; all part of the White Mountains trail network.
Photo courtesy of White Mountain 100 facebook page