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2,500 cyclists ‘Revel in the Woods’ at 38th annual Chequamegon MTB Festival

  • Ron 

Life Time played host to cyclists from around the country in the remote Wisconsin towns of Hayward and Cable Wisconsin this weekend during the 38th annual Chequamegon MTB Festival, which featured $10,000 in prize purse winnings for 2021. The event’s signature distance features 40-miles of the famed Birkie Ski Trail, forest roads and winter snowmobile routes, but also includes the popular ‘Short & Fat’ 16-mile distance, and ‘Little Loggers’ route to inspire a future generation of off-road enthusiasts. In total and across all three event distances, 2,677 cyclists took part, with the oldest age 82 and the youngest just one year old; they hailed from 37 states and four countries.

Chequamegon MTB Festival

“It’s beyond exciting for us to welcome everyone back to this celebration of bikes and camaraderie in off-road cycling,” said Peter Spencer, Events Manager at Life Time. “Everyone is in high spirits and the excitement is truly palpable. The atmosphere at Chequamegon is exemplary of what folks can expect at Life Time events, where we aim to provide memorable experiences that change lives while inspiring onlookers to take up the sport themselves.” 

In the women’s 40-mile, Melisa Rollins, 25, of Salt Lake City, Utah crossed the finish first with a time of 2:36:39. Second behind Rollins was six-year first-place title holder Jenna Rinehart, 37, of Mankato, Minn. with a time of 2:36:40.  Kenzie Statz, 38, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. placed third with a time of 2:49:23

Into The Lion's Den

“It feels so dang good!,” Rollins noted about her win. “Jenna and I were together the entire time from the gun and we really ramped it up in the last mile. This event’s atmosphere is so cool, and I’ll absolutely be here next year.”

In the men’s 40-mile, Cole Paton, 23, of Durango, Colo. took first with a finish time of 2:15:26. 2019 first-place winner Alexey Vermeulen, 26, of Pinckney, Mich. took second, crossing the finish at 2:15:27. Corey Stelljes, 40, of Madison, Wis., placed third with a time of 2:15:49

“This is my first time in the Midwest and Chequamegon is an awesome event,” said Paton about his win. “It was a tactical race and Alexey was riding really strong. Everyone here is super welcoming, and I think this is going to be a tradition. Next year I’m focusing on Life Time events; Life Time is doing a great job of promoting athletes and I want to support that.”

Upcoming events on Life Time’s off-road cycling calendar include The ‘Rad Dirt Fest in Trinidad, Colo. Oct. 2-3 and Big Sugar NWA Gravel in Bentonville, Ark., Oct 23. To view and learn more about Life Time athletic events, visit: https://my.lifetime.life/athletic-events.

The Chequamegon MTB Festival is owned and produced by Life Time, the premier healthy lifestyle brand. It is among more than 30 premier athletic events owned by the company, including Garmin UNBOUND Gravel, the Leadville Race Series, and the Verizon New York City Triathlon.

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