2022 BIG SUGAR GRAVEL PHOTO GALLERY
Big Sugar Gravel proved that it deserves to rank among the premier gravel events in the country in its second edition. Located in Bentonville, Arkansas, the final stop of the Life Time Grand Prix pulled in the top talent in the discipline with the likes of Keegan Swenson, Lauren De Crescenzo, Peter Stetina and a handful of WorldTour road pros on hand. The course winds its way around Northwest Arkansas before crossing over into Missouri for a majority of the 104 mile loop that skirts the Ozarks on its return to Bentonville. Gravel conditions were rough and dusty due to unusually dry and warm weather in the area.
Men’s winner Russell Finsterwald described the race as a “dogfight” with lost of opportunities for racers to earn a spot in the top ten of the Life Time Gran Prix and take home a corresponding big check at the end of the day. Self described “dark horse” Paige Onweller solo’d to a commanding victory, minutes ahead of her nearest competitors.
Conditions appeared prime with a warm partly cloudy 65 degree start. 915 riders were registered for the Big Sugar with nearly 500 more set to start the Lil Sugar an hour later.
A group of just over a dozen men took the lead early with many of the favorites, including Life Time Grand Prix leader Keegan Swenson.
Jukebox Racing’s Alexey Vermeulen was caught out early and forced to chase into the lead group of riders.
Don’t be fooled by easily one of the most iconic photos of the course. This corner is the extent of the breathtaking road cut.
Falling leaves left riders forced to guess what could be hiding underneath, making a sort of flat tire Russian roulette with every crunch of the foliage.
EF’ Lachlan Morton went up the road early along with gravel veteran John Borstelmann, but the EF rider fell victim to the treacherous course conditions and flatted. Alex Howes (center) picked up the pace in the chase group to reel in Borstelmann.
Russell Finsterwald (center) was a presence in the lead group throughout the day. Eventually, the Specialized Off-Road rider would breakaway with Keegan Swenson, Alexey Vermeulen and defending champion Adam Roberge.
It’s worth noting that Finsterwald was racing an S-Works Crux rather than the latest “full-suspension” Diverge STR Specialized unveiled before race day. At the finish Finsterwald said “A lot of us were just going for it. It’s the last race of the season, there’s nothing to lose out there. It was full gas all day.”
Paige Onweller launched a jail break, with a nearly 30 mile solo effort to win the day.
An overjoyed Onweller described what changed in her attitude to the race “My approach was a lot different today. I said ‘I’m going to drill the hills because I know I’m strong and minimize losses on the descents.’ But during the race, I could descend a little better and kept the gaps. I just kept pushing along.”
Sarah Sturm and Hannah Finchamp celebrating a successful end to the season and a spot in the top ten of the Life Time Grand Prix.
Emotions were high at the finish. After catching the leaders and making it in to the final four man break, Vermeulen would miss out on the podium to finish fourth on the day and fourth overall in the LTGP series.
Photos: Life Time
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