WC (Shawangunk) 100

Beautiful ride through the Gunks! Somehow I got 3rd place even after a 5 mile, 50+ minute detour on the wrong trail. Singlespeed gearing was just right (32xHTFU) for a simultaneous 1st place and DFL finish in the SS category. Gunks dream ride! Thanks to all who raced in the mud on Saturday. I followed your tracks, and stayed found most of the way. As for where I got lost, took a left on Stokes trail a couple miles before the ski loop trail. It was a gnarly, fun 600+ foot descent, but painful to get back to the top. 

I think this race would be a unique addition to the NUE series. I did the Shenandoah 100 two years ago, and the Wilderness 101 last year, so those are the races that I can compare it too. This was a tough course, although I added a few challenges of my own by taking a wrong turn, and descending 600+ feet for 3 miles (my bad). The Wildcat 100 is broken into three sections : miles 1-50 Shawangunk Ridge, miles 51-75 Williams Lake/Larson Loop, and miles 76-100 apple orchards. 

The rollout from New Paltz through the gatehouse arch is a perfect way to kick off the race. The climbing begins from there, and I liked how they set up a timed KOM to the top of Castle Point. From the top of the Shawangunk Ridge, the views are excellent, which is one aspect of the race that surpasses the others I've done. Up in the "Gunks", the course rips along the carriageways with a couple nice singletrack sections.

The Williams Lake/Larson section starts with a long rail-trail section to the Williams Lake singletrack. While the rail trail is pan flat, it adds the challenge to maintain a steady burn for long time - especially tough on the singlespeed. Williams Lake has some gnarly, fun singletrack. You also get to ride through a cave, doesn't get cooler than that. From there, you hit the fun and fast Larson Loop, and then back to the start/finish on the rail-trail.

The apple orchards section was a grind in the heat of the day. The 
orchards were tougher than I thought they would be with poppy climbs mixed with wooded singletrack between the fields. The ride finishes with picturesque views of the Shawangunk Ridge, where the day began.

The race organizer did an overall great job of putting this race on. 
There is room for improvement on the marking of the course, but, then again I've never seen so many tape markers on a course before. There are a lot of intersecting trails/roads on the course, so that's probably why there were so many markers. The race venue was excellent, with plenty of room for camping, bikes, 
etc. I carried 3 bottles throughout the race, but only needed two because the well stocked aid stations were well situated. 

There are few things I'd change about the race, although I have a few suggestions: 1.) Add more climbing - the Alp d' Awosting descent/climb to Aumick Road would make an nice 1400+' addition, and more KOM points. 2.) Consider renaming the race "Shawangunk 100". The race deserves to honor the epic cliffs of the beloved Shawangunk ridge.