Join us for the 33rd edition of the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge presented by TREK in 2022 on Saturday, November 5. Registration for riders that were registered in 2021 will open Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 9:00am MIDNIGHT (watch for a link in your inbox closer to March 1) and open to everyone starting Friday, March 4, 2022 at 9:00am.
New Wave Placement System!
You spoke and we listened. After spending the last few months researching other large races (such as the American Birkenbeiner) and how they place waves; we have a new system for the Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge. You can choose any wave that you qualify for and waves will be filled on a first registered first placed basis. Register early. Keep reading to learn how to qualify, what times you need to ride in which waves and quick FAQ to help with any questions out of the gate.
How to qualify:
Pull your results from the last 5 races (2021,2019-2016). Choose the best three and average them together. This average is your qualifying time. Be sure to hold on to all of this data as you will be asked for it during the registration process. And to save time during the registration process, please determine your best times and average before you log in to register. You can find your results here.
What times standards for each wave:
Below are the qualifying time standards for each wave. Please note that whichever wave you qualify for, you can also request any wave after that. For example, if you qualify for wave 10, you also qualify for waves 11-48.
| Wave Place | Wave Time Requirements | ||
| Wave 1 | Faster than | 1:51:38 | |
| Wave 2 | Faster than | 1:55:31 | |
| Wave 3 | Faster than | 1:58:44 | |
| Wave 4 | Faster than | 2:01:50 | |
| Wave 5 | Faster than | 2:04:25 | |
| Wave 6 | Faster than | 2:06:49 | |
| Wave 7 | Faster than | 2:09:01 | |
| Wave 8 | Faster than | 2:11:13 | |
| Wave 9 | Faster than | 2:13:14 | |
| Wave 10 | Faster than | 2:15:15 | |
| Wave 11 | Faster than | 2:17:10 | |
| Wave 12 | Faster than | 2:19:03 | |
| Wave 13 | Faster than | 2:20:59 | |
| Wave 14 | Faster than | 2:22:46 | |
| Wave 15 | Faster than | 2:24:57 | |
| Wave 16 | Faster than | 2:26:56 | |
| Wave 17 | Faster than | 2:29:03 | |
| Wave 18 | Faster than | 2:31:13 | |
| Wave 19 | Faster than | 2:33:16 | |
| Wave 20 | Faster than | 2:35:19 | |
| Wave 21 | Faster than | 2:37:32 | |
| Wave 22 | Faster than | 2:39:45 | |
| Wave 23 | Faster than | 2:41:57 | |
| Wave 24 | Faster than | 2:44:09 | |
| Wave 25 | Faster than | 2:47:36 | |
| Wave 26 | Faster than | 2:51:03 | |
| Wave 27 | Faster than | 2:53:51 | |
| Wave 28 | Faster than | 2:56:42 | |
| Wave 29 | Faster than | 2:59:47 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 30 | Faster than | 3:03:12 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 31 | Faster than | 3:06:52 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 32 | Faster than | 3:10:46 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 33 | Faster than | 3:15:24 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 34 | Faster than | 3:20:03 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 35 | Faster than | 3:25:34 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 36 | Faster than | 3:33:43 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 37 | Faster than | 3:44:34 | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 38 | 3:44:35 | Or Slower | Or First Time Rider |
| Wave 39 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 40 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 41 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 42 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 43 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 44 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 45 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 46 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 47 | First Time Rider | ||
| Wave 48 | First Time Rider |
FAQ – Wave Placement
What happens if I qualify for a wave and its full?
First, we are going to do our best to update waves as quickly as possible so we can communicate which waves are still open. However, it is manual process so it may take us a few days to verify times and place you in your correct wave. If the wave you qualified for and wanted is full, you will be automatically placed in the next available wave.
What if I only have one or two races completed out of the last five years?
Please average the times you do have from 2017-2019 & 2021 and use this number as your qualifying time.
I’d like to ride with my significant other, best friend, aunt, 3rd cousin twice removed, etc. Can we do that?
Yes, you can all apply for the same wave as long as you all qualify for that wave. In other words, base your wave request off of the person with the slowest times in your group.
I am a first-time rider. Any advice?
Spots are available in wave 29 and back for first time riders. Please choose the wave you’d like to be in. If you feel that you should be placed in a faster wave. You will have an opportunity to reach out in the late summer/early fall to request a placement change. This will occur after the transfer out/transfer in period has concluded.
My son/daughter is riding in Iceman Junior, can I ride with them?
While Bell’s Iceman Cometh, Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge Pro Race, and Iceman Junior may all follow the same course; they are separate races. Your child should be comfortable with the 30 mile course before taking to the race. If you or your child is not comfortable with the race course, we can easily transfer them to the Meijer Slush Cup.
We are here to answer your questions. If there is something you think would be valuable for us to share please comment on the blog or email icemaninfo@iceman.com and we will get your questions answered. You’ll also be able to find this information at www.iceman.com/waves .
What about the race with waits up to two hours out on the course?
I’ve raced Iceman 12 times, but the last time was in 2014. Can I used any old times to calculate which wave I qualify for, or is that so long ago that I am just considered a First Timer?
Including 2019 (poor conditions/slower times) is a big penalty for those that competed that year and not some of the others. Conversely, someone who didn’t ride in 2019 will be handed a better wave potentially. I’m not sure why starting waves aren’t being based on the most recent result or someone’s best result of the past five races given the myriad of variables with conditions, mechanicals, etc.
I have the same concern as Chuck. I’ve raced in the last 3…times of 2:12, 2:22 and 3:06…guess which one was 2019? 🙂 Can we throw our worst time out? That would be nice…and probably more representative of what a racer can truly ride. My 2 cents…looking forward to 2022!
I completely agree with this comment.
2019 was my first Icemann and it should not even be included because conditions were terrible.
2020 basically didn’t exist, I opted out of the virtual race.
2021 my time was about 2:20 minutes. I fully expect to improve and possibly be under 2 hours.
However, my avg between the two is about 3:20 minutes which would put me back with the first time riders…??!!!
I have raced twice: 2019 (3:24) & 2021 (2:04). Averaging these is 2:45 = wave 25. Had I only raced once, I would qualify for wave 6. So I feel like I’m being penalized for my first year being 2019 where I was in a mud backup/standstill for 45 minutes. Is it possible to throw that year out? Thank you
2018 had very good weather. 2019 was beyond muddy and most placed at least an hour slower. An average of the two is still pretty slow. Can we somehow weight the good weather time to help with the average or exclude the mud bath 2019 race?
Since weather can have such a huge effect on finishing times (the fastest time in 2019 was over a half hour slower than the fastest time in 2016, for example), I’m curious why wave placement depends on our top three finishing times rather than our top three results? … Full disclosure here, I’m asking because my second best result (4th in my category) was also my all-time slowest race, measured just by time.
I really like your event, but I do have a comment about the new wave assignments. I only have raced in 2 iceman’s, 2019 & 2021. We all know about the issues with a huge backup early in the 2019 race. I walked no less than 45 minutes. By allowing people to average their best 3 years they can skip the 2019 race. For example a relative who only raced in 2021 and I beat by 30 minutes starts 2 waves ahead of me because this was their first time. By using only last years race time would put everyone on an equal playing field, same course, same conditions. Give priority to riders who have supported the race in the past by giving them priority in their respective wave. For example, 20 year participant will be given priority over a 2 year rider in a wave. Just a suggestion.
Hold Tight on 2019. We are reviewing this. Thanks!
Thanks for the updated on 3/19. I see that you have allowed riders with 3 races including 2019 to drop 2019. Can we do the same if we have 2 races including 2019? As I currently understand it, 1 race (ex. 2021): OK; 3 races including 2019: OK (can drop 1); 2 races including 2019: Not OK (myself and most others on this thread that have concerns that a 1-race rider can will get a better wave than a 2-race rider).
I’m referring to your posted FAQs on 2/19, not 3/19 – sorry
What wave should I sign up for if I only raced for the first time last year?
Use your time from last year to determine your wave placement.
Thank you for reviewing 2019 results, that was also my first year with a time of 3:36. My time last year was 2:10.
Very disappointed in the new wave assignment process. My times for the previous five races were between 1.58 and 2.22, with exception of 2019 at 3.23. Dropped me from wave 8 last year to wave 25, if I can register before that wave is full. Please reconsider this flawed process. The process penalizes long time Iceman racers (28 times here) and clearly anyone who has raced more than 2021 doesn’t like the process either.
Hello,
The error in last years wave placement was huge. Most likely your files didn’t line up (name mismatches and DOB mismatches) and that is why you were kicked back to wave 25 in 2021. We corrected anyone that reached out. If you can see the new blog entry. We are giving people the option to drop 2019 out of the calculation. What is your average?
Serious applause for correcting the imbalance in wave placements due to the inclusion of 2019 time by allowing racers to not use this time when calculating the averages. For me Iceman has become a family event started by my son. He always finishes 15 – 20 minutes faster than me. Last year he started in wave 9 which was one in front of me when he normally starts in wave 3 or 4.
I agree about 2019. Walked for about an hour total. Super terrible conditions earlier on plus bus fiasco being new location getting in and being stuck on road waiting and missing actually starting time. 2019 should be tossed out