Searchable results for the 2016 Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge are here. You’ll also notice your November Ice Society points are reset. That’s because we’re all back at square one, training for the 2017 Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge.
Once again, we have tons of horse power about to push each other to the limits of their bodies and bikes. Race starts at 2:30 in Kalkaska. Don’t miss it.
Troy Wells
Troy, 32, is returning to defend is 2015 Pro Men’s win. Hailing from Durango, Co., and races for Team Clif Bar Cycling. He finished 3rd at the October 16th US Open of Cyclocross. Apparently he is one of the riders on the Team Clif Bar with the most nicknames. “The Bear” and Trois Biscotti” are two of our favorites. We’re quite sure he enjoyed the 2015 Bell’s Sunset After Party since he pretty much closed it down. We couldn’t stay awake that late.
@tdub255
Russell Finsterwald
Finsty, 25, finished 4th in 2014 & 2015. He comes from Boulder, Colorado and races for SRAM | Troy Lee Designs Race Team. He recently finished 3rd at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals STXC race. He’s been racing Iceman since the time when he’d try to get a fake i.d. to get into the After Party and now he practically owns it. @finsty http://finsterwald.bike
Todd Wells
Todd Wells, 40, of Durango, Co., races for SRAM/Troy Lee Designs, and is just killing it this year. Although we know he has a history of winning including fourteen National Championship titles across four disciplines. This year he’s finished first in the following races: 1st Sea Otter Classic XC, 1st at Whiskey 50 Off Road Crit, 1st Grand Junction Off Road 1st, Leadville 100 and 1st in the USA Cycling Marathon National Championships! Be afraid other pro racers. Be very afraid. Last year he finished 6th overall. @yotwells
Brian Matter
Brian, 37, finished 7th in 2015. In 2016, he’s won the Midwest MTB Classic Day 2, New Glarus Road Race and the Sun Prarie Cup. After his win in 2014, Brian holds the record for the most wins at 4! Will 2016 make it a 5th? We can’t wait to find out. Brian is sponsored by Trek / Bontrager / Shimano / Pro Gold / JTree / Rock Shox. He also rocks the Bell’s After Party. Don’t miss it. Find him at b-matter.com/ and on Twitter
@TheWiscoDisco
Travis (TJ) Woodruff
TJ , 33, races for his own coaching company Momentum Endurance, and Pivot Cycles, his best finish is 7th Always a solid rider, he’s not going to let any one take a break on Saturday. His wife Chloe will be ripping it up with the Pro Ladies and was last year’s Champ.@tjwoodruff
Ben Sonntag
Ben, 36, from Durango, Co finished 8th in the 2015 Bell’s Iceman and 5th in the 2012. He rides for 9niner bikes/ Team Clif Bar Cycling. He finished 4th in the US Cup/Bonlli Park XC #2. Welcome back Ben!@ZeGermanCyclist
Tristan Schouten
Schouten, 34, won the 2003 Bell’s Iceman Cometh Challenge. He finished 11th last year. He hails Plymouth, WI and rides for Rolf Prima/Atitude Sports.@SchoutenTristan
Brad White
Brad, 34, resides in Holland, Michigan and races for UnitedHealthCare. He’s a former All-American collegiate swimmer and his renown sprinting skills have earned him the nickname “Captain America”. He won the Wilmington Grand Prix this year and has been spotted doing course recon. @bwcycling
Cole House
Cole, 28, placed 10th last year. He hails from Oneida, WI. This year he came in 1st in the Reforestation Ramble, 2nd at Treadfest, and 4th at Celtic Cross CX. He’s raced every year since 2011, with his best result being 5th in 2014. @Cole_House
Stephen Ettinger
Stephen, 27, finished 5th in 2013. He is also a member of Team USA. He comes from Cashmere, WA. He’s certainly looking for the top step this year. He’s been spotted this week in the woods of Northern MI with the crew from Einstein Cycles. @settinger_
Spencer Paxson
Spencer (Bellingham, Wash./Kona Bicycles Factory Team) is new to Iceman but definitely not new to racing. He’s a 6x US National Team Member and 2x Olympic Long Team Member. Welcome Spencer! @slaxsonMTB
Howard Grotts
Howard, 23, was the only member of the 2016 USA Men’s Olympic Mountain Bike team. He is a newbie to Iceman. He races for Specialized and was 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships U23. Welcome Howard! @HowardGrotts
Isaac Neff
Isacc, 30, rides for Neff Cycle Service. He was 18th 2015 and 6th in 2014. In 2016, he finished 1st in the Midwest MTB Championships day 1. He says his bike and his body are dialed and ready for this year! @neff_Isaac
Rob Squires
Rob, 26, races for Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team. He won the Fat Bike World’s this year. It’s his first Iceman, but we think he’s gonna love it! Welcome! @robthesquire
Payson McElveen
Payson, 23, of Durango, Co. races for RideBiker p/b Sho-Air . He finished 8th at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals, XC. Welcome Payson!
Don’t forget our top local racers who know the course and plan on giving the pro’s a run for their money:
Jorden Wakeley
Jorden is racing a new bike from Cannondale, for a new sponsor M22 and has a new hunger that he didn’t have last year. He’s in this race to win it and we can’t wait to watch him try. He finished 9th last year, has podiumed at many Michigan races this year including winning Ore2Shore and is the 2015 Arrowhead Ultra winner. @JordenWakeley
Alex Vanias
Alex, (Team OAM Now), placed 12th last year and just won Peak2Peak. He’s fast on skis and bike, don’t let his quiet personality fool you…he’s an animal.
Jeff Owens
Jeff will be racing for Keen Technical. It’s his first time at the big dance but that doesn’t make him a wall flower. Jeff is humble, but has a stamina and speed that is the envy of Traverse City.
Sean Kickbush
Sean, (M22 racing) is part cyclist, triathlete, business owner, barista, and bartender but he is 100% a competitor.
Cody Sovis,
Cody (Einstein Racing), won the Men’s Fat Bike division last year. He’s no stranger to the Pro Race, but this year he’s rebuilt himself. He’s faster. Stronger. And quite possibly the funniest blogging cyclist we know. Kolotc.wordpress.com
It’s gonna be good folks. So, so good.
The Pro Women’s field is shaping up nicely with some familiar names and some new ones. It’s going to be a great race to watch!
Chloe Woodruff:
Chloe is returning in 2016 as reigning Women’s Champ for 2015! We are so glad she is back defending her title and we love seeing kill our course. Sheis no stranger to Iceman as took 2nd in 2013, and has been racing mountain bikes since 2002. She races for Stans NoTubes and rides a 9niner. And if you’re wondering about the After Party at The View in 2015… yup, she arrived late but won that too. Find her at http://www.chloewoodruff.com/ or on twitter @chloewoodruff
Amy Beisel:
Amy is making the trip from Gunnison, Colorado. After finishing 6th in 2015, she’s back and ready for another shot at the top step of the podium. She races Team RideBiker p/b Sho-air |Isoride |LIV. She credits her brother, also a pro cyclist, with encouraging her to buy her first mountain bike. Amy is also the reigning Fat Bike World Champion. You can find her on Ice Society and Facebook.
Erin Huck:
Erin is coming from Boulder, Co. Erin finished 4th last year and knows what she needs to do to get the Ice Trophy! She rides for SCOTT-3Rox. She took 1st at the 1st US ProXCT #1, Bonelli. Contact here on Ice Society, http://erinhuck.com or twitter @EEHuck.
Catharine Pendrel
No stranger to being a winner, Catharine returns to Bell’s Iceman this year. She won the 2013 Pro Women’s race but even more impressive is her winning a Bronze Medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Not only that, she also won her 3rd Overall World Cup title this year. She races for the Luna Pro Team. It’s going to be a pleasure to see her in our Northern Michigan Woods again.
Haley Batten
Riding with Luna Pro Team with Catharine is Bell’s Iceman newcomer Haley Batten. At only 18 years old and an already impressive resume, we look forward to watching Haley for many, many years to come. Welcome to Bell’s Iceman Haley!
Riding with Luna Pro Team with Catharine is Bell’s Iceman newcomer Haley Batten. At only 18 years old and an already impressive resume, we look forward to watching Haley for many, many years to come. Welcome to Bell’s Iceman Haley!
Also in the mix are Local Michigan Favorites:
Mackenzie Woodring, a member of the USA Paralympic squad with her tandem partner. They’ve won 4 medals including gold. We haven’t seen her at Iceman in a while but in 2013 she placed and impressive 3rd overall. Welcome back Mackenzie!
Susan Vigland, is the quintessential local sweetheart. She’s raced Pro Women before but she’s back and faster than ever. Don’t be surprised if 99% of the crowd is cheering for her!
Kaitlyn Patterson showed up at her first Bell’s Iceman raced last year and made everyone take notice by placed 5th! She moved to Ann Arbor but has been on the top step more times than we can count this year. We can’t wait to see what she has in the tank for this year’s Bell’s Iceman!