By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Some gravel races are described as "death by a thousand cuts" as they take riders over many small hills. Brandon Steinert, organizer of the Wicked Wilson 100, calls his race with just four big hills "death by 20 stab wounds." Registration is now open for the races to be held on Saturday, May. 17 near Russell.
"There seems to be a buzz around it," Steinert said. "Whenever I make a post and boost it, somebody who has done the race, they know. They know how good the course it, how fun it is, and how laid back it is. They'll share it and tag their friends. I'm confident if I can get people on the course, they'll bring other people out because it's a fantastic course."
Mike Johnson created the race in 2014 and held the event for a few years. Jared Gingerich had competed in the race and invited Steinert to a training session on the 113-mile course one day.
"Two things: it about killed me," Steinert said. "I was out for about a week and I was pretty fit at the time. It chewed me up. Second, it was probably some of the most beautiful terrain I'd ever ridden a gravel bike on. It's really just such a unique area in the Smoky Hills."
After falling in love with the course, Steinert sought Johnson's approval to restart the race in 2022. Johnson gave Steinert access to his files and the race's social media accounts.
Like ultramarathon races of 100 miles or more, where runners often win little more than a belt buckle for finishing the race, prizes are small for the Wicked Wilson. Local companies like Golden Belt Bicycle, Dry Lake Brewing, Salina RV, and Prairie Sailor donate small prizes. This year, Great Bend's Jason Cauley will create plaques for winners. Steinert even makes handmade prizes.
"I think that sort of hands-on, personal, intimate approach to running the race is what I'm going for, and it's what I hope to maintain," he said.
There are some significant changes to this year's race. Previous races were held in August on 200K or 100K courses that include up to four hills.
"I had a 50 percent DNF (did not finish) rate," Steinert said. "People would stop literally seven or eight miles from the finish because they just could not get to the end. The hills just did them in."
The 100K course includes dozens of long, steep climbs, four of which are designated as races within the race - like the climbing portions of the Tour de France. Steinert refers to these as the "Ruler of the Mountains" competition. The first is a long, steep hill just a few miles into the race to break riders in. Chatterbox Hill is a towering hill approximately three-fourths of the way in. The third, called Bikewalker Hill because of its maximum 22 percent grade, causes about half of the riders to dismount and walk their bikes up. Those able to stay on earn a special badge of honor. The fourth and final hill is a small one, if such a thing exists after 60 miles of gravel riding.
Last year, the race was switched from August to late May and all racers were able to finish. Last year, Steinert introduced a more moderate 50K race, which is still an impressive 31 miles. This year's options are 50K and 100K races, and the Wicked Wilson will again be held in May.
Steinert has seen a mix of racers from the likes of Wichita, Kansas City, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Nebraska in previous races. Registration fees range from $99 to $79, with some proceeds benefitting the newly formed Golden Belt Badgers bike team. Registration deadline is May 15.
CLICK HERE for more information or to register for this year's race.