More than 40 riders enjoy 3-stage Abajo Enduro

More than 40 riders participated in the fifth annual Abajo Enduro race series on August 3 and 4. It was the largest group yet to enjoy the three-race mountain bike series on the Abajo Mountains.
Overall winner was Sam Shryack of Moab. He completed the series in a time of 45:50, four seconds ahead of second-place Austin Howard of Salt Lake City, and 31 seconds ahead of third-place Rotem Ishay of Durango, CO.
The top female finisher is Elizabeth Timmer of Salt Lake City, followed by Nancy Morlock of Moab, and Sophia Anderson of Aztec, NM.
Local racers include Troy Benallie, Dallen Tate and Brian Bothwell. More than 30 volunteers helped pull off the event, which included one timed ride on Friday, and two timed rides on Saturday.
The three races include the Shay Ridge stage, the Robertson Pasture stage, and the Groundhog Knoll stage. The races showcase the single-track mountain bike trails on the Abajo Mountains.
One reviewer called the Robertson Pasture Trail, “Probably the best cross-country singletrack trail I’ve seen in the United States in 23 years of mountain biking. ”
Race organizer Andy Platt was delighted with the race, reporting that racers enjoyed the terrain and seemed to have a great time.
Platt said that the podium sponsors were the Monticello Merc and Desert Rivers Credit Union.
Winners of the raffles include Brekkyn Hoggard and Scott Frost.
Racers met at Doug’s Steak and BBQ on Friday night. Platt said that Doug’s “was a great place to hang out and talk about the day.”