This last Sunday, 9/29, the Bishop Manogue Mountain Biking team competed at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort. This is one of the last and hardest races of the season, taking place at a much higher altitude than other races.

The Saturday before race day was when many riders came to Mammoth for the pre-ride. Pre-rides allow bikers to get an understanding of the race course, while also reducing the amount of people slowing down or crashing. This race is especially hard because of the altitude, with the starting area lodge sitting at just under 9,000 feet above sea level.

Another reason for this race is the fact that it is one of the longest races in the season. Thankfully, the amount of laps per division is adaptable depending on the difficulty of the race. “It was a surreal experience, it was a tough climb but worth it to get cheered on by others at the end of it!” said Atlas McClure, a rider in JV1 for Bishop Manogue.

After this race, riders for Bishop Manogue will be having one more week of practice before a week-long hiatus for fall break. The last race will take place at a new location, Donner Ski Resort.