Ostroski Crowned New England’s Best All Around Cyclist at the Porky Gulch Classic

Pinkham Notch, NH—Despite the weather forecast, the third annual Porky Gulch Classic went off without any rain on Saturday and Sunday, November 3 & 4. Peter Ostroski of Intervale, NH captured the title of New England’s Best All Around Cyclist. Cathy Rowell of Bedford, MA was the women’s champion.

Hosted by Great Glen Trails, the Porky Gulch Classic is a true test of cycling ability with three distinct stages held over two days. Cyclists are awarded points based on their finish in each stage, and the rider with the most points is declared the winner.

The event began on Saturday morning under cloudy skies with the Toughest Two—a two-mile climb up the Mt. Washington Auto Road. The route is identical to famous cycling tests, Newton’s Revenge and the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb: the toughest hillclimb in the world. In the men’s Elite Division, Ostroski, took the victory in 12:10 to earn 60 points just four seconds ahead of Jackson, NH’s Steve Piotrow. Austin Orth of North Conway, NH was third in 12:46. On the women’s side, Rowell, the only competitor in the women’s Elite Division made the climb in 18:15.

Under continuingly threatening skies, the action shifted to Story Land for a criterium unlike any other. In the Story Land Criterium, the second stage of the Porky Gulch Classic, cyclists race through the famous amusement park in Glen, NH making upwards of 30 turns in this true test of bicycle handling. Paul Curley of Taunton, MA pulled away from a hard riding and closely bunched lead pack in the final turns of the last lap to take the victory in 45:38, completing 13 laps. Also completing 13 laps, Todd Wheelden of Kents Hill, ME nipped Jackson, NH’s Jason Pettengill in the final turn to take second place in 45:40 just a second ahead of Pettengill. Ostroski was only a second back in fourth. Rowell again turned in a strong performance for the women with 11 laps in 47:07. All racers finished before a single drop of rain fell.

With no clear leader heading into Sunday, the men’s Elite Division was wide-open coming into the final stage: the Rockpile Rampage at Great Glen Trails. Under crystal clear skies and perfect temperatures for riding, racers tackled the tough cyclocross course at Great Glen Trails that utilizes many of the unique features of Great Glen Trails’ trail system including carriage roads, steep embankments, sharp corners and barriers the riders must dismount from their bicycles to negotiate. As with the Story Land Criterium on Saturday, Curley, Wheelden, Pettengill and Ostroski rode together for most of the race. After dropping Pettengill with 3 laps to go, the result was the same as at Story Land with Curley pulling away in the final lap for the victory, completing 9 laps in 48:52. Wheelden was a close second and Ostroski just behind in third, both riding 9 laps in 49:11 and 49:24, respectively. Another strong ride for Rowell finishing 7 laps in 49:32.

Even with two victories, it wasn’t enough for Curley to overcome his ninth place finish in the Toughest Two, and in the overall point classification he finished third with 152 points. That left the battle between Ostroski and Wheelden. In the end, Ostroski’s victory in the Toughest Two was the difference maker as he edged Wheelden 158 to 157. It was an extremely impressive double for Ostroski who also won the 2007 solo category at the 24 Hours of Great Glen in August. No drama on the women’s side as Rowell was named champion.

Good races were also turned in by the Intermediate Men and Women and the Beginner Men and Women, many of those in the latter categories racing these events for the first time. An especially strong performance was turned in by 12-year-old Sean Doherty of Center Conway, NH who rode with the adults in the beginner categories. Even after dropping a chain and stopping for repairs in the Rockpile Rampage, Doherty went on to win the beginners’ cyclocross race.

For complete results and photos, visit www.porkygulchclassic.com.

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