Registration is now open. How quickly will it sell out?
I’m in to have a crack at another XCM race that isn’t at 7k or higher.
I can’t remember if it sold out last year or not. If it did, it didn’t go quick like Big Sugar. That said, last year was the first year and it’s now a Grand Prix event, so maybe more demand this year?
BTW, thanks for posting this, I had totally forgotten about Big Sugar registration opening today, thought I had missed it but it doesn’t open for another hour.
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it sold out last year…as of today still open…100k!
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Amazingly, Big Sugar is still open, as well.
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both probably a reflection of overall consumer uncertainty and the whole endeavor isn’t cheap.
I’m heading to Bentonville this weekend and plan to pre-ride the Little Sugar course. Things may get limited by the weather as thunderstorms are predicted, but I wanted to check if there is any place on or near the course to get water around the halfway point?
I likely would carry enough to get to the halfway point. I see that you cross 71 around the point as you approach Pinion Creek Falls, so those would be good spots to get fluid, but if there is something a little earlier or later, I could also plan accordingly.
Any help/suggestions are much appreciated.
Tunnel Vision and Back 40 trails drain well, so you shouldn’t have too much issue riding those over the weekend.
As for water, there are a few stops along the way that have water but last I remember, the spigots weren’t working. They’re usually at small trail head parking/bathroom areas scattered around Tunnel Vision/Back 40. You might have luck with the one at Hampstead or Gainford. Probably around 35 miles. There are a lot of people who live on the trails that leave out jugs or coolers full of water/drinks.
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Seriously considering heading to B’ville for a pre-ride. I’m really not keen on rolling up to the line blind. I think the last time I didn’t pre-ride at least a little bit of a course was the first Rock Cobbler in 2022…
Given that it’s more technical than most if not all the other Lifetime MTB events, I’m leaning towards it’s a must rather than nice to have.
It’s a proper MTB course, but I’d say the hardest sections of Leadville are probably more technical that the hardest parts of Little Sugar (or at least more dangerous if you screw up). And I’d certainly consider Austin Rattler more technical than big Sugar (and rattler isn’t very technical). Little sugar is pretty flowy and fast with a lot of up and down switchbacks. The thing that makes it hard is that it’s almost all singletrack, so you have to pay attention the entire day. And when I say it’s not technical, I just mean it’s easy to get around at a reasonable pace without serious MTB skills. But it’s a place where having good MTB skills will get you around the course much faster. There are lots of folks I can beat easily at Leadville that would kill me at Little Sugar. It’s not just a pedaling/power contest.
Little Sugar does have a few random tricky spots that you’ll likely never remember where they are unless you pre-ride multiple times. It’s still nice to see those spots before the race if you can. It’s awesome riding, but it’s a lot of rinse and repeat with similar terrain and features throughout. I’ve ridden those trails a bunch on my MTB, but the only racing I’ve done them is at Rule of 3 on my gravel bike. If I can get around those trails on my gravel bike (sporting aero bars and my marginal bike skills), it’s not technical. I’d never consider trying Rattler (or Leadville) on a Gravel bike.
Good to know. I’ll save the airfare and just schedule some time up in the Santa Cruz Mountains / Skyline complex which is at least as technical as the sketchy part of Powerline.
That is really weird. I raced Leadville and big and little sugar last year and felt little sugar was a lot more technical and even “more dangerous” (not dangerous dangerous but I did walk a couple of sections where at Leadville didn’t even think about walking any descents). It was a proper mtb race.
Joe
Agree the Little Sugar is much more technical overall, and that’s why I was calling out the danger aspect. And danger is probably in the eyes of the beholder, their skill level, how they race, etc.
And maybe I’m forgetting how tough some of those spots are at Little Sugar, but I recall just a few tricky spots. And even if getting off the bike, I don’t think it would be significant time. Totally agree that overall Little Sugar is more technical overall since it’s all single track, I just didn’t remember anything scary like bombing down super chunky sections at stupid speeds. Leadville is about a “non-tech” as it comes for a MTB race with probably 90% more like a gravel race, but the dangerous spots are extremely high consequence. I’d bet there are a lot more minor crashes at little sugar, but more hospital visits at Leadville. If I could only recon one of those courses, it would be Leadville. But I’m not much of a legit MTB racer, so that probably skews my perspective.
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Ha! That might be the difference between our attack of the Leadville course!
Joe
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It will be my first time doing Little Sugar, so I’m pondering a pre-ride in the latter part of August, splitting it into two 30-mile days with one day between riding bike parks in the area.
I’m thinking I should be able to call an Uber to take me back to my lodging at the end of each pre-ride day.
I’m registered for the 50k and planning to recon some of the trail in August as well. It’s going to be crazy hot.
I’m also not a legit MTB racer so I need all the practice I can get.
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