“The Quick and The Dead”
– A Mt. Davis Gravel Grinder is a gravel road bicycle race from Meyersdale Pennsylvania. It will take you up and over the highest point in the State, Mt. Davis. Come for the challenge and stay for the fun! The name says it all. Will you be one of the Quick (fast) or one of the Dead (not so fast)?
Routes:
If you build it they will come!
As a kid growing up near the little town of Confluence, nestled in the Laurel Highlands of South Western Pennsylvania, I always took advantage of the wonderful outdoor opportunities that the area gave to me. From biking the local roads and rail trail, hiking, hunting, and rafting, I knew that it was a special place.
As an adult, I have stayed local to the area and still enjoy riding my bicycle from my home near Deep Creek Lake Maryland over to Confluence and the surrounding area. In 2017, I was out and about on one of these gravel roads near Confluence with a good friend of mine Fritz Kessler. We were getting ready for the upcoming Hilly Billy Roubaix. Fritz said to me, “Dan, this route would make for a great race course”. You know what? I agreed.
As the year went on, I continued to ponder this idea. I continually added more and more each time I went out. Google Map here, Google Map there, and WALA! I finally connected the dots. Okay, now what? We must get them here. How? Hmm! TADA! Facebook Event. Long story short, on an early October morning in 2017, fourteen guinea pigs showed up and the rest was history.
As for the rest of this story. It is still being written.
2018 was the inaugural race starting in Confluence, PA with 94 hearty souls racing a race I am sure they will not soon forget.
In 2019 we had 163 line up for the start and both course records were shattered!
In 2020 we moved the race to Addison, PA because of the pandemic.
We out grew the Addison venue, so the 2022 race was moved to the Somerset County fairgrounds in Meyersdale, PA.
In 2023 Stefanie Sydlik dethroned Haley Wickstrom for the overall Women’s top podium spot and Alec Ratzell won the Men’s overall fastest time, making it his 3rd win in four years.
The 2024 race started again at the Somerset County Fairgrounds in Meyersdale, PA with 143 racers starting the race and 131 finishing. Two courses were offered up that year. A 65 mile Long Course with over 7,000’ of climbing and a 35-mile Short Course. Due to the rain that we had the morning of the race we were unable to use the fairgrounds racetrack to start the race, but we did get to end the race on the track with a velodrome style finish. The Men’s overall fastest time came down to a sprint finish in front of the grandstands. Jeffery Watts edged out George Ganoung by a half of a second. This was Jeff’s second win in three years.
Haley Wickstrom took the ladies overall fastest time this year for her sixth win in seven years. Talk about dominating a racecourse! Haley and Jeff also took home the Queen of the Mountain and King of the Mountain prizes for being the first in their respective divisions to top PA’s highest point, Mount Davis.
The 2025 race was canceled due to lack of sponsorship.
The 2026 race is pending.
The name you ask? Just thought it made sense for this course. “Fast or not so fast”. The podium you ask? Why not? “You’re either on it or in it”!
* A special thank you goes out to my family and especially my lovely wife. Without them and all the wonderful volunteers, this race would not be possible!
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