Torbjørn Andre Røed wins Big Sugar Classic in a small group sprint

Torbjørn Andre Røed won the Big Sugar Classic from a small group sprint ahead of Brendan Johnston and Alexey Vermeulen.

The Norwegian, who calls Grand Junction, Colorado, his home was the fastest after 104 punchy miles that saw constant changes at the head of the race.

While pre-race favourite Keegan Swenson was in contention, he was not able to play a role in the sprint. Nevertheless, Swenson finished with the leaders and took home the overall win in the Life Time Grand Prix.

Life Time

The men through the quarry on the Big Sugar course

Throughout the race, John Borstelmann was the main aggressor, going on two separate long-range breakaways. The final selection came around mile 80 as Borstelmann was brought back by the seven remaining chasers.

In the group were Australians Tasman Nankervis, Brendan Johnston, Americans Howard Grotts, Cole Patton, Vermulen, Swenson, Borstelmann, and Andre Røed. The group was not able to shake each other, which ultimately led to a rare sprint finish on the paved streets of Bentonville, Arkansas.

A tactical game of shoots and ladders

Unlike some of the other gravel races on the calendar, Big Sugar is an event that almost has as many decisive sections as it does miles.

Additionally, with less than 7,000 feet of climbing, some of the bigger riders with more "all day" power are afforded a bigger chance to take charge of the race.

On Saturday, one of the most powerful of all the North American riders, John Borstelmann, was keen make his mark.

Joining Borstelmann out front was Norwegian, Jonas Orset - another powerful rider, and the two set about building a gap that would be enough to spur a chase and a selection.

Life Time

John Borstelmann was certainly 'Man of the Match' Saturday

By the mid-point, the two leaders were caught and it was 17 riders left out front, as behind the leading duo the crashes, flats and mechanicals were stacking up.

Seventeen riders turned to 15 by mile 73 as Borstelmann went again in an effort to anticipate the moves that would come in the finale. That attack prompted more responses as the race reached the end game. But without a substantial course feature to break the race open, there was plenty of cat and mouse amongst the riders who were clearly the strongest.

When the seven riders rolled up on Borstelmann with around 20 miles to go, a sprint was likely. What they didn't expect was for riders to return from behind.

Life Time

While he was short of matching his efforts from earlier this season, Keegan Swenson showed off his new national champs jersey well over the weekend

“We were sitting together like six or seven of us. We were kind of just rolling around, not going that hard and then five or six guys came up from the back and we suddenly had 10 people and we just sat around and Howie [Howard Grotts] was doing most of the work.”

Yet despite the the soft pedalling Andre Røed was unfazed.

“I went for it up the climb and it went down to five guys and I just waited for a sprint and had a good wheel. Then I just went for it. It feels pretty awesome. I've wanted this for a while and feel like I’ve had the legs to do it, and it’s awesome to put it together.”

Life Time

Even a tactical affair is a tough day out in gravel! Here is Alexey Vermeulen wearing all the effort that it took to find the podium Thursday

Andre Røed will race for the UCI Continental team Project Echelon next year on the road, but he will likely continue to dovetail those ambitions with gravel. The Norwegian has been a strong addition to the contender list at gravel races in the second half of the US season.

Results

1. Torbjorn Andre Røed – 4:53:38
2. Brendan Johnston – 4:53:38
3. Alexey Vermeulen – 4:53:39
4. Keegan Swenson – 4:53:39
5. Cole Patton – 4:53:43
6. John Borstelmann – 4:53:43
7. Tasman Nankervis – 4:53:49
8. Howard Grotts – 4:54:01
9. Alex Howes – 4:54:08
10. Lachlan Morton – 4:54:46

You can view the full results as the come through at the link here.