Sadler’s Alaska Challenge

HATCHER PASS — For athletes who have faced nothing but uphill battles, Sunday’s climb to Independence Mine took every ounce of their determination.

Of the 33 handcycle and wheelchair racers who finished Sadler’s Alaska Challenge, 32 suffered from some type of limited lower body mobility.

There’s Scott McNeice, a 55-year-old from St. Petersburg, Fla., who had both legs amputated and suffered a spinal cord injury after a car accident in 1989.

When Larry Coutermarsh — a former Army Ranger and Mr. Universe — was injured in 1983, he simply switched sports and has been dominating handcycling races ever since.

Monique Van der Vorst has long been on the competitive handcycling scene and won two goal medals for the Netherlands in Beijing, despite being hit by a car on a training run before the games.

The roster is literally filled with these stories.

Only this kind of overcome-despite-the-odds mentality could get the riders through Sunday’s 30-mile stage from Sutton to Hatcher Pass. The final leg of the 257-mile race saw a gain of 3,500 feet in the last 15 miles, climbed completely by upper-body muscles. Handcycles have gears much like bikes. Wheelchair racers had no such luxury.

Race organizer Heather Plucinski likened it to having a baby.

“A few racers were angry when the race finished because they thought it was too tough,” Plucinski said. “But a few minutes later, they all felt better and were proud of what they accomplished.”

All the riders agreed this was the most difficult stage in the history of Sadler’s Alaska Challenge, Plucinski said. The course was redesigned this year to mark the 25th anniversary of the race, leaving it with more of a Tour de France feel of big climbs and individual time trials.

While next year’s route is undetermined, determination is something no rider will lack.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.

Results

Sadler’s Alaska Challenge

Men’s Wheelchair

1. Saul Mendoza (Mexico) Eagle - 17:32:21.7

2. Paul Nunnari (Australia) MDS/Aquafit - 19:13:09.5

3. James Lilly (USA) Eagle - DNF

Women’s Handcycle

1. Monique Van der Vorst (Netherlands) Invacare/Top End - 14:03:20.2

2. Andrea Eskau (Germany) Team Germany - 15:52:22.6

3. Melissa Stockwell (USA) - 18:39:25.6

4. Susan Katz (USA) - 19:03:55.1

5. Sherry Schulz (USA) - 21:53:08.5

Men’s Handcycle Longseat

1. Elmar Sternath (Austria) - 12:40:04.6

2. Manfred Putz (Austria) - 12:55:31.9

3. Heinz Frei (Switzerland) Team Sopur - 13:15:21.8

4. Matt Updike (USA) Invacare/Top End - 13:45:36.6

5. Klaus Dolleschal (Austria) - 14:12:25.5

6. Stefan Baumann (Germany) Team Germany - 14:37:32.6

7. Drew Wills (USA) - 14:45:19.3

8. Josh Sharpe (USA) Bike-on.com/CAF Operation Rebound - 15:52:35.5

9. Rafael Ibarra (USA) Team Shepherd - 16:03:21.9

10. Christian Peter (Austria) - 16:33:14.5

11. Brant Schalk (USA) Challenge Alaska - 16:42:33.0

12. Scott Davidson (USA) Detroit Med Ctr/Mobility Works - 16:55:08.9

13. Seth Arseneau (USA) Operation Rebound - 17:51:24.0

14. Bill Schwarz (USA) - 17:52:46.5

15. Bill Lasher (USA) - 18:33:56.5

16. Harold Warner (USA) Team “The Door” - 19:09:28.1

17. Joseph Dowling (USA) The Dowling Group - 20:05:10.9

18. Kevin Jackson (USA) Team Alaska - 20:11:49.6

19. Michael O’Neill (USA) Team Alaska -20:30:57.9

20. Rick Gilliland (USA) - 22:53:28.3

21. Larry Coutermarsh (USA) - 23:00:15.3

22. Leon Bostick (USA) - 23:38:04.9

23. Ed Jones (USA) - DNF

Men’s Handcycle Kneeseat

1. Ernst Van Dyk (Russia) Invacare/Top End - 12:20:37.1

2. Chris Peterson (USA) Invacare/Top End - 12:36:57.6

3. Krige Schabort (Russia) Invacare/Top End - 12:39:33.8

4. Scott McNeice (USA) Invacare/Top End - 13:26:41.5

5. Norbert Mosandl (Germany) Team Germany - DNF