Kalispell's Muhlfeld now 28th in the world
United States' sixth-ranked rider jumps 74 points in World Cup standings
Not only is Clint Muhlfeld ranked sixth in the U.S., but the 34-year-old mountain biker from Kalispell can now boast of being 28th in the world as well.
Muhlfeld placed 16th out of 60 competitors in the Pro Elite Class at the UCI Marathon World Cup II. Muhlfeld was timed in four hours, 43 minutes for the 99K cross country race in Quebec, Canada, on June 17.
The event started in downtown Quebec and finished at the ski resort of Mont Ste.-Anne.
The elevation gain for the race was 1,200 feet.
By finishing 16th, Muhlfeld scored 74 points in the World Cup standings.
"The first American (finisher), which was kinda cool," Muhlfeld said. "It was my first (cross country marathon race). I was pretty pleased."
The World Cup features four races every year. This was the second one in the series.
The first was held in Greece. Italy is hosting No. 3 July 8-9 with No. 4 in France on July 29.
"The cool thing about the World Cup is I was looking (at mountain bikers) ahead of me from Australia, Denmark, Colombia, France, New Zealand, Czech Republic and the list goes on," Muhlfeld said. "I was pretty close to the Top 10, several minutes away. I thought I was 13th for awhile."
Muhlfeld said he fell once during the race.
"Fifty K (kilometers) into it," he said.
"I managed to get back on and caught back up with the guy I was riding with. I only lost a few spots because of that."
Muhlfeld said the final leg of the race was the most grueling part.
"You did a super 8 on the finish," he said.
"Real technical. The last 30K were on the ski resort. "
Muhlfeld said the rocky terrain, mud and tree roots made the course extremely dangerous at times.
"It's the most technical race (I have ever done)," he said.
"The course was extremely difficult, challenging, but real interesting as well. Fun to race on. It's by far the hardest race I've ever done."
Muhlfeld has competed in cross country races before, but this was his first marathon event.
Cross country races are on a loop course and last two to three hours. Marathon racing is point-to-point and much longer in length and time needed to complete it.
"It was a neat event," Muhlfeld said.
"The city of Quebec is very European. The downtown reminds me so much of Belgium."
Muhlfeld competes for the Sportsman Ski Haus/Cannondale Cycling Team. That team also includes two more riders: Kalispell's Matt Butterfield, an upcoming pro and currently the state leader in Category II Road Cycling, and Jason Keister of Whitefish. Keister is a semi-pro mountain biker.
All three compete in the Montana Road Cycling Series.
Muhlfeld is currently sixth in the National Off-Road Biking Association mountain bike standings. He has competed in two of the four scheduled events, placing 11th in a race in Arizona in March and seventh last month near Los Angeles.
Muhlfeld will race in Deer Valley, Utah, on Thursday with the series championship Aug. 4-6 in Brian Heat, Utah.
Muhlfeld has 254 points in the series with Ian Stanford of Winona, Minn., in fifth place with 259.
"I've been getting better every race," said Muhlfeld.
"The guy above me, I've already beaten him in the last race."
This is Muhlfeld's fourth season in the Pro Elite Class.
He will also compete in the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championship in Sonoma, Calif., July 13-16.