Last weekend, the Highlands Gravel Classic was held in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and two cyclists, Jenna Rinehart and Brennan Wertz, emerged as the winners. The race is part of the 2024 UCI Gravel World Series and is the only US round.
Wertz, who won the Sea Otter Classic Gravel Race earlier that weekend, crossed the finish line first in 3:25:20. Cobe Freeburn came in second place, just 12 seconds behind Wertz. Nick Roche finished third place, 34 seconds behind Wertz. The course covered a distance of 67.6 miles (109km) with 7,000 feet (2,100m) of climbing and was made up of 95% gravel.
Rinehart faced challenges early on in the race when her chain came off, but she managed to catch up with Maude Farrell and Flavia Oliveira Parks before ultimately surging ahead to finish in 3:51:55. This was just 25 seconds before Farrell and over four minutes ahead of Oliveira Parks.
In an Instagram post after the race, Rinehart expressed her excitement about winning and qualifying for the UCI Gravel World Championships later this year in Belgium. She thanked her team for their support and mentioned how grateful she was for their help during the race.
The success of Rinehart and Wertz at this event showcases their strong performance and determination on the gravel roads of Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains. Their victories have solidified their positions as top contenders in the elite cycling world.
