An event that brings out cyclists from all over the country returned to the mountains after a COVID-19 hiatus.
Hundreds of cyclists turned out Monday for the 45th annual Assaults on Mount Mitchell and Marion. About 700 cyclists started in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, and rode to either Marion (74.2 miles -- the Assault on Marion) or the summit of Mount Mitchell (102.7 miles -- the Assault on Mount Mitchell).
Organizers said it's one of the most intense, premier cycling experiences in the Southeast.
Last year's event was canceled because of COVID-19.
"I didn't know what to expect because this is my first race ever and longest, obviously, race, too," first-place finisher Jeff Case said. "So, tried to keep it in check. Went pretty hard the start of the climb for about 30 minutes and then it was in survival mode for the next hour, hour 15 after that. But had enough left to finish first. So, it was awesome."
"Our group of about 20 kind of split up coming up Highway 80 and it started raining on us. Cleared up once we got to the parkway, and Jeff, the guy who won, he and I worked together the rest of the way, and we made it. We survived," second-place finisher Thomas Gibson said. "Yeah, it was awesome!"
The first place female cyclist was Valentina Cuellar, of Davidson.