Kate Courtney Dominates Women’s Race as Brennan Wertz Secures Solo Victory at Huffmaster Hopper

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Kate Courtney wins the elite girls’s Huffmaster Hopper and units new report for quickest time on 90-mile route(Symbol credit score: @b.tuckerpics l 2025 Grasshopper Journey Sequence)Brennan Wertz wins solo at 2025 Huffmaster (Symbol credit score: @b.tuckerpics l 2025 Grasshopper Journey Sequence)Brennan Wertz rides to 3rd profession victory at Huffmaster (Symbol credit score: @b.tuckerpics l 2025 Grasshopper Journey Sequence)Girls’s podium at 2025 Huffmaster Hopper.(Symbol credit score: @b.tuckerpics l 2025 Grasshopper Journey Sequence)Males’s podium at 2025 Huffmaster Hopper(Symbol credit score: @b.tuckerpics l 2025 Grasshopper Journey Sequence)Best elite males’s riders rejoice at finish of 2025 Huffmaster Hopper, with shocking surroundings in Maxwell, California as a backdrop(Symbol credit score: @b.tuckerpics l 2025 Grasshopper Journey Sequence)

Kate Courtney (She Sends Racing) and Brennan Wertz gained on house roads of northern California at Huffmaster Vintage, the second one forestall of the five-event Grasshopper Journey Sequence. 

In her first look on the 90-mile Huffmaster, the two-time US mountain motorbike champion and U23 silver medallist at MTB Worlds set a brand new route report for elite girls in 4:17:25. She beat Anna Yamauchi via slightly below 4 mins. Anna Gibson used to be some other 12 mins again for 3rd.

In January Courtney debuted a group setup as She Sends Racing, her non-profit to “get more girls on bikes”, and new apparatus with Allied CycleWorks, scoring the victory on the Grasshopper opener at Low Hole. She then travelled to South Africa for coaching and to compete within the Tankwa Trek mountain motorbike level race, which she gained. 

Wertz, the reigning US Gravel nationwide champion, introduced his 2025 season in Maxwell, California with the victory, including a 2nd consecutive win at Huffmaster. He installed an opening to his closest competitors at the ultimate miles of the downhill gravel to complete solo in 4:04:20. The combat for the general two podium spots went to Lance Haidet, who used to be 5th final 12 months, as he out-sprinted Tim McBirney on the line for 2nd, completing 49 seconds again.

Huffmaster’s mixed-surface, punchy route presented 4,866 ft of elevation acquire. Whilst the mountain climbing used to be no longer as important as different Hopper occasions, the vast majority of the filth sections have been packed into the general part of the huge loop east of the Snow Mountain Wasteland house in Colusa County, recognized for its technical descents. 

The lads’s and ladies’s professional fields began in combination, with workforce ways enjoying out for the primary 40 miles after which the primary gravel climb blowing the sphere aside. With rapid, dry stipulations this 12 months, Wertz made his transfer at the Huffmaster Street gravel phase with below 10 miles to race.

“It’s always a massive pleasure to race this beautiful course and it truly never disappoints. The race is always fast, fun, and super dynamic. Yesterday was no exception,” Wertz posted on Instagram.

Wertz has integrated Huffmaster as a part of his early-season check since 2021, now including a 3rd win and not completing less than fourth position. Closing 12 months in muddy stipulations, Wertz gained forward of Peter Stetina and Sean Bennett, with Lance Haidet in 5th and Lachlan Morton in 8th. Previous to race day, Wertz advised Grasshopper founder Miguel Crawford that he would simply search for a possibility to place his competitors in hassle, and he did simply that.

“Last year the biggest strategy was to avoid the mud. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a relatively straightforward course.[It’s]  super fast, flowing, tacky dirt this time of year, is so optimal for the slicks. A fast setup and super grippy if you get the pressure right,” he advised Crawford and proved his level with a solo victory on Saturday, returning with Rene Herse tyres that made a distinction once more.

“There’s opportunities for someone like me to make it really hard for a lot of other people in the race. I’m always looking for moments to make it harder for everyone else.” 

The 2 classes at Huffmaster noticed registrations close to the 500-rider mark this 12 months. Proceeds from the Huffmaster Grasshopper enhance Journey Treatment Basis, which serves households residing with most cancers. 

ResultsSwipe to scroll horizontallyElite girls’s best 5RankNameTime1Kate Courtney4:17:252Anna Yamauchi00:03:573Anna Gibson00:16:104Jen Tavé00:17:395Alyssa Mahoney00:18:09Swipe to scroll horizontallyElite males’s best 5RankNameTime1Brennan Wertz4:04:202Lance Haidet00:00:493Tim McBirney00:00:504Griffin Hoppin00:00:505Tobin Ortenblad00:00:53