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UNC Charlotte freshman first to finish the Assault on Mt. Mitchell

800 Gran Fondo participants gathered in Spartanburg, South Carolina for the 44th edition of the Assault on Mt. Mitchell, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River

The Southeast's Premier bike ride, the Assault on Mount Mitchell is 103-miles with around 10,000 feet of climbing. Prisma Health was presenting sponsor again this year for “the Beast of the East,” as the ride has come to be known.

Riders finish atop the 6,684 feet to the summit of the Mount Mitchell, with most of the climbing coming in the last 25 miles. The Assaults is one of the top Bucket List rides not just in the USA, but internationally too.

It was University of North Carolina Charlotte freshman student and elite amateur racer Seth Jones, 18, of Mooresville, NC, who  was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 5 hours, 6 minutes, 13 seconds. 

Jones said after finishing “This is my first time doing this event, and it was hard, especially the last 20 miles. Even though it was hard, it was really fun, I’m definitely planning on coming back again.”

UNC Charlotte freshman first to finish the Assault on Mt. Mitchell

36 year Jacob Rytlewski, Brownsburg, Indiana was 2nd in  5h10m 25s, followed by 34 year old Michael Sencecenbuagh, of Taccoa, Georgia in a time of 5h 21m 37s.

The cyclist who traveled the longest distance to the race was 35-year-old Justin Teutsch from London, UK, 4,000 miles away, “This is my second time coming, and I love it,” he said. “There are just fantastic views, and the organization of the event is really good. I believe more international cyclists ought to take part in it.”

69-year-old  Michael Davis made this year's edition the 39th time he has ridden the Assaults, not far behind him is George Meyer, 60, of Wellford, S.C. Meyer, who’s won the Assaults five times and has taken past 32 times!

The average time for all most of the 800 Gran Fondo riders was about 7.5 hours.

Participants enjoyed a bus ride back down the mountain to Marion, North Carolina for a BBQ feast!

The climb of Mt. Mitchell is also rated one of the Top 10 U.S. Hill Climb Challenges. In Gran Fondo style, The Assaults on Mt. Mitchell(R) is timed so you can compare with your friends and peers!

For more information, please visit: https://theassaults.com

The Assaults is one of the top Bucket List rides not just in the USA, but internationally too.