Will Coleman, a 31-year-old engineer, defended his Tour of Juneau cycling race title on Sunday, arriving first to the finish line of the End of the Road Race, the final stage of the annual race series sponsored by the Juneau Freewheelers.
Coleman was one of approximately 20 racers who completed all four stages of the tour, which also included a 2-mile Montana Creek Prologue, 4.5-mile Eaglecrest Hill Climb and 9-mile Thane Road Time Trial starting Friday.
[This Juneau man engineered a top-four finish at the Kluane Relay]
The End of the Road Race was by far the longest stage. The expert class biked from the Alaska State Ferry terminal to the end of the road and finished at Auke Rec, a total of 57 miles. The sport class started and finished in the same places, but turned around near Eagle Beach.
The race began over 20 years ago, according to Dave Ringle, Juneau Freewheeler’s president. The stages have changed some over the years, he said, but the event has always been based on longer stage races like the Tour de France.
“Except we do it in three days instead of three weeks,” Ringle said.
David Jackson, in front, leads Will Coleman, Justin Dorn, John Bursell and Allan Spangler on the End of the Road Bike race, the final stage of the Tour of Juneau on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019. (Courtesy Photo | Rob Welton)
Coleman’s total time of 3 hours, 12 minutes, 15 seconds, eclipsed his winning time by over 11 minutes from a year ago. John Bursell, a Juneau doctor who competed last month in Norway’s Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, came in second overall with a time of 3:14:25. Eliza Dorn, the women’s winner of the Aukeman Triathlon, cruised to the women’s title with her time of 3:46:50. Johna Irving-Staley won the youth title.
Irving-Staley was one of six competitors who came down from Whitehorse, Yukon.
The Freewheelers host the season-ending North Douglas Pioneer Adventure race on Saturday, Sept. 21. Participants are encouraged to bring a cyclocross or mountain bike because part of the race will be on the all-gravel Pioneer Road.
“You can bring whatever bike you want but we’re not guaranteeing it’s going to stay in the shape you want it to be after you ride the course,” Ringle said.
2019 Tour of Juneau Winners
Overall Men: Will Coleman
Overall Women: Eliza Dorn
Overall Youth (boy): Johna Irving-Staley
Overall Youth (girl): Ava Irving-Staley
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
