Twenty-two-year-old Brandon Draugelis (SoBe/Cannondale) gave Tinker Juarez (MonaVie/Cannondale) a day long challenge at the 2008 Dirt Sweat & Gears in Tennessee May 4.

Draugelis, 22, was a close second behind Juarez

Photo: courtesy

The third stop on the USAC National Ultra-Endurance Calendar was a grueling 12 hour, 11 lap battle that started with "peanut butter" mud from the previous night's rain. Juarez, more than 24 years Draugelis' senior, took the top spot on the podium by six minutes.

Mud on the 10.6 mile-course forced many riders to walk or carry their bikes for the majority of the first lap. The sun popped out mid-morning and the course improved as the day progressed.

Pua Sawicki won for the second year in a row.

Photo: courtesy

Josh Tostado (Giant) and Nat Ross (Subaru Gary/Fisher) ultimately took the third and fourth spots on the day. Defending champion Ross suffered a bad day at the office with no fewer than three mechanicals on the first lap. Flats, broken chains and shredded derailleurs were common ailments.

Pua Sawicki (Mata-Ellsworth) won the women's race for the second year, beating Rebecca Rusch (Specialized/Red Bull) by 16 minutes. Regional favorite Carey Lowery (The Outdoor Store) rounded out the top three with eight laps.

With three of nine events completed on the 2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Ultra-Endurance Calendar, the current standings are as follows:

Men's Standings
1. Jason Sager (Portland, Ore.) 60
1. Harvey Minton (Tampa, Fla.) 60
3. Nat Ross (Golden, Colo.) 41
4. Evan Plews (Salem, Ore.) 40
4. Brandon Draugelis (Locust Gap, Pa.) 40
4. David Wood (Laplata, Md.) 40

Women's Standings
1. Christina Smith (Denton, Texas) 60
1. Carol Clemens (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 60
1. Pua Sawicki (Mililani, Hawaii) 60
4. Rita Borelli (Tallahassee, Fla.) 40
4. Jennifer Wilson (El Paso, Texas) 40
4. Rebecca Rusch (Ketchum, Idaho) 40