The 10th annual Utah-Cache Gran Fondo bike race made its way through Malad City (the halfway point of the 100 miles race) once again this year. The Malad Hydration Station—where riders could stop to grab some liquid, food, and a restroom—is increasingly being seen as the centerpiece of the race support network.

The Utah-Cache Gran Fondo began in 2011. The Italian phrase means “big ride,” and it is, both in terms of length as well as popularity. Its crowded field of cyclists follow a route that traverses 100 miles, from North Logan through Weston and Malad and back again. There were more than 500 entrants this year, according to organizer Troy Oldham. “My dad loves this race.  It’s definitely our most important thing for the racing year,” said Demi Oldham, Troy’s daughter. This year’s race was being run against the tragic backdrop of the death of Jana Wansgard, who was killed earlier this month in a road accident. “We’re all having a hard time, but he [Jana’s husband Tod Oldham, who was present at the start of the race] knew she would want to be here, so the race is in her honor.” A moment of silence preceded the start of the race, at 6:15 a.m. at Green Canyon High School in North Logan, Utah.  

The UCI Gran Fondo World Series will comprise 21 qualifying events worldwide in 2021, leading up to the 2021 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, which will take place in Bosnia Herzegovina at the Banjaluka Gran Fondo from September 1-5, 2021.

Despite the length and difficulty of the race, it rarely sees any medical or other emergencies, though a racer did require medical transport from Malad as recently as the 2019 race. The most common injuries experienced by riders are minor scrapes, muscle strain, cramps, and dehydration—all of which the hydration stop is purpose-built to prevent or remedy.

Additional safety and support were provided by RACOON (the Radio Amateur Club of Oneida Neighbors), who volunteered logistical communications support, in conjunction with radio operators along other stops on the race route. The local radio club utilized 3 vehicles to monitor the racers and road conditions, and relay information to other race officials and volunteers along the 100 mile long course. “The cars have spare tires and emergency supplies and whatever the riders might need,” Jim Mustos of RACOON said. “And we keep in touch with everyone from here.”

The Nell J Redfield Memorial Hospital, as it has done for nearly the last decade, coordinated the hydration and medical booth at Malad City Park, which provided a variety of services to racers. Thomas Market supplied the food and other refreshments, including peanut butter sandwiches, sodas, Gatorade, and of course, pickle juice. According to Jerry Thomas, some of the totals for the event include: 40 pounds of Uncrustable peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, 40 pounds each of bananas and apples, 20 pounds of oranges, 144 bagels, 10 cases of Gatorade, hundreds of nutrition bars, a dozen cases of soda, pounds of deli meat, cheese and crackers, and hundreds of donut holes and muffins. 

“Some of these racers don’t even drink pop except during this race,” Jerry Thomas said.  “One guy told me he only drinks three Cokes a year, and they’re all during this race.”  Another thing many racers only drink during the race is pickle juice, which has become a massive trend in endurance races over the last decade. Every year, the hospital specifically sets aside juice left over from the year’s worth of jars in anticipation of the race. Racers immediately seek out the small, shot glass-sized cups of brine laid out on the table.  

“You have to get your pickle juice!  It’s the only way to win.” laughed Joseph Camire, a bicyclist from Paradise, UT. He grabbed two shots of pickle juice before remounting his bike and heading south. “You guys are awesome!” he said to the volunteers manning the booths.

It was a common sentiment throughout the time that the station was open. Bikers and officials with world class racing credentials are consistently impressed with the hydration station, located next to the airplane at Malad City Park. “This is amazing!” said Dirk Paris of Salt Lake City, as he and his team headed over to the pretzels and pickle juice.

John Williams, director of the Nell J Redfield Memorial Hospital, was on hand with most of his Oneida County Health Care Continuum staff of health care providers who provide support throughout the county. “We think this is an important thing to be involved in every year. The Gran Fondo raises a lot of money for cancer research, and they give a lot back. I hear from a lot of people connected to the event that we are pretty much known as the premier stop on the race.  We’re halfway through, so we make it a good stop,” Williams said. “We haven’t had many serious accidents over the years, but it’s important to have nurses on hand in case we do.”

The racers had all passed through the Malad station by a little after 11:00 a.m., and continued on to Logan, where the race ended. “The event went great again this year,” John Williams said. “I hope we keep doing it.”