Race Report: Huffmaster Long Course – Maxwell, California
Race: Grasshopper Series race #2 – Huffmaster long course – Women 60+
Date: February 28, 2026
AVRT long course racers: Steph Hart (W Pro), Orthja Efinger & Robin Betz (W30-39) , Meghan Kransz Sedovy (W19-29), Kathleen Bortolussi (W 60+), Matthias Hoffmann (M50-59), Simon Edwards-Parton (M40-49)
Top Result: Steph Hart 5/7, Orthja 1/16, Kathleen 2/4, Matthias 15/55, Robin 8/16, Meghan 5/6, Simon Parton 47/54
Course: ~90 miles with ~3800’ of climbing, about half unpaved. Perfect weather—high 60s with little wind.
All the women started together, but the pros separated within the first mile or two, leaving a main group of about 25 riders working together. Two riders went down on a flat dirt section around mile 15 but remounted and rejoined the group. We stayed together until the dirt climb around mile 40. It was great riding with Robin and Meghan in the peloton, and I was impressed with how well the group traded pulls in a rotating paceline.
Entering the first rest stop at mile 45, I planned to spend less than a minute—just enough time to grab my hydration pack since the course was open and sunny. Riders drop these off before the race and they’re transported to the rest stop.
When I picked mine up, the pack was wet. The bite valve on the mouthpiece was missing and water was leaking everywhere. After a quick search with no luck, I put it back in the pile, filled my bottles, took a bio break, and grabbed some gels. Bummer—but I wondered if I might get it back later.
A new rule this year prohibits women from drafting or working with men. I think it’s a good rule, but with smaller women’s fields it can mean long solo stretches. After about five miles alone—shaking off the hydration drama—I caught another rider, giving me someone to work with until the next rest stop at mile 67. We soon caught a third rider, and the three of us worked well together. I took longer pulls in the final few miles as everyone started to fade in the heat.
At rest stop #2, the younger rider took off right away. I didn’t see her again until the podiums, where she finished second in her age group—glad I could help while her back issue settled down. The other rider was having a bio break, so I headed out and rode the final 23 miles solo. There was a tailwind for part of it, though I admit I was a little jealous watching a few men’s pace lines roll by.
I again finished behind Jennie Phillips, but that’s okay—I always learn something during these races. And the good news: I did get my hydration pack back. Too bad more teammates didn’t sign up under Alto Velo; we would have placed in the team competition.
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/17559829524
Nutrition: 1/4 almond and jelly butter sandwich, 2 Maurten Gel 160s (given out at the race), 2 caffeinated & 2 decaf Gu, gel blocks, 60 oz of water, some with my watermelon flavored Dripdrop electrolyte mix. It was a 5hr 41 min race and I think I could have eaten more.
Congrats to all my teammates, hope to see AV represented at Grasshopper race #3 Kings Ridge.
Thank you for reading,
Kathleen