Defend the Bend at North Bend

CAIRO - More than 300 students in middle and high schools from West Virginia and Ohio will ride in the West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League mountain bike race this weekend at North Bend State Park at Cairo.

Called Defend the Bend, the race is fourth in the league's 2026 series. Twenty-two teams will participate in the races hosted by the park and organized by the league.

The course is about 3.5 miles long and includes switchbacks that will slow down even the fastest riders. Racers will complete between one and five laps depending on race class and ability.

Last year, the fastest varsity laps were set by the race winners.

Benjamin Randolph from Cabell Midland High School completed five laps in 1 hour, 11 minutes, 17 seconds. His fastest lap time was 13 minutes, 42 seconds.

Kate Kotses from Athens County completed five laps in 1 hour, 33 minutes, 54 seconds. Her fastest lap time was 18 minutes.

Mountain Biking continues to gain interest as a youth and collegiate sport and athletes from the league have received scholarships and continued to race in college.

North Bend State Park has been clearing brush back from the trails. Volunteers from the local River Valley Mountain Bike Association maintain the trails and Marietta Adventure Co. will be onsite the day of the race to provide support.

The pitzone, race start and finish and parking are located in the large field above Cokely Campground.

Admission is free and spectators can park in the field above the campground.

The schedule is:

Saturday:

11 a.m. - GRiT (Girls Riding Together) Ride. Meet at the National Interscholastic Cycling Association GRiT Tent at 10:30 a.m. to register.

1 p.m. - MOBS (Moms on Bikes) ride and clinic. Participants do not have to be a mom. Meet at the GRiT Tent at 12:30 a.m. to register.

1-4:30 p.m. - Racecourse pre-ride open for registered athletes and coaches.

Sunday:

9:30 a.m. - Wave 1: Middle school Boys

10:30 a.m. - Wave 2: High school and middle school Girls

12:30 p.m. - Wave 3: High school Boys

3:30 p.m. - Awards Ceremony

The next and last race will be Oct. 11-12 at The Summit Bechtel Reserve north of Beckley.

Youth entering 6th through 12th grade are eligible to join their local Youth Mountain Bike Team regardless of cycling experience. All skill levels are welcome and racing is not a requirement for participation.

The West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League is a chapter of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association. The league is one of 32 in the country.

For more information, go to www.westvirginiamtb.org.