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Awards are available in all shapes, sizes, supplies, and flavors, with bottles of Ihana Shiraz set to uncork the celebrations of off-road racing for 2025 on January 24, the limited-release wine from McLaren Vale, South Australia going to winners of RADL GRVL.
Whereas prize cash does pay the payments, money isn’t all the time on provide at endurance off-road occasions. The journey itself is the final word reward in lots of instances, however what are essentially the most famend and alluring bodily awards for enormous bodily achievements?
How about an award that vanishes? Not taken away or misplaced, however reworked right into a puddle of water, would that be epic sufficient?
“As a result of we’re so centered on goal-oriented work all year long, getting one thing that you recognize goes to vanish however continues to be a purpose, is a really fascinating idea,” three-time Iceman Cometh Problem champion Alexey Vermeulen instructed Cyclingnews in regards to the Ice Trophy.
“As a Michigan child rising up in biking, I all the time heard it was an iconic loopy race that my neighbors went to and talked about how horrible the sand was and the way loopy the ingesting was on the finish. Then to do the race the primary time, after I was nonetheless on the street, simply endure by means of it, be like ‘wow, this environment is loopy’, and win, it is simply epic.”
Cyclingnews reached out to a dozen elite athletes who compete throughout gravel and mountain bike occasions across the globe to seek out out what awards they discovered most fascinating. This led to the identification of a spectrum of spoils, starting from drinks and meals, cowboy hats and hand-knit sweaters, pirate swords and multi-function knives, and extra. The ‘disappearing’ Ice Trophy was talked about most frequently, both earned or desired.
“I feel successful an ice trophy that you would be able to barely maintain above your head is wonderful,” stated two-time elite ladies’s Iceman winner Deanna Mayles, the November point-to-point mountain bike race she has known as “one of the best day of the yr”.
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Reigning Leadville Path 100 champion Melisa Rollins gained Iceman in 2024 and stated it was one of many “coolest” prizes she has ever gained, pun supposed.
From beer in Belgium and wine and cheese baskets in Switzerland, Haley Smith famous {that a} particular Swiss Military knife and an Australian boomerang have been two memorable awards from her efforts in mountain bike stage races. She and Rollins are in Australia this month for RADL GRVL.
“It’s actually widespread to win big beers in Europe; I gained a bunch of massive Chouffe beers in Belgium final yr,” Smith stated. “[I’ve also won] a Swiss Military knife on the Swiss Epic and conventional boomerangs on the eight-day stage race, Croc Trophy, sadly, final yr its final iteration. I like these reminders of the cool locations we have raced.”
Three-time Gravel Worlds winner and 2023 Gravel Biking Corridor of Fame inductee Ali Tetrick echoed a standard thread a few wall stuffed with reminders of “cool locations” carrying a number of worth for her personally. She solely had to go searching her lounge to seek out her favorites, from a belt buckle earned at Unbound Gravel 200, a set of Gravel Worlds pirate swords, and a Viking horn from The Rift in Iceland.
“I like when awards are tied to the tradition and character of an occasion—they carry a lot extra which means than a standard trophy. Each jogs my memory of the unbelievable day I had on the bike, the folks I met, and the group I shared it with,” Tretrick instructed Cyclingnews.
“Successful The Rift in Iceland earns you a surprising Viking horn, a chunk wealthy in historical past and tradition. It may be used as a ingesting vessel, musical instrument, or signaling gadget. It pairs fantastically with the Icelandic wool sweater I additionally gained, which is as cozy as it’s attractive.”
Different ‘{hardware}’ with honourary mentions included a Leadville miniature mining cart, an electrical guitar at Rad Dust Fest, a mini tree from Ranxo Gravel, and the F1 helmet introduced on the rostrum by professional race automotive driver Valtteri Bottas at FNLD GRVL, a race he co-founded with Tiffany Cromwell and Amy Charity.
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Strong block of ice
The disappearing Ice Trophy grows in legend throughout the years for the long-lasting celebration that continues properly previous the end line whereas it withers away. The chunk of ice is paraded round Traverse Metropolis, conjuring similarities to a FIFA World Cup victory parade.
“What’s cool is that everybody follows the ice trophy. Final yr, Deanna and Alexey, and the final yr earlier than that as properly, went round with the ice cup and it simply brings all of the riders collectively, although you have been simply battling it out earlier within the day,” stated Paige Onweller, a Michigan native who has completed fourth two occasions.
“So for me, I feel that is why it is cool as a result of everyone seems to be there. They observe the ice trophy, it is simply what you do. It is actually enjoyable to see all of the riders who’ve been competing towards one another sort of band collectively and have enjoyable. So this can be a good strategy to rejoice, bringing everybody collectively.”
The custom-made, large chalice weighs greater than 40 kilos and should be hoisted excessive within the air, ideally overhead, as soon as crammed with Bell’s Brewing beer. The trophy itself has a wealthy 20-year historical past and could also be extra of an ordeal to copy annually than the 30-mile race itself.
“The ice chalices have had many renditions through the years. At present, they’re carved by our mates out of Ice Creations in Napoleon, Ohio. These trophies are pushed up in dry ice on the day of the race. They’re heavy, roughly 40 to 50 kilos every, a strong block of ice that’s hollowed out simply within the prime,” stated Kat Paye, CEO of The Competition Basis which oversees a number of occasions in Traverse Metropolis together with Iceman Cometh Problem.
Paye stated solely two trophies are created annually, one for every elite class, and the 280-mile switch from Ohio to Michigan is orchestrated for the gadgets to reach on the Travese Metropolis ‘celebration zone’ roughly three hours earlier than the end.
“The trophies find yourself with their very own tales on the finish of this journey as a result of after the winners get their awards, the ice trophies depart with the winners and go to all of the native bar and restaurant institutions. They’re taken inside and out of doors and thru the buildings, creating puddles.”
Michigan native Paige Onweller continues to be seeking the elusive Iceman victory. She completed third general at Unbound Gravel 200 this previous yr and famous that the trophy celebration was as rewarding because the trophy itself.
“I’ve by no means gained it, not but. What’s cool is that everybody follows the ice trophy. Final yr, Deanna and Alexey, and the final yr earlier than that as properly, went round with the ice cup and it simply brings all of the riders collectively, although you have been simply battling it out earlier within the day.
“So for me, I feel that is why it is cool as a result of everyone seems to be there. They observe the ice trophy, it is simply what you do. It is actually enjoyable to see all of the riders which have been competing towards one another sort of band collectively and have enjoyable. So this can be a good strategy to rejoice, bringing everybody collectively.”
Three-time Mid South winner Payson McElveen agreed in regards to the celebration, and an opportunity to hoist the cup himself.
“My dream state of affairs? The ice trophy will surely be up there. I like that it disappears,” he stated, his finest end at Iceman sixth in 2016. “I have been on a bar crawl with Howard [Grotts] with the ice trophy. And after I retire, that’ll be one of many prime three post-race nights of my life, for certain.”