Whitefish cyclists had a strong showing on their home mountain during the fifth rendition of The Last Best Ride on Sunday.  

Over 500 cyclists competed in the gravel race. Times for the day ranged from an elite, under three hours in the shorter race, which saw 331 racers, up to nearly 11 hours for the long one, which had 187 racers partake.  

Participants hailed from about 35 different states in addition to Quebec, Alberta, Denmark, Australia and Washington D.C. 

Despite the well-rounded competition, Whitefish cyclists soared to three of the top five spots in the men’s short course race.  

Jared Lynch from Whitefish completed the 48-mile course with 4,480 feet of elevation gain in 2:38:01. It was a neck-and-neck finish, separated by only a second, as Luuk Mackenzie from Bozeman took second in 2:38:02. Thomas Gehling from Kalispell and Mack Fai from Whitefish were both just two seconds behind in third (2:38:04.1) and fourth (2:38:04.7), respectively. Abe Schmidt from Whitefish rounded out the podium in 2:38:22.3.  

The women’s short course race went to Stefanie Sydlik from Pittsburgh in 3:05:44. She was followed by Mabel Gardner from Missoula in 3:06:22 and Laura Rosema from Winthrop, Washington in 3:07:05. Sofie Carlson from Bozeman and Tamara Bessette from Missoula took fourth and fifth in 3:09:14 and 3:11:14. 

In the long course, dubbed the “Bighorn Sheep,” local women were back on top. Reigning 2024 champion Stella Hobbs from Whitefish completed the 91-mile course in 5:18:25, making the 7,660 feet of elevation gain with climbs up to Werner Peak and Big Mountain look easy.  

Jess Cerra from Whitefish took second in a speedy 5:28.18 and Amber Steed from Kalispell took third in 5:35.26. Hannah Shell from Boulder, Colorado was fourth in 5:40.11 and Hayley Wickstrom from Swissvale, Pennsylvania was fifth in 5:51.08. 

On the men’s side of the long course, Adam Roberge from Prevost, Quebec took the gold in 4:38:31.7. Andrew L'Esperance from Waterloo, Quebec nabbed second in 4:43:17, edging out Whitefish’s Sam Boardman, who was third in 4:43:41. 

In another battle to the finish, Matthew Bird from South Australia took fourth in 4:46:34 and Caleb Swartz from Missoula took fifth in 4:46:57.5.  

Cerra, Last Best Ride co-founder, handed over the role of race director to Shaun Radley of MTCX, LLC this year, and so finally got to compete in her own race for the first time on Sunday.  

“As hard as this course is, it’s easier than directing,” Cerra said.  

She said she had a great day and followed her fueling plan, despite a few stomach troubles.  

“I stuck to it and had good legs. If you don’t have good legs on a day like this, it can get to your confidence quickly,” she said.  

One thing the new directors stepped up is the medical plan and personnel, she said.  

“Luckily they didn’t have to use it, but as a rider, I appreciated that,” she said, adding that it’s impressive how emergency services must work together for an event of this capacity. 

For two-time champ and five-time participant  Hobbs, Sunday’s ride was all smooth pedaling.  

“It was a clean ride,” Hobbs said. “I like the Canyon Creek loop at the start of the race. The first 20 miles or so – I really like it because the whole group is together. It’s good to know how the group is going to behave. 

“But I also love the Taylor Creek descent, the big descent off the top of the mountain. It’s so fun and satisfying, supper fun ripping to close out the day. Plus all the logging up there, it has crazy good views.  

“It’s really cool that Jess got to race this year. That’s the special part of this year. I’m proud of her for handing it off.”  

The third-place woman in the long course race, Steed described the last descent as a “release” after long climbs and heavy pedaling.  

Steed has raced for the last three years and said the Last Best Ride has grown in the right ways.  

“They have developed all the aspects of it that make it so much more than a race. The scholarships keep growing, and the work that Jess does with those is amazing,” Steed said. “All of the rides are inclusive to all different abilities and types of people. How they piece that together into one weekend is amazing.”  

David Nickelson, a handcyclist from Winter Garden, Florida, also competed in the event for the third time this year. It was a little warm once the sun was out, but he said he couldn’t complain. 

For him, and many others, the people are the best part of the race.  

“Every year, you see the same folks, and everybody’s cheering for everybody,” Nickelson said.  

Mountain Goat – Short course top results:  

Men’s top five:  

1, Jared Lynch, Whitefish, 2:38:01.8 

2, Luuk Mackenzie, Bozeman, 2:38:02.2 

3, Thomas Gehling, Kalispell, 2:38:04.1 

4, Mack Fai, Whitefish, 2:38:04.7 

5, Abe Schmidt, Whitefish, 2:38:22.3 

Women’s top five:  

1. Stefanie Sydlik, Pittsburgh PA, 3:05:44.4,  

2, Mabel Gardner, Missoula, 3:06:22.4 

3, Laura Rosema, Winthrop WA, 3:07:05.9 

4, Sofie Carlson,  Bozeman, 3:09:14.2 

5, Tamara Bessette, Missoula, 3:11:14.7 

Non-Binary:  

1, Raynee Daguerre,  Missoula, 4:25:19.7 

Female 18 and under:  

1, Phoebe Leege, Duluth MN, 3:17:21.9 

2, Nyah White, Rocky View County AB, 3:31:54.9 

3, Grace Lux,  Bozeman MT US, 3:58:36.2 

Female 40 - 49 

1, Laura Rosema, Winthrop WA, 3:07:05.9 

2, Marlene Hull, Missoula, 3:13:15.0 

3, Ronnie LaJoie,  Iron River WI, 3:16:20.0 

Female 50 - 59 

1, Suzanne Kaplan, Lewiston ID, 3:12:25.2 

2, Jacqueline Gaertner, Whitefish, 3:24:41.9

3, Lisa Lochner, Hamden CT, 3:26:52.5 

Female 60 - 69 

1, Tamara Bessette, Missoula, 3:11:14.7 

2, Tamara Tabeek,  Ramona CA, 3:22:21.0 

3, Margaret Hillhouse, Belgrade, 3:42:07.5 

Female 70 and over 

1, Beverly Yearack,  Atlanta GA, 4:19:49.4 

Male 18 and under 

1, Isaac Gibbs, Whitefish, 2:53:55.8 

2, Cody Lux, Bozeman, 2:55:51.7 

3, Brody Morrison, Whitefish, 3:13:50.7 

Male 40 - 49 

1, Boby Perez, West Yellowstone, 2:40:52.2 

2, John Riley, Bozeman, 2:41:24.6 

3, Ryan Barrett, Provo UT, 2:56:52.2 

Male 50 - 59 

1, James Allard, Burien WA, 2:53:03.9 

2, Rob Weiker, Kalispell, 2:53:04.5 

3, Lance Heppler, Vancouver WA, 2:55:12.7 

Male 60 - 69 

1, Jon Harding, Lewiston ID, 3:12:25.3 

2, Thomas Armbruster, Whitefish MT, 3:21:23.7 

3, Doug Hotzel,  Shawnee KS, 3:22:01.4 

Male 70 and over 

1, Don Bauder, Bigfork, 3:32:16.8 

2, John Holmstul, Whitefish, 3:39:30.0 

3, Jeff Warner, Wadsworth OH, 3:58:55.6 

Bighorn Sheep – Long course top results:  

Women’s top five:  

1, Stella Hobbs, Whitefish, 5:18:25.9 

2, Jessica Cerra, Whitefish, 5:28:18.5 

3, Amber Steed, Kalispell, 5:35:26.9 

4, Hannah Shell, 5:40:11.1 

5, Hayley Wickstrom, Swissvale PA, 5:51:08.7 

Men’s top five:  

1, Adam Roberge, Prevost QC, 4:38:31.7 

2, Andrew L'Esperance, Waterloo QC, 4:43:17.1 

3, Sam Boardman, Montana, 4:43:41.0 

4, Matthew Bird, South Australia, 4:46:34.5 

5, Caleb Swartz, Missoula, 4:46:57.5 

Non-Binary top five:  

1, Robin Cummings, Portland OR, 4:54:23.8 

Female 18 and under 

1, Zoe Honsinger,  Sandpoint ID, 6:27:05.4 

Female 40 - 49 

1, Jessica Cerra, Whitefish, 5:28:18.5 

2, Amber Steed, Kalispell, 5:35:26.9 

3, Esther Opersteny, North Bend WA, 6:00:26.8 

Female 50 - 59 

1, Kristin Wolf, Palmer AK, 6:16:12.9 

2, Christine Phillips,  Whitefish, 7:18:22.7 

Female 60 - 69 

1, Cathy Chauner,  Whitefish, 6:57:23.1 

Male 18 and under 

1, Tiptin Tourville, Columbia Falls, 5:52:57.1 

Male 40 - 49 

1, Zack Simons,  Hailey ID, 5:12:40.2 

2, Matt Butterfield,  Kalispell, 5:23:31.0 

3, Justin Dhein, Bozeman, 5:35:32.5 

Male 50 - 59 

1, Clyde  Wright, Denver CO, 5:43:08.7 

2, Blake Snider, Tucson AZ, 5:49:43.8 

3, Rich Thurman, Chico CA, 5:55:50.6 

Male 60 – 69 

1, Eric Greenberg, Whitefish, 5:53:44.7 

2, Andy Holmwood,  Cochrane AB, 6:17:44.8 

3, Don Armstrong, Columbia Falls, 6:22:50.8 

Male 70 and over 

1, Walt Chauner, Whitefish, 6:57:23 

    Cathy Chauner from Whitefish pushes her bike on the final steep stretch to the summit of Big Mountain during The Last Best Ride. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Michael Loomis from Port Townsend, WA at the summit of Big Mountain during The Last Best Ride. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Stacy Mates from Anaconda nears the summit of Big Mountain on the long course of The Last Best Ride. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    Gary Paduana from Coram pushes his bike on the steep section prior near the summit of Big Mountain.
  

    Hannah Shell, Amber Steed, Stella Hobbs, Jess Cerra and Hayley Wickstrom on the podium for the long course of the 2025 Last Best Ride. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

    The top five men in the long course of The Last Best Ride were Adam Roberge, Andrew L'Esperance, Sam Boardman, Matthew Bird and Caleb Swartz. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

  

    The Last Best Ride short course men's podium, with Jared Lynch on top, Luuk Mackenzie in second, Thomas Gehling in third, Mack Fai in fourth, and Abe Schmidt in fifth. (Drew Silvers photo)