The 2011 Ultraman Day 2 started with a 30-mile downhill ride from Volcanoes National Park in a light rain that passed a downed tree at Mile Marker 21. After a scenic seaside jaunt past canopies of trees on what is known as the Red Road (once paved with crushed red rocks, now re-covered with new licorice-black pavement) the riders turn north toward Hilo and its lovely trees and rain-fed greenery. Next the headwinds picked up on the 30-mile northward leg to Honoka'a before attacking a big hill toward the famed Parker Ranch and the town of Waimea. And on this Saturday, the subsequent ascent of the Kohala Mountains is where the wild winds wailed and riders held on to their handlebars like rodeo cowboys trying to hold on to two-ton bucking brahmas as they battled head- and side winds gusting to 50 miles per hour. The elites blasted through somehow, but some folks walked their bikes through the tough spots and others decided they didn’t want to dare the precipitous declivity in those winds and packed it in.
A very tough day.
All photos © Timothy Carlson
Gary Wang posted the 7th fastest split of the day -- 8:36:46,
Tuning up the wheels before the start.
Suzy Degazon marches out in her bright Hammer gear to the start of the day's festivities.
Miro Kregar charges out front in the rain.
Jonas Colting and Gary Wang round the corner after the 30-mile downhill section.
Cory Foulk changes out of his rain gear on the way to the Red Road.
Reaching for a gel.
Alexandre Ribeiro assume the most radical tucked position on his way to a 2nd-best 7:45:22 split.
Miro Kregar leads the pack into the Red Road section along the tropical coastline.
Rider gives a chaka sign, tongue out, after passing through one of the many canopies of trees on the Red Road.
Passing through nature's grand arch.
Milton de Souza of Brazil on his way to an 8th-best 8:42:45 split.
Kimmie Rouse rides past a small memorial to the dead - carrying on after her husband Mike broke his humerus in a race day crash.
Riding past the trees on the Hilo coastline.
Jonas Colting rides past a Waimea statue honoring the Hawaiian Paniolo cowboys who helped establish the Parker Ranch. Colting posted a 4th-best 8:08:21 on the day to hold on to the overall lead.
Gary Wang ascending the Kohala climb - with the Mauna Kea Observatories in the background.
Amber Monforte nears the summit of the Kohalas with the Kona coastline far below. Her 8:31:04 split was 6th fastest of the day.
Monforte leaning 15 degrees to keep tracking straight with a 45 mph side wind.
Alice Robb of Australia is well taken care of by her support crew after an exhausting 9:43:17 split spent fighting the winds.
Michael Coughlin can smile while icing the legs that propelled hi to a race-best 7:44:23 split that left him 2nd overall after Day 2.
