Great Northern Stage Race draws elite cyclists from across West

After completing three races in Whitefish over two days, Missoula cyclist Brian Williams edged out a one-second overall win in the Great Northern Stage Race among Category 1 riders.

Williams' time of 4:33:02 was just ahead of Patrick Stanko from Seattle, and four seconds in front of Brian Frykman of Bozeman.

The overall times were based on results from a criterium and time trial on Saturday, and a circuit race on Sunday. Williams took first in the downtown criterium, second in the circuit race on Farm to Market Road and fourth in the time trial.

Among men's master racers, local rider Eric Greenberg took the top overall slot ahead of Mike Windauer of Polson. Greenberg smoked the time trial, pushing a 27.5 mph pace on the course that took riders on an 11-mile route from Colorado Avenue, up Edgewood to Halfmoon Road, and back.

Rich Graves, also of Whitefish, came in third overall after a strong second-place run in the time trial and a seventh-place finish in the criterium. Other locals competing in the masters division were Tim Gaertner in ninth, Tim Noonan in 11th, Craig Prather in 15th and Chance Cooke in 17th.

Tamara Bessette was the fastest woman in the stage race, posting a 3:34:23 over the three events.

More than 75 cyclists representing six states came to Whitefish for the races that capped off the inaugural Bike'Fish week.

Results combine times from criterium,

time trial and circuit race. Top-5 only.

Men Cat 1, 2

1. Brian Williams, Missoula, 26, 4:33:02

2. Patrick Stanko, Seattle, 38, 4:33:03

3. Brian Frykman, Bozeman, 40, 4:33:06

4. Mike Hone, Seattle, 37, 4:33:46

5. Christopher Hong, Boise, 22, 4:34:12

Men Cat 3

1. Russell Schneider, Whitefish, 37, 4:37:08

2. Nate Weston, Billings, 20, 4:37:28

3. Jason Schmidt, Whitefish, 35, 4:37:43

4. Michael Davis, Calgary, 22, 4:40:41

Men Masters

1. Eric Greenberg, Whitefish, 45, 3:47:33

2. Mike Windauer, Polson, 43, 3:48:53

3. Rich Graves, Whitefish, 45, 3:48:57

4. Joe Arnone, Kalispell, 48, 3:49:02

5. Donald Armstrong, Ogden, 52, 3:49:07

Women Cat 1, 2, 3

1. Tamara Bessette, Missoula, 48, 3:34:23

2. Amy Frykman, Bozeman, 37, 3:34:29

3. Patricia Dowd, Bozeman, 38, 3:36:18

4. Jennifer Luebke, Missoula, 24, 3:36:19

5. Lana Faukner, Seattle, 45, 3:36:24

Women Cat 4

1. Kellie Carim, Missoula, 26, 3:38:00

2. Karalyn Dewalt, Darby, 22, 3:39:00

3. Brenda Winkler, Whitefish, 49, 4:07:52

Juniors

1. Walker Hopkins, Great Falls, 15, 3:15:52

2. Bob Leavitt, Kalispell, 16, 3:18:15

Men Cat 3

1. Russell Schneider, Whitefish, 37, 4:37:08

2. Nate Weston, Billings, 20, 4:37:28

3. Jason Schmidt, Whitefish, 35, 4:37:43

4. Michael Davis, Calgary, 22, 4:40:41

Men Cat 4, 5

1. Roger Thompson, Spokane, 38, 3:57:59

2. Scott Lenaburg, Missoula, 43, 3:59:53

3. Shaun Morgen, Newman Lk., 42, 4:00:24

4. David Ellenberger, Bozeman, 37, 4:00:34

5. Dylan Taylor, Bozeman, 38, 4:00:36