599 cyclists tackle the 46th annual Assaults on Mt. Mitchell & Marion
May 23, 2023
The 46th annual Assaults on Mt. Mitchell & Marion on Monday, May 22 saw the ascent of approximately 515 cyclists on Mt. Michell and 84 on Marion. The cyclists began in downtown Spartanburg, S. C., and rode to either Marion, N.C. (74.2 miles) or the Mt. Mitchell summit (102.7 miles).
The 102.7-mile journey to Mount Mitchell is one of the most intense, premier cycling experiences in the Southeast, known as “The Beast of the East.” Its sister ride to Marion covers 74.2 miles and ends at the Tom Johnson Campground in Marion, N.C.
“After decades of hosting this ride, the Freewheelers Association is excited and grateful for another successful year of The Assaults,” Karl Johnson, Freewheelers Association President, said. “We are honored to be able to foster camaraderie and promote healthy, active lifestyles, while also benefitting the Upstate and Western North Carolina communities. A big thank you is due to our incredible sponsors, partners and volunteers who made the 2023 Assaults possible.”
Some special noted achievements are as follows:
For Mt. Mitchell, Asheville, N.C.’s Randy Warren was the fastest rider this year, with a time of 5:40:00. Jan Burger of Valrico, Fla., was the fastest female rider with a time of 5:57:59.
For Marion, Julian Cabra of Duncan, S.C. was the fastest finisher, with a time of 3:37:24. Madelyn Mathis of Travelers Rest followed closely behind with a finishing time of 3:54:57 for the fastest female finisher.
The youngest registered cyclist was 14 years old, for the Marion Course. The oldest cyclist finished Mt. Mitchell at 83 years old.
Organizations supported by this year’s ride include FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Palmetto Cycling Coalition, Partners for Active Living, Episcopal Church of the Advent Outreach Commission, and the Spartanburg City Baptist Network.
All ride results for the 2023 Assaults can be found here.
About The Assaults
A bucket list ride for serious cyclists, The Assaults is one of the most intense, premier cycling experiences in the Southeast, and draws a full field of cyclists from across the world each spring to ride from Spartanburg, S.C. to either Marion, N.C. (74.2 miles) or the top of Mount Mitchell (102.7 miles). To learn more, register, sponsor or volunteer, visit www.theassaults.com or email [email protected].
About The Freewheelers
The organization behind The Assaults, The Freewheelers Cycling Association, is a Spartanburg, S.C.-based, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit community service organization founded in 1973. The Freewheelers’ mission is to provide education and promotion of bicycle safety and a forum for amateur sports competition and touring. To learn more about The Freewheelers, visit their website at www.freewheelers.info.
