The Rule of Three gravel race took place over the weekend in Bentonville, Arkansas, where Liv Racing Collective teammates dominated the podium in the top two spots. In the Women's 100-Mile Solo category, Bentonville local and hometown hero - Crystal Anthony took the win, while Dutch teammate Tessa Neefjes swiftly crossed the finish line in second place. Both riders completed the unique course on their Devote Advanced Pro and finished the race in 6:32:47 and 6:49:13, respectively.
The race, aptly named for including a mixture of tarmac, gravel, and singletrack - provides a challenge for riders in the beautiful landscape of Northwest Arkansas. As a Bentonville resident, Anthony used her local knowledge as part of her strategy, "Being a hometown race, I was especially excited. Combining single track, tarmac, and gravel, it's always a puzzle to figure out the best bike and tire setup. But, living here, I can really do my homework and come up with a good tactical strategy based on my understanding of the terrain."
For Neefjes, the story was quite different; with a 22-hour flight and delayed luggage, she kept the challenges from showing during her race. "Despite my jet lag feeling, I enjoyed the beautiful course. Wow, what a trail paradise. After surviving the whole day, I was happy to take second place. I couldn't be happier to stand on the podium with my teamie Crystal, who was on fire in her hometown victory, " said Neefjes.
Follow Crystal Anthony and Tessa Neefjes this race season as they continue to the Unbound Gravel, Kansas, on June 3rd, 2023.