HARDROCK 100 MILES 160KM/+10.000M: FRANÇOIS D’HAENE WINS WITH RECORD 21:45:50 & SABRINA STANLEY 27:21:49

HARDROCK 100 MILES 160KM/+10,000M: favorites, track and live tracking. Yesterdaya at 2PM (CET) 6AM (GMT -6) has started the 27th edition of the legendary American test that is held this weekend in the Mountains of San Juan, Colorado.

146 runners will departure from Silverton Colorado this wekend
  crossing thirteen major passes in the 12,000′ (3600 m) to 13,000′ (4000m) range, ultil reaching the highest point on the course being the 14,048′(4200 m) summit of Handies Peak, to finally arrive back to Silverton after 100 miles/160km and complete the tradition of, instead of crossing a finish line, “kiss the Hardrock”, a picture of a ram’s head painted on a large block of stone mining debris.

HARDROCK 100 MILES 2021: RACE LIVE COVERAGE

As we all know, the 2019 and 2020 editions were cancelled, first due to excessive snowfall and a year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This 2021 also began with a popular vote regarding equity in the lottery, relating to allocating the same number of bibs for men and women. The Hardrock 100 women’s panel decided yesterday, July 15, a new policy in the lottery of assigning bibs in order to increase female participation. From 2022, the percentage of bibs intended for women will not be lower than the percentage relative to the number of pre-registered. Do not forget, that this year only 16 women have got a bib of the total 146 bib.

Remember also, that  “pacers” are allowed in this race, starting from Grouse (Mile 42.2 | KM 67) and for those over 60 years of age throughout the whole race. In the preview, it is rumored that Jim Wamsley, winner of three consecutive years of the Western States, will be the pacer of François D’Haene.

HARDROCK 100: START, 16TH 06.00 AM (GTM -6) 2PM (CET)

At 14.00 CET, 6 AM in Silverston, Colorado, the start has taken place for this Hardrock 2021, with 146 athletes, of 6 nationalities, on the starting line and a clear sky and about 7°C temperature.

 

© @hardrock100run

The 146 runners have started these 100 miles from the Silverton School gym, crossing the city of Silverston to perch the first climb to the Dives Little Giant Pass and its 3900 meters (13000′), at mile 7, through the Lackawanna Trail.

In these first bars of the race we see how the leading group brings together all the favorites, a priori, to victory. Seeing as Francois and Courtney lead in this start of climbing the Dives Little Giant Pass after roughly 3.5 miles in the race.

About to crown the first major climb of the day 2 women, Courtney Dauwalter and Sabrina Stanley, in the TOP6 overall, accompanied by Dylan Bowman, François D’Haene, Ryan Smith and Jeff Browning.

MILE 9.2 | CUNNINGHAM GULCH AID STATION

The first ones have just arrived at the first refreshment and the race lead continues with Julien Chorier leading, François D’Haene, Dylan Bowman and Ryan Smith on the men’s side; as for the women Courtney Dauwalter and Sabrina Stanley continue their particular battle.

 

MILE 28 | KM 45 | SHERMAN AID STATION

About to reach mile 29 are already ahead from the rest Ryan Smith, who is a few meters / minutes ahead of Dylan Bowman and François D’Haene, in this order.

The next checkpoint will be at Burrow’s Park and the TOP10 race looks like this, with two women in it: Sabrina Stanley and Courtney Dauwalter.

MILE 30.88 | 50KM | BURROW’S PARK

Changes in the classification at the arrival of this aid station the Frenchman François D’Haene takes the head of the race, howver based on the tracking info Dylan Bowman and Ryan Smith are really close together, in a point of refreshment where neither the assists nor the external bags are allowed and from where the runners begin the dreaded ascent to the Handies Peak 4200 m, highest point of the race.

Incredible to see runnning Courtney Dauwalter who at this moment runs already 4° overal and 1° womenl!!!

The TOP10 in this moment looks like this, with all of them having already reached mile 30, with Courtney 4° and Sabrina 7° overall.

MILE 42 | KM67 | GROUSE GULCH (PACERS ALLOWED)

In the preview, it is rumored that Jim Wamsley, winner of three consecutive years of the Western States, will be the pacer of François D’Haene. We will see if is it ture 🙂

Jim Wamsley & François D’Haene Photo: Strava-Jim Wamlsey

It is confirmed, Jim Wamsley is the pacer of François D’Haene who passes through mile 42 along with Dylan Bowman whose pacer is Hillary Allen, both at the head of the race. While behind, still at mile 39 remain Ryan Smith 25 minutes d elos leaders, Julien Chorier about 65 minutes, of the leaders, along with Courtney Dauwalter as first woman and fourth overall.

MILLA 72.7 | KM115 | TELLURIDE

The first arriving has been François D’Haene., who is apparently running 48 min below course reord, followed 25 min behind by Dylan Bowman, and Ryan Smith.

On the women race we got the news that Courney has dropped off due to stomach issues and now Sabrina Stanley is leading.

MILE 85,6 | KM137 |GRANT SWAMP PASS

François D’Haene goes like a wild horse, now accompanied by Dakota Jones as his pacer, with almost 1 hour ahead of Kilian’s total record in 2014 with 18 and a half hours. Recall the record counterclockwise, it is 23:28:00 (Kilian Jornet, 2015). The overall record in the clockwise direction is 22:41:33 (Kilian Jornet, 2014).

Dylan Bowman continues second, 30 minutes behind François and 3rd Ryan Smith. The girls are running between miles  65-68 going 1st Sabrina Stanley, 2nd Darcy Piceu and 3rd Meghan Hicks.

This is the TOP10 on 10:00 CET this Saturday morning

MILE 89 | KM143 | PUTNAM

No crew. No drop bags. From this aid station, 10 miles away from the finish line, the route is all going down to Silverston that right now looks like this.

And François D’Haene has just arrived in Putnam and starts his last 10 miles in this Hardrock 2021, who remains intractable in record time, with almost -1h20min over Kilian time of 2015. 2nd continues Dylan Bowman, 3rd Ryan Smith, 4th Julien Chorier and 5th the great veteran with almost 50 years Jeff Browing. . At this point, Sabrina Stanley in women’s walks through mile 82 and also goes in record time -20min over the previous record; 2° Darcy Piceu and 3° Meghan Hicks.

 

MILE 100 | KM160 |  FINISH- SILVERTON

François D’Haene arrives to Silverton, kisses the rock and wins this Hardrock 2021, at 21:45:50, in the middle of the morning 4AM local time (12 noon CET), in less than 24 hours after leaving yesterday at 6AM and dispossessing Kilian Jornet of the race record that was 23:28:00.

Photo: Hardrock 2021

Second in Silverton, Dylan Bowman with 22:45:50; 3° in Silverton was Ryan Smith 23:24:29 and 4th the also French Julien Chorier 25:56:57; 5th Jeff Browning 26:58:16 .

Sabrina Stanley wins the 2021 Hardrock with a time of 27:21:49 finishing 6th overall. 2nd in Silverton Darcy Piceu 32:08:26, 3rd Meghan Hicks 33:05:0, 4th Olga Nevtrinos 36:35:2 and 5th Heather Brooks.

Photo: Hardrock100

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HARDROCK 100 MILLAS: THE ROUTE & FAVORITES

Hardrock is one of the few that deserve international resonance for its own personality: There are Western States for being the first; Leadville for its great history and the magic of Colorado… and this HardRock that stands out perhaps among all for being the hardest and wildest according to its creators.

Completing the 160km of this adventure, should be done in  48 hours, well. But crossing 13 high mountain passes of more than 3,700 meters of altitude. Logically, with this radical route some years the race must be suspended due to excessive snow, like in 2019.

In fact, the words “Wild & Tough” receive on the finish rock each finisher, every year. Because at the Silverton finish line, as the image above shows, the race doesn’t end until you kiss the finishing rock 🙂

Each year’s run is run in the opposite direction of the previous year’s event (2018 was run in the clockwise direction, 2021 will be counter-clockwise).

HARDROCK 100 MILES 2021: THE ROUTE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION