Another classic Classic goes down in MTB history

By Liam Ruff

Mountain bikers race on a dirt trail with a mountainous backdrop and spectators nearby.

Summiting the climb (Mike Oitzman).

The Downieville Classic is a mountain bike race unlike any other event on the planet. It combines rugged mountain singletrack, serious racing, and absolute anarchy in four wild days in the Lost Sierra.

The event is comprised of two separate days of racing and challenges riders’ mental and physical strength. Day 1 consists of a 29-mile point to point cross-country race with over 4,000 feet of climbing. The race starts with a climb known as the “Trail of Tears” and is extremely challenging, leaving all competitors deep in the pain cave. After the Trail of Tears racers descend Sunrise Trail and then traverse a fire road to the top of the “Baby Heads” section – a high speed jeep road littered with loose rocks the size of baby heads. After a few miles of bone shaking downhill the course continues onward on the Pauley Creek, Butcher Ranch, and Third Divide trails which are all beautiful stretches of technical singletrack and some of the most popular trails in the Downieville region. After plunging down Third Divide riders must put the power down on a flat fire road section and the First Divide trail to the finish in Downieville.

Day 2 is the downhill race on the infamous Downieville Downhill course – a 15-mile technical yet physical descent with over 5,000 feet of drop and 1,000 feet of climbing. Racers can only compete in the Downieville Downhill if they completed the cross-country race the day before on the exact same bike.

The combination of both days is known as the All-Mountain World Championships, a title that accurately illustrates racing in Downieville. With shenanigans such as the river jump, log pull, live music, and hellbent hecklers, the Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Race is an event that can be enjoyed by everyone – racers and revelers alike.

The Downieville Classic is round 2 of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship’s (SBTS) Lost Sierra Triple Crown, which also includes the Lost & Found Gravel Grinder which took place this past June and the Grinduro coming to Quincy in October. Learn more about the Downieville Classic here. Learn more about the Lost Sierra Triple Crown in this ASJ article: Triple Crown Summer.

A group of mountain bikers start a race on a shaded forest road with spectators in the background.

At the start (Hannah Oitzman).

Fans encourage mountain bikers at the starting line of a race in a wooded area.

Enduro Banana cheers for riders at the start (Hannah Oitzman).

A mountain biker races down a forest trail, kicking up dust as they navigate the path.

A rider plunges down the amazing singletrack of Downieville (Mike Oitzman).

A mountain biker navigates a rocky trail, concentrating intensely, under bright sunlight.

Larry Sussman smashes rocks during the DH race (Mike Oitzman).

Mountain biker on a challenging rocky trail, concentrating intensely, with greenery in the background.

Louisa Sussman finds a smooth line through the “waterfall” (Mike Oitzman).

A mountain biker in white gear high-fives a spectator holding a drink during a race.

A rider receives a high five at the top of the climb (Mike Oitzman).

Groups of people swim and relax in a river, with a green bridge and trees in the background.

Good times surrounding the river in Downieville (Mike Oitzman).

Two people dressed as Clif Bars walk under a red inflatable arch at an outdoor event.

Clif Bar at the finish (Hannah Oitzman).

Cyclists ride through a small town street, with parked cars and people walking along the sidewalk.

MTB Happy in the Lost Sierra (Hannah Oitzman).


Liam Ruff is a semi-pro enduro and cross-country mountain bike racer in Northern California who has a deep passion for bikes and the outdoors.

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Main Photo By Mike Oitzman.

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