Rose Grant, a professional mountain biker from the Flathead Valley, picked up an impressive victory last weekend in Arizona against more than 20 other pro riders.
Grant, 34, won the 13th annual Whiskey Off-Road Pro-Division race in Prescott, Arizona.
Grant emerged victorious after riding 50 miles through the Prescott National Forest in 3 hours, 50 minutes and 58 seconds, over two minutes faster than runner-up Evelyn Dong of Boulder, Colorado. Click here to watch a post-race interview with Grant.
The Columbia Falls rider is in the heart of the pro season and has performed exceptionally, regularly placing atop the podium at national races. She took fifth at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California in mid-April and sixth at the U.S. Cup Bonelli Park XC in San Dimas, California.
The best riders in America, including Grant, are chasing a chance to compete in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Last winter Grant was among eight American women who were named to the U.S. Olympic long team for women’s mountain biking, placing her on the short list of candidates. Out of the eight women named to the mountain bike long team, up to two will be selected to compete at the 2016 Summer Games.
The list includes former Olympians and national champions and distinguishes Grant as one of the elite riders in the world.
Grant will compete next at the Grand Junction Off-Road in Colorado, which is the second of three races in the Tucson-based Epic Rides series, along with the Whiskey Off-Road and the Carson City Off-Road.