Maxwell, California – Brennan Wertz of Scott-Skipstone and Alia Shafi of MAAP-Bike Tires Direct-Arundel claimed victories Saturday at the Huffmaster Hopper, the second round of the Grasshopper Adventure Series. Wertz secured his fourth win at the event, while Shafi marked her debut with the new MAAP off-road program with a win.
Wertz completed the 90-mile course in a record-setting time of 3:50:02, finishing in a sprint alongside Skyler Taylor (Pinarello-Q36.5) and Marcis Shelton (Competitive Edge Racing). Taylor finished second with the same time, and Shelton followed one second later. The previous course record was set in 2021 by Tyler Williams, which Wertz surpassed by 2:50 minutes, according to organizers.
“Coming into the end, it was probably the most tactical addition so far,” Wertz told organizers after the race. “It was Skyler, Marcus and I, and I tried to receive away maybe four or five kilometres from the finish. But these guys are super strong, and they were definitely not giving me wiggle room.”
Wertz and Shelton rode together for much of the first 20 miles, with Wertz setting a rapid pace up the initial climb. “I was on his wheel most of that climb, just a blistering pace up that and he had me hanging on by a thread,” Wertz explained. He noted Shelton’s sportsmanship in the feed zone, slowing to allow Wertz to rejoin after a stop. Taylor later bridged to the pair, forming the leading trio that contested the finish.
Shelton had previously finished second at the Grasshopper Adventure Series opener in January at Low Gap. On the final descent, Shelton briefly gained a 20-second lead before Wertz and Taylor reeled him in. Wertz described his strategy as patient, waiting for the right moment to surge.
“Awesome way to kick the year off. It’s one of my favourite courses. It’s a local race series, so wouldn’t miss it,” Wertz added.
In the women’s race, Shafi finished in 4:34:20, edging out Flavia Oliveira Parks (Excel Sports) and Jen Tavé (SpeedBlock-Terun) in a sprint finish. This was the first time the women’s race started separately from the men’s field at Huffmaster. Larissa Connors was dropped from the leading group during the descent, leaving Shafi, Parks, and Tavé to battle for the win.
“I was hoping for a sprint finish [because] I have a good hit at the end,” Shafi said, adding that she had finished ninth in her only previous Huffmaster race three years ago.
Parks, who won the Huffmaster Hopper in 2024, finished second, while Tavé took third. “It was my first time coming in for a sprint finish, probably not the best for me, gotta work on that sprint, but it’s hard to get away anywhere else on this course,” Tavé said.
The Grasshopper Adventure Series will continue on March 28 with King Ridge, a 91-mile course on the western edge of Sonoma County featuring timed segments.
Huffmaster Hopper – Elite Men Top 10
- Brennan Wertz – 3:50:02
- Skyler Taylor – +0:00
- Marcis Shelton – +0:01
- Lucas Miers – +1:22
- Ryder Ritchie – +2:22
- Griffin Easter – +4:00
- Tobin Ortenblad – +5:52
- Jacob Velasco – +5:52
- Mattheus Johnson – +5:52
- Jack Duncan – +7:25
Huffmaster Hopper – Elite Women Top 5
- Alia Shafi – 4:34:20
- Flavia Oliveira Parks – +0:02
- Jen Tavé – +0:04
- Larissa Connors – +0:16
- Steph Hart – +17:56
