Three Hundred Riders Face 3.5 Miles of North Bend Switchbacks
West Virginia and Ohio students battle brush and gravity in the fourth leg of the 2026 mountain bike league series.
Key points
- Over 300 students from West Virginia and Ohio compete in the Defend the Bend mountain bike race at North Bend State Park.
- The 3.5-mile course features challenging switchbacks, with riders completing one to five laps based on their class and ability.
- The event is free to spectators, and the final league race is scheduled for October 11-12 at The Summit Bechtel Reserve.
The air in Cairo hangs heavy with the scent of cut brush and damp earth, a prelude to the kinetic energy building in the large field above Cokely Campground. More than 300 students from West Virginia and Ohio middle and high schools gather here, their bikes resting against the perimeter of the pit zone, waiting for the command that will send them into the woods. The West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League’s fourth 2026 event, Defend the Bend, is ready to turn the quiet state park into a corridor of speed and friction.
Twenty-two teams prepare for a course that measures 3.5 miles, a distance that feels deceptive until the trail begins to twist. The route is defined by sharp switchbacks, tight corners that demand precision and slow down even the most powerful riders. Depending on their class and ability, competitors will loop through this forested terrain between one and five times, testing their endurance against the rugged landscape maintained by local volunteers.
Previous champions set the pace
Last year’s results remain a benchmark for the current field. Benjamin Randolph of Cabell Midland High School conquered the course with a total time of 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 17 seconds for five laps, posting a fastest individual lap of 13 minutes and 42 seconds. In the girls' category, Kate Kotses from Athens County completed the same distance in 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 54 seconds, with her quickest lap clocking in at exactly 18 minutes.
Community support fuels the trails
The event relies on a robust network of local support to keep the dirt flowing. Volunteers from the River Valley Mountain Bike Association have been clearing brush and maintaining the paths, ensuring the course is safe and challenging. On race day, Marietta Adventure Co. will provide on-site assistance, while the National Interscholastic Cycling Association sets up a tent for registration and community rides, including a session for Girls Riding Together and a clinic for Moms on Bikes.
Final leg heads north
This weekend marks the penultimate stop for the league, with the final race scheduled for October 11-12 at The Summit Bechtel Reserve near Beckley. The league, one of 32 chapters nationwide, continues to grow as a pathway for youth athletics, with many participants advancing to collegiate racing and scholarship opportunities. Admission to the North Bend event is free, and spectators are encouraged to park in the field above the campground to watch the action unfold.
