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MTB Gallery: A look back at Arizona’s Whiskey 50

The best mountain bikers in the U.S. take on the Whiskey Off-Road 50-miler. See photos from Courteney and Gaze's big wins in Arizona.

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2017 — Ninety pro men started in downtown Prescott, Arizona on a new course. The weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky and 55 degrees. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — The race was started by cowboys shooting guns. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — The pro women were paced up the initial road climb by Maghalie Rochette and her Clif teammate Katerina Nash. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Rochette (Clif) led a select group that included eventual winner Kate Courtney (Specialized) in the first hour of the 2017 Whiskey 50. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Howard Grotts (Specialized) rode in fifth position on singletrack early in the event. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Chloe Woodruff and teammate Rose Grant attempted to get away from the Clif women as they approached the descent to Skull Valley. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Rebecca Beaumont grabbed a drink as she began the 10-mile descent to Skull Valley. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Jeremiah Bishop went to the front of the road climb to set things up for his Ergon teammate Christian Hynek. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Courtney had a one-minute lead over Erin Huck (3Rox) just before the descent into Skull Valley. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Woodruff and teammate Rose Grant led the Clif women mid-race. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Sam Gaze and Specialized teammate Christopher Blevins hammered up a long climb mid-race before the 10-mile descent to Skull Valley. They had less than a minute lead over the chasers. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Grotts rode in third place, about 30 seconds behind Hynek. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Hynek put in a brilliant ride but was finally caught by Grotts at the end of the 12-mile climb. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Former Whiskey 50 winner Geoff Kabush (Scott-Maxxis) rode to an eighth place finish. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Grotts again proved that he is the best climber in the country as he hunted down Hynek to claim second place. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Derek Zandstra (Cannondale 3Rox) led a chase group up the long climb before Skull. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Israel’s Rotem Ishay (Jamis) led Brian Matter up a twisty climb. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Sam Gaze (Specialized) held off a charging Howard Grotts to win the Whiskey Off-Road and $5000. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Courtney won by 10 minutes over Erin Huck, making it four wins in a row for the up-and-coming World Cup racer. Photo: Dave McElwaine

2017 — Specialized had quite a day at the Whiskey Off-Road. (L to R) Sam Gaze, Christopher Blevins, Howard Grotts. Photo: Dave McElwaine

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