CALEB VERSUS THE VOLCANO AT CYCLE TO THE SUN FONDO

The road to the top of Hawaii’s Haleakala volcano rises 10,000 feet from sea level to summit in 36 miles.  It’s unforgiving, relentless and described as the longest, steepest paved road on the planet.   Every year at the end of June riders race to the top at Cycle To The Sun gran fondo.

This year 154 riders climbed up, up, up never-ending switchbacks, through tropical rain forests and across barren lava fields to reach the summit.  Youngsters Caleb Barville (18) and Chase King (19) raced side-by-side all the way till the final turn, where Barville attacked on a 16% section to get a small gap and the claim King Of The Volcano title in 2:50:28.

Interviewed afterwards, Barville told The Maui News “My plan was just to act like it was an elite junior race, so I just kept attacking and dropping guys off the back, and Chase (King) and I just kept exchanging positions, trying to get a gap and I got gap.”

Californian Susannah Breen finished 19th overall in 3:34:45 to claim the Queen Of The Volcano title, beating Christine Holland who finished in 24th overall.