Anchorage Daily News

James Stull said hello to Arctic Bicycle Club's mountain bike race season with a record-breaking performance in the Arctic Valley Hill Climb. Stull powered six miles up Arctic Valley Road in 34 minutes, 11 seconds on a breezy and clear Tuesday evening to break Matt Novakovich's coveted record by eight seconds.

"The road was in great condition," said Stull.

Usually, the steep dirt road -- maintained by Fort Richardson personnel -- is bone-jarring for bikers. It's a leg-and-lung assassin, in part because the washboard is so gnarly.

The record, set by Joe Yelverton, stood for 16 years until Novakovich broke it in 2007 by a whopping 79 seconds.

Now it belongs to Stull, who won the men's expert class by nearly two minutes.

Arctic Valley Hill Climb

Tuesday's Results

Men

Expert -- 1) James Stull, 34 minutes: 11 seconds; 2) Daniel Folmar, 36:07; 3) Tim Bernston, 37:27; 4) Chet Fehrmann, 37:54; 5) Brent Gorman, 37:55; 6) John Lackey, 39:35; 7) Andy Pohl, 39:45; 8) Phil Hunter, 42:10. Sport -- 1) Justin Nash, 46:00; 2) Lee Hull, 46:16; 3) Greg McDuffie, 47:22; 4) Yrjo Roovers, 47:26; 5) Jared Brooks, 56:44. Master -- 1) Steve McKeever, 52:37; 2) Scott Medlock, 1:01:43; 3) Mike Welch, 1:13:52.

Women

Expert -- 1) Amber Stull, 47:06. Sport -- 1) Meg Cronin, 1:09:54; 2) Julie Perilla, 1:25:02.

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