Core4 cycling race returns to Johnson County for second year

For the second year in a row, after more than 100 miles of riding, the core4 cycling race was a sprint to the finish. Nate Kullbom had enough energy beat his opponent up the cyclocross style hill climb at Wilson’s Orchard to claim the win -- his second in the two-year-old race. Iowa City’s Vanessa Curtis also repeated her 2022 victory in the women’s race, although by a more comfortable margin - more than 13 minutes to Kullbom’s 11 seconds.

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Photos: Core4 multi-surface cycling race 2023

The race, modeled after the Rule of Three race in Bentonville, Arkansas, is named for the road surfaces that make up its more than 100-mile route: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. Kollbum designed the route using roads and trails he rides regularly.

“Putting a route together like this is not something I needed to research, all these roads are based on memory,” he said. “When you want to put on an event that includes Sugar Bottom and Woodpecker single-track there’s only a few ways you can slice it… It’s all in my head since I ride this stuff all the time.”

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The race, which starts and finishes at Wilson’s Orchard north of Iowa City, saw more more than 30 percent growth in participation from its inaugural running last year, expanding from 660 total registrations in 2022, to 869.

In addition to the more than 109-mile route at core4, there are 50- and 25-mile routes also offered. Podium finishers for the 100-mile men’s and women’s races are listed below with complete results available here.

Men’s 100 Mile

Women’s 100 Mile