Photos: core4 multi-surface cycling race

Cyclists ride on a gravel road near Wilson’s Orchard during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

More than 500 cyclists from 24 states competed in the inaugural core4 multi-surface race, which is named for the four riding surfaces encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. Riders chose from courses featuring distances of 25, 50 or 100 miles starting and finishing from Wilson’s Orchard north of Iowa City. The 50- and 100-mile courses included roads of varying surfaces throughout the area and the single-track mountain bike trails in the Sugar Bottom Recreation Area. Riders opting to ride the full 100 miles reached as far south as Hills before returning to Wilson’s Orchard.

Race director Alex Buhmeyer described the course’s unique layout as the event’s strength describing the route as “the best of Johnson County cycling.” The race itself was not the only goal Buhmeyer had for the event. Buhmeyer hoped to “create a mechanism to give back to bike-centric non-profits” through partnerships with organizations including the Iowa City Bike Library, Iowa Coalition of Off-Road Riders (whose members maintain the Sugar Bottom single track trails), the Corridor Devo junior cycling team, and the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County.

Michael Maney rides on a single-track trail in Coralville during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Simon Mauer and Krista Burich ride a tandem bike before the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. During the winter holliday season Burich and Mauer (who did not ride the race on the tandem bike) will decorate the bike as a reindeer and ride around downtown Iowa City. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Race Director Alex Buhmeyer addresses riders before the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Cyclists ride on a gravel road near Wilson’s Orchard during the core4 gravel race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Samuel Stresemann enters the Sugar Bottom single-track trails during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Riders navigate the Sugar Bottom single-track trails during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Daniel Flaherty rides during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

David Von Holton leads a group of riders during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Derek Henscheid (59) and Chris Hansen (57) lead a group of rider across a bridge over the Iowa River near Peninsula Park and the Iowa River Power restaurant during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Riders ride along the Iowa River during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Jim Cochran crosses the Iowa River near Peninsula Park and the Iowa River Power restaurant during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Michael Maney descends a set of stairs during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Riders navigate a set of stairs on the trails along the Iowa river during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Riders stop at an aid-station during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Nate Kullbom leads a group of riders through the Sugar Bottom single-track trails during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

The lead group stops briefly at an aid-station with just under 40 miles remaining during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Kaden Snoop rides up the cylocross style hill climb to the start/finish area during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Race director Alex Buhmeyer (center) high fives Bri Flynn (left) and Kirk Hansen (right) as they finish the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Nate Kullbom (left) and Michael Michael Lambert (right) race up a cyclocross style hill climb to the start/finish area during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Nate Kullbom (left) and Michael Michael Lambert (right) race to a sprint finish to the 100-mile core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Michael Lambert finds some shade behind a pickup truck following the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Vanessa Curtis crosses the finish line to win the Women’s 100 mile race during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, August 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Jacob Johnson lies in the grass after finishing the 100 mile course during the core4 multi-surface race in Johnson County, Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. More than 500 riders competed in the race which is named for the four riding surfaces riders encountered: gravel roads, single-track trails, level b roads, and pavement. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)