The first PICL race of the season is held at one of the team’s favorite courses. It’s a bit farther away because it’s a statewide event where GVMTB races against all PA teams. The race is split into two days—one for middle school and one for high school. Riders only need to attend their race day, but everyone is welcome to stop by the team tent all weekend to cheer on their teammates.
See the official PICL event page and GVMTB specific information below:
Event Snapshot
PitZone Registration Required by 9/8 @8pm EST ( see PitZone to confirm or add )
Multi-day PICL racing event (Middle School Saturday / High School Sunday)
~3.25 hr car ride to Williamsport
Lodging Required (Hotel, rental or Campsite)
Team Dinner on Saturday night
PICL Event Page (full details)
GVMTB Specific Information
It’s a long drive, so we recommend booking lodging for at least the night before your race to ensure your rider is rested, fed, and able to pre‑ride the course. The PICL event page above has lodging suggestions, but here are some of the options GVMTB has used in the past:
SATURDAY ( Middle School )
08:00-9:30a - GVMTB Pre-ride
Attending pre‑ride is important because it lets riders see the course at a relaxed pace and plan their strategy. Coaches will announce exact pre‑ride times on race day and run multiple laps so later arrivals can still join.
9:30-1:30p- Race Preparation
This period is intended for riders to prepare for their races by:
Resting in the team tent area
Taking in proper nutrition and hydration. Water and some nutritional snacks will be available in the tent, but you are welcome to bring your own supplies
Completing bike checks. Best to do in advance, but coaches can assist with checks
Engaging in race‑related discussions. Coaches will be available to answer questions and provide helpful tips about the upcoming races
Warming up before the race. a sample rider warmup plan is below and should be followed according to rider’s specific race times:
45 mins prior to race - stretch
40 mins prior to race - ride warmup laps
20 mins prior to race - final fueling/hydration/bathroom break
15 mins prior to race - staging for the race
.10:30a - Racing Begins for Middle School
Racing continues throughout the day according to the above PICL Event Schedule, with podium ceremonies held shortly after each category finishes.
The middle school course is shown below. It’s a relatively easy route with a balanced mix of climbing and descending and no difficult features. All the climbing happens in the first half of each lap, and the second half is fast and downhill.
Riders will complete the # of laps for their assigned PitZone racing category:
Middle School Advanced - (Male = 5 laps / Female = 4 laps)
8th Grade - (Male = 3 laps / Female = 3 laps)
7th Grade - (Male = 3 laps / Female = 3 laps)
6th Grade - (Male = 3 laps / Female = 3 laps)
1-Lap MS - (Co-ed 1 lap)
Click the image below to explore the route in detail:
Williamsport Middle School Race Course
3:30-5:00p - High School Pre-ride
High school riders can pre‑ride their course one day early, which is helpful because the trail is much less crowded than it will be on race morning. GVMTB coaches will be available to support pre‑ride—just stop by the tent or message on TeamSnap if you’re interested.
~ 6:30 p - Team Dinner
We will have a a team dinner Saturday night somewhere in downtown Williamsport, which always proves to be a fun time for the team. A conversation will be started in TeamSnap on Saturday to plan out details, so chime in if you have any ideas or preferences.
SUNDAY ( High School )
08:00-9:00a - GVMTB Pre-ride
Attending pre‑ride is important because it lets riders see the course at a relaxed pace and plan their strategy. Coaches will announce exact pre‑ride times on race day and run multiple laps so later arrivals can still join.
9:00a-2:05p- Race Preparation
This period is intended for riders to prepare for their races by:
Resting in the team tent area
Taking in proper nutrition and hydration. Water and some nutritional snacks will be available in the tent, but you are welcome to bring your own supplies
Completing bike checks. Best to do in advance, but coaches can assist with checks
Engaging in race‑related discussions. Coaches will be available to answer questions and provide helpful tips about the upcoming races
Warming up before the race. a sample rider warmup plan is below and should be followed according to rider’s specific race times:
45 mins prior to race - stretch
40 mins prior to race - ride warmup laps
20 mins prior to race - final fueling/hydration/bathroom break
15 mins prior to race - staging for the race
9:30a - Racing Begins for High School
Racing continues throughout the day according to the PICL Event Schedule, with podium ceremonies held shortly after each category finishes.
The High School course is shown below. It’s a moderately difficult route with an even mix of mileage to climbing. Climbing happens in the first 2/3 of each lap and after that it flows fast and downhill.
Riders will complete the # of laps for their assigned PitZone racing category:
Varsity - (Male = 5 laps / Female = 4 laps)
JV1 - (Male = 3 laps / Female = 3 laps)
JV2 - (Male = 3 laps / Female = 2 laps)
JV3 - (Male = 2 laps / Female = 2 laps)
1-Lap HS - 1 lap
Click the image below to explore the route in detail:
Williamsport High School Race Course
Outside of the PICL racing event, here are some other activities planned for the team or options to explore if you have time:
Saturday Night Team Dinner - Since most of t he team will be staying at local lodging, the team will be planning a dining event in downtown Williamsport on Saturday night. Please check the TeamSnap chat for details or to make suggestions.
Hiking - if looking for some hiking fun with the family, check out the local trails on ALL TRAILS
World of Little League Museum - Williamsport is known as the birthplace of Little League Baseball and has a great museum showcasing its history. It’s a fun stop if you have extra time.
Race Recap
Standings - Race results are provided at the site below
Highlights
check back here after the race to watch the GVMTB highlights from the race
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