THROWBACK THURSDAY: DAVE WIENS ON THE CLOSEST AND MOST EXCITING FINISH OF HIS CAREER

“This photo was from the Grundig World Cup at Mammoth in 1993. The course that year was a sprawling 12-mile loop that we did three times, and the winning time was closer to three hours than two. This photo looks to be from about midway through the final lap. There’s some serious hurt going on there, just look at our faces! We had just dropped Ned Overend and John Tomac, and keeping the hammer down, Don Myrah (plate 23) fell off soon after this photo was taken. That left me and the Brit, Tim Gould (plate 29), to battle to the line for the win. I was the aggressor and stayed out front, pushing the pace, and, as if it was yesterday, I recall riding up onto the edge of the singletrack descent after Red’s Lake and almost crashing. Luckily, I saved it—Ti hardtail, 26-inch wheels, Onza bar ends, rim brakes, tubed tires pumped up to 45 psi, and all. Tim and I battled to the line, but I had just a little bit more and took the win. This was definitely the closest and most exciting finish of my career.”

—Dave Wiens 

(Photo by John Ker/Mountain Bike Action)