Birkie Classic winner will challenge Birkie Skate winner at Telemark Forest Mountain Bike Race
![](http://images.fasterskier.com/2012/07/img_0145.jpg" "Jennie Bender, mountain bike, Telemark Forest race")
(Press release)
CXC Team member Jennie Bender, the 2011 Birkie Classic Winner and 2012 Birkie skate third-place finisher, will be entering the Telemark Forest Mountain Bike Race on July 14. While Bender is an avid road cyclist, she is completely new to mountain biking and is looking forward to having fun. Like many other skiers, she see this event as a great way to test her fitness.
Unlike many other mountain bike events, the Telemark Forest Mountain Bike Race courses are non-technical, following wide ski trails, fire roads and two-track trail, making it suitable for those who are newer to the sport. The showcase event, the 28.5-mile Marathon, features challenging terrain, which will test the fitness of even the best off-road cyclist!
![](http://images.fasterskier.com/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-06-at-9.16.24-AM.png" "Caitlin Gregg, 2011 American Birkebeiner skate winner")
Bender is currently sitting just less than 3 minutes behind Caitlin Gregg (the 2011 Birkie skate champion) in the CXC Triple standings and she is looking to make up ground before the Birkie Trail Run in September. Both athletes have great fitness right now and it should be a battle to the finish.
Modeled after the prestigious Norwegian Birkebeiner Trippel, the CXC Triple provides competitors with a year-round competition to crown the best outdoor-endurance athletes. The American Birkebeiner ski race, Telemark Forest Mountain Bike Race and Birkie Trail Run make up the CXC Triple.