Recreation
Former pro cyclist wins Mount Baker Hill Climb
September 17, 2023 at 9:24 p.m.
Former professional road racing cyclist Phil Gaimon paced all racers by two minutes, winning the Mount Baker Hill Climb in the event’s first-ever sold-out edition on Sunday, Sept. 17.
Gaimon, a two-time hillclimb world champion and 2017 USA Cycling Hillclimb national champion, finished first with a time of 1:14:42 in the competitive division. Cal Skilsky, who won each of the last two years, finished fourth with a time of 1:17:22.
Robin Watson (second, 1:16:51), Manuel Fehlmann (third, 1:16:51) and Rex Li (fifth, 1:21:36) rounded out the rest of the top-five finishers.
Phil Gaimon, a two-time hillclimb world champion and 2017 USA Cycling Hillclimb national champion, finished first with a time of 1:14:42 in the competitive division. (Photo courtesy of Whatcom Events) Alesha Miller was the first female to finish — racing in the competitive division — and took 27th with her time of 1:30:27. Charles Lantz, who finished 38th with a time of 1:34:12, was the first recreational division competitor to cross the finish line.
Bill MacMillan finished first among seven racers age 70 or older, clocking a time of 1:59:29 and coming in at 152nd overall out of 370 participants who finished. Simon Turner led all social division riders with his time of 2:04:57, finishing 170th overall.
Full results from the 2023 Mount Baker Hill Climb can be found on Pacific Multisports’ website.