Mountain Bike (MTB)
Gravel Bike
All-Terrain Bike (ATB)
Fat Bike
Three months after breaking his neck in a mountain bike crash, Abe Kaufman returned to racing at the Mountaineer Monster in West Virginia, winning the 110-mile course and setting a new fastest known time. Find photos and learn more about Abe’s ride here…
Words by David Landis, photos by David Landis and Denny Pry
Abe Kaufman finished the Mountaineer Monster 110 in 7 hours and 30 minutes as part of the October 24th grand depart, trimming the fastest known time by nearly two hours, set by Jesse Stauffer at the inaugural 2025 event. Following rugged gravel and ATV tracks through West Virginia’s Mountaineer Country, the 110 is the shortest of the event’s three route options, alongside the 275- and 465-mile courses.
For Abe, the ride marked a welcome return to competition after a difficult summer. In May, he finished fourth overall at the Hellenic Mountain Race, feeling he was in the best shape of his life. Less than two months later, a mountain bike race crash left him with shattered C5 and C6 vertebrae. Months of recovery followed, including a neck brace and permanent titanium hardware.
In 2025, Abe raced the Mountaineer Monster 275 as part of a pair. He was eager to return but chose a distance that fit his recovery.
“I would have loved to tackle the longer route, but after breaking my neck during a mountain bike race back in July, I knew the 110 would be the wiser decision at this point in my recovery,” he said. “Coming back from an injury is always challenging, but it felt amazing to be out competing on the bike again.”
Abe rode his Canyon Exceed hardtail with drop bars, a bike he hadn’t ridden in roughly two years.
“I definitely exercised extra caution on the downhills [to fulfill a promise I made to my wife], but I enjoyed seeing how hard I could push the climbs.”
Afterward, Abe reported that his sustained power was among his best for an effort of that duration.
“I was encouraged by how well my body felt after finishing and am hoping that I’ll be able to return in the future to take on the full route!”
The race’s pointy end was competitive, with the top five riders finishing faster than the previous FKT. Xander Dirom took second in 8 hours and 16 minutes, and Jack Baronner rounded out the men’s podium in 8 hours and 42 minutes.
Learn more about the Mountaineer Monster event here.
Further Reading
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