Domnarski event a major challenge.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Mark Conti

COLUMN: CYCLING

Maybe it's the four major climbs, or the technical sections that test a mountain biker's riding skills.

Or maybe it's the ubiquitous rocks - sharp and abundant.

The Domnarski Farm Mountain Bike Race course is, to say the least, challenging.

"It's considered to be difficult by most mountain bike standards," said Matt Domnarski, a veteran cyclist who will be hosting the race at his horse farm in Ware June 2. "If you don't come with good tires and sturdy equipment, you're probably going to flat or break something."

"I tell them flat-out, `It's going to be hard.' I want a challenging race," he said.

The Domnarski Farm Mountain Bike Race is part of the Root 66 Northeast XC Race Series. This is the sixth year of the race, which has grown from 125 racers to more than 300 last year.

"It gets bigger every year," Domnarski said.

The 10-mile racecourse starts on the farm and travels onto Palmer recreation land then finishes back at the farm. From the start, the course quickly hits some technical climbing, with four major hills featuring typical New England challenges.

"The toughest part is the rocks, a lot of rocks, and the mud," Domnarski said.

Domnarski has raced for many years, including mountain bike, road and cyclo-cross competitions. He has ridden the course outside his back door nearly 100 times a year since the race began, but he admits it never gets easy.

"I never get bored out there," he said. "I've personally ridden the course at least 400 times. I've been able to do about five no-dab runs."

It's not easy riding a rocky course and avoiding putting your foot to the ground at least once. It's also not easy riding the 10-mile course in less than an hour.

The exclusive list of riders who have ridden the technical course over the years had been pretty short, but it more than doubled last year with ideal conditions at the race. The number of mountain bikers in the Sub-Hour Club has reached almost 90.

"It's kind of a prestigious award," said Domnarski, who is a member of the club.

The course record was set by Mike Mooradian of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in the 2011 race. Mooradian's lap time of 49:11 is 1:48 faster than the second-best time recorded on the course.

"I find that incredible," Domnarski said of the course record.

The second-best lap time was posted by Adam Snyder of Westminster when he won the race last year; his best lap time was 50:59.

If the prestige of the club is not enough, Domnarski adds the incentive of a $10 prize if you can complete the course in less than 60 minutes; and not just on race day, any time of the year.

The 10-mile course sprints away from the farm and then up Pattaquattic Mountain just over the 1-mile mark before a "fun" descent. The course heads through a mile of rolling Jeep roads then onto rolling, swamp-trail singletrack with rocks, some mud and a few logs that beavers have dropped across the path.

At mile 4, it's back to the dirt and rock Jeep trail, where there can puddles and ruts. After a quarter-mile of pavement on Rondeau Road, the course turns back to dirt and rocks and the second major climb at...