BY KAREN BOSSICK

Rebecca’s Private Idaho is no small challenge—not with a climb up Trail Creek Road with its 7 percent grade, followed by three races ranging from 19 miles to 103 miles on rocky dirt roads that don’t exactly feel like butter when you’re riding them.

As if the riders who had come from across the country didn’t need a reminder just how difficult it is, two devils showed up Sunday at a section near Kane Creek called “El Diablito,” or “Little Devil.”

Wizz Wisenhant and Muffy Ritz, both veteran RPI riders, dressed as devils to cheer on the Big Potato racers during Rebecca’s Private Idaho gravel bike challenge, which left Ketchum on Sunday morning, climbed Trail Creek Summit and circled for 103 miles before returning to Champions Meadow.

Who knew the devil wears such high-fashion footwear?!

Little Devil is about 80 miles into the 103-mile Big Potato race, said Ritz.

“It’s a tough section that was added about six years ago and it favors those who have mountain bike experience!” she added. “Wizz and I decided we needed to put some levity into these riders’ lives who were suffering at this point in the race! We got a lot of smiles, some high-fives and a few who were too tired to even crack, a smile!”

Ritz and Wisenhant got plenty of exercise cheering on the riders—and we don’t mean just a bunch of arm waving ringing cowbells.

“I’m not sure which is harder--doing the race or being a devil and running with the racers for hours on end, trying to cheer them up!” Ritz said.

The riders were probably thinking, “The devil made me do it,” by the time they reached the devilish cheerleaders at Little Devil.