Finishing just after midnight yesterday, Andy Zolyak was the first woman to complete the 2025 Arkansas High Country Central Loop, completing the 430-mile route in 2 days and 18 hours. Find a recap and photos from her ride here…

Words by Aaron Arnzen, photos by Kai Caddy and Monica Foltz, and Aaron Arnzen

With an official time of 2 days, 18 hours, and 58 minutes, Andy Zolyak is the first Central Loop woman back to Russellville. Coming to Arkansas for the first time, the Brooklyn, New York-based adventure cyclist was determined to finish the 430-mile course in under three days, and her bid was successful.

Adding to the list of firsts, Andy was the first person to sport a pair of the new Poteau Mountain tires from Rene Herse on an ARHC course. While the Central Loop doesn’t touch Poteau Mountain and the Ouachitas to the South, Andy found the tires to be ideal for the variety of mixed terrain surfaces the Central Loop serves up. Having previous experience with the Oracle Ridge and Fleecer Ridge tire models, Andy felt that the 48mm volume was absorbent enough over the rough terrain, confidence-inspiring when cornering, and noticeably faster on the longer paved stretches of riding toward the end of the route.

In just her third year of ultra endurance cycling, Andy has really started to stack her ride experiences across the United States. After observing the mudfest that ensued during the 2023 Unbound, Andy completed the 200-mile race the following year. This started a chain reaction of events, including the 150-mile Markagram event in Vermont last fall, followed by the 270-mile Rockstar event in Virginia earlier this spring.

The ARHC Central Loop was Andy’s longest race to date, and with her lack of proximity to any kind of hilly off-road riding, this was her biggest overall challenge on the bike, to boot. This feat didn’t come easy, though, overcoming several setbacks, including a broken saddle bag mount early into day two, which she was able to temporarily repair in Marshall with the help of some duct tape. Full of smiles, Andy was eager to share finish-line stories from dog chases to low speed crashes and some of the camaraderie that unfolded around the Arkansas High Country.

Check out the 2025 Arkansas High Country Race Tracker page for updates, where you can follow along on the live tracking map and stay tuned in for more event coverage. Find it here.

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