Midwest MTB Racing Recap

Hard to believe we are at the last weekend of September....maybe not so much with recent frost and a hard freeze Sunday morning (and even a dusting of snow in northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin over the weekend) but the mountain bike season in the Midwest is starting to wrap up with the last race in the Minnesota series and the second to last race in the Wisconsin series, this weekend. This week's report takes the usual look ahead to a jam packed weekend of mountain biking in Wisconsin, but first, a report from MN race #10 in St. Cloud, provided by the one and only Mr Kris Anderson and a report from the second race in the Minnesota High School Mountain biking league.

Revolution Singletrack Escape

Kris Anderson takes time to file a report from St Cloud where bikers throwing it down in the Minnesota series raced in perfect conditions on the twisty "Jail Trail".

The Revolution Single Track escape is always a great event bringing out the skiers and cyclists for our annual fundraiser where we try to make sure everyone has a good time.  While someone rode through most of our passing lane course tape on Saturday after set up we did not let this deter us or the racers from having a blast on the buffed out trail system in St. Cloud.  Getting started off right with the kids, the Kids Comp was won  by Josie Welsh and Wyatt Horner.  Citizen brought out a large crowd with honors going to Chad McClure of Luverne MN and Sydney Carlson of Apple Valley MN.

The Sport and “Intra-galactic” Single Speed Championships had large crowds and in sport Jason Lesser of New Hope MN took the win posting a fast time for the overall, with Alison Deroma taking the womens.  In the Single Speed intra galaxy honors and 150 dollars each went to Owen Thoele of Minneapolis MN and Becca Hackensack of St. Cloud.  Watch for them at next years world championships to win by large margins!

Comp also had nice fields and was taken by Pete Brueggen of Winona MN.  While a touch on the shorter end of races distance for both comp and elite, we wanted to provide a bit of a break after the Chequamegon and through in a few fun tech sections for all to enjoy.

The elite race for men was the closest of the day and provide a great battle in front of a large enthusiastic crowd for hometown favorite Lance Beuning of the “Metal Team” and series favorite Brendan Moore of “Trek/Freewheel”.  While Lance normally pounds nails out on the road bike over the past 5 years, his early years were spent mountain biking and it shows.  Lance and Brendan traded risky passes and the lead for the first 2 full laps of the day with both trying to beat the other into the single track.  On the last lap Brendan got a little gap for the custom granite trophy and held onto the lead over Lance Beuning who said he just didn’t have it on the last lap to close it down.  Paul Hanson “Nicollet South” who pushed the pace for a while early on settled back into 3rd place beating Michael McBurney of “Peace Coffee” to bring home the last spot on the podium.

The Women’s Elite race between Jenna Rinehart of “Specialized” and Sara Kylander Johnson of “Trek-Kuhl-Ski Hut” never materialized as Jenna did not have the power on the day to match a hard charging Sara who made a gap on the Prologue of about 15 seconds and never looked back.  She ended up with about 6 minutes and a solid win.  When talking to both after the race it sounded like recovery from the Chequamaegon the weekend before was probably the difference on the day.  3rd place in women’s elite went to Kris Brazil of “Milltown Cycles”.

Results

High School Racing

Race #2 in the Minnesota High School Cycling League series made way to southern Minnesota to race in Rochester. The local news station picked up on the event and provided a nice story.  Race #3 makes way to the White Tail Ride, home of one of the MNMBS races before the state championships on October 28th at Buck Hill.

Looking Ahead

Race #11 in the Wisconsin series heads to White Lake for the Bear Paw Rock and Roll. The course features a variety of climbs, descents, double track, single track, rocks, roots, and switchbacks. The scenery is diverse as the trails: a tornado blow down, mature hemlock/white pine forest mixed with maple/oak forest. This course will test your handling skills in the single track, while letting you open it up on the fast double track, according to the race directors.

The Deer Fly Chase is held 30 miles northeast of Eau Claire, WI. There are two races, a 16 and 26 mile event. The race is put on by the IMBA club, the Chippewa Off Road Club (CORBA) with all proceeds going to the Hickory Ridge and CORBA. The location is somewhat primitive but the racing and course has received high marks in its short existence.

The Minnesota series wraps up this weekend, jumping across the river to hit up the Woolly race in St Croix Falls, WI. I have only good things to say about the Woolly organization, always most supportive of the Midwest MTB Recap and are passionate folks about their digs, ready to put on the best race possible for all participants. 

Night racing kicks off in the Three Rivers Park district with events both at Elm Creek and Murphy. Racers will navigate through 10 miles of twisting trail using their mounted bike lights. Race is in a time trial format. Murphy starts on October 10th  and the Elm Creek series starts on October 23rd. 

Keep the wheels moving!

About the author... Jay Richards maintains a very active lifestyle. He somehow finds time between managing a full-time resort (Maplelag) and bringing up a family of four boys with his wife Jonell, to compete in both mountain bike and a few cross-country ski races. Jay rides for Maplelag Resort, manages the Maplelag/Paramount mountain bike team and enters his 22nd year of racing and promoting mountain bike races.