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Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival: Saturday Recap

For a most of the Chequamegon 40, it looked as if the race would have its first ever five-time winners in Brian Matter (RACC) and Jenna Rinehart (Nicolett Bike/Specialized) . But Chloe Woodruff (Crankbrothers) put an end to this scenario when she caught and passed Rinehart at the base of the Firetower Climb with ten miles to go. She kept on the gas, putting 59 seconds on Rinehart who took second. Woodruff finished in 2:17:37, six seconds off the course record.

Matter got back to his winning ways, after losing to Leopard Trek’s Matt Busche in 2012. He had won the previous three races from 2009 to 2011. This victory made his fourth win in the last five years. This year he won again by attacking the three steep pitches in the final mile and a half and crossed the line in 2:03:49. “We should call it Brian’s Bump,” Matter joked after the race.

In the men’s race, a lead group of 12 riders had put nearly a minute and a half on the second chasing group 16 miles into the race as it crossed the pavement of Highway OO. This group included Matter and eventual second and third place riders, Arizona-rider TJ Woodruff (Momentum) and Michael Olheiser (Cashcall), as well as Bissell pro Jason McCartney and former winner Jeff Hall (Foundry). Olheiser’s teammate Cole House (Cashcall) broke his chain on the Highway 77 rollout and was the first of the favorites out of the race.

Just after OO on the first steep descent of the Birkie Trail, the lead quad crashed into the woods and took out several riders, including Olheiser and Woodruff. They had to chase back on and regained the lead group on Bodecker Road several miles later.

Up the Firetower Climb, Olheiser lost contact with the lead group because he couldn’t keep his chain on. He would later learn he had broken his rear axle in the ATV mishap. He battled back and rejoined the lead group with four miles to go on Telemark Road. “I felt like it was my year,” said Olheiser, “but hey, that’s bike racing.”

Woodruff also lost contact with the lead group up the Birkie Trail pitches with seven miles to go, but he also fought back and got back rejoined the leaders on Camp 38 Trail. “We got to the last climbs and I just put it down,” said Woodruff, who trailed Matter by four seconds. Olheiser lead what was left of the first group for third another two seconds back of Woodruff. Isaac Neff was a close fourth, and McCartney was fifth.

Former champion Sara Kylander-Johnson (Ski Hut/Kuhl) was third in the women’s race, another minute and a half behind Rinehart. Abigail Strigel was fourth and Rebecca Sauber finished fifth.

Brian and Kim Eppen (Mercy/Specialized) continued to dominate the tandem race, this year winning the division on a 26-inch rigid singlespeed bike. The Iowa City, Iowa, couple used a 50-18 gear to power their victory. They finished just 31 seconds ahead of Kevin Ishaug and Adam Froemming (Freewheelin’), who led the Eppens most of the race.

Jon Falkowski (29nSNGL) won the men’s singlespeed division in 2:16:03 good for 43rd overall, while Heidi Beck won the women’s singlespeed in 2:37:45.

In the men’s 16-mile Short and Fat, Brett Poultan won a close race in 51:17, just eight seconds ahead of Ian Haupt (Expo Racing). Josey Weik was third in 51:35.

Jennifer Nowlin captured the women’s Short and Fat in 55:34. Terra James was one minute and ten seconds back, placing second for the third year in a row. Fourteen-year-old Kyra Jackson of Hayward, Wis. was third.

The Chequmegon Fat Tire Festival is produced by Chanhassen, Minn. based Life Time Fitness and presented by Trek. See itiming.com for complete results.