Midwest MTB Racing Season Preview

by Jay Richards
April 23, 2008

With one of the longest winters in recent memory for the Midwest, trail riding for area mountain bikers has been slim pickings.

Races 

Suddenly the race season is upon us with races on tap already this weekend! The Trans Iowa kicks off the endurance scene in Decorah. Also in town, the Decorah Time Trials  provide a nice tune up and fitness test and there's even a race north, across the border, in friendly Manitoba, the Grand Beach Manitoba Cup #1. With many local downhill ski areas still holding snow covered slopes, MT Kato made the decision to cancel the Mud Madness race, held the first weekend of May because of snow cover concerns.

Entering its 18th year with Don Edberg remaining at the helm as series director, WORS begins series racing for the year on May 6th with the Iola Bump and Jump at the Iola Winter Sports Club. The second running "Treadfest" features new trails and a new race director. Other highlights in WORS include the Subaru Cup WORS mega event which moves to June from later dates in recent years. Hosted by Nordic Mountain, this stage race continues on the USA Cycling National Mountain Bike Calendar and provides all cross-country racers an opportunity to qualify for the 2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships. This year's Subaru Cup Stage Race & Omnium offer additional WORS series points. The Wigwam Mountain Bike Challenge, which has come to define the ultimate in urban mountain bike racing concludes the WORS season. With big cash purses for the elite riders, the top riders in the Midwest typically make the race.

The MNSCS enters another season being run by the race directors and a lot of behind the scenes work by Jeff Robertson and Gary Sjoquist coming back on board to help facilitate direction in a positive movement. The MNSCS has made quite a few changes in the age groups in various classes giving riders even more of an opportunity for placing. One of the highlights is a new first timer class. The season kicks off once again at Harmon Park in Inver Grove Heights on May 11th. A fast course with few obstacles, the 4.3 mile track is a great course for first time racers to get a taste of mountain bike racing. Also new for the series is the Border Battle race in River Falls, WI at White Tail Ridge which will serve as a joint race in WORS and the MNSCS. Other highlights include the Maplelag stage race, Laddies Loppet, being part of the National Calendar series which is one of the qualifying races for the 2009 US Nationals and Alison Dunlap Jr Olympic Mountain Bike Series, giving junior riders a chance to qualify for regional and national training camps. The MNSCS concludes in St. Cloud at the "Jail Trail" with trails designed and built by MN Pro Kyia Anderson.

Other races in the Midwest to note include the popular early season race, Cable Off Road Classic (CORC)  in Cable, WI on May 17th featuring some of the great trails in that area.
The "triple crown" of point to point racing: the Ore to Shore in Marquette, MI in August, the Chequemegon Fat Tire Festival and Iceman Cometh in Traverse City, MI in November. One of my favorite early season races, Manitoba Cup #2,  , is north just across the border at Sandilands Provencial Park in Manitoba. It is actually one of the closer races for the Richards and runs a bit earlier this year on May 4th (read report from last season). With opportunities for Midwest riders to qualify for the single day US National Championships, I highly recommend the trip to Mt Snow for riders who qualify. Beginners to Pros can qualify and a great weekend of mountain bike racing on a pure mountain bike course with climbing, technical sections featuring rocks and roots and fast descents. Locally, the US National Championships for 24 hour racing is at Nine Mile forest in Wausau, WI again this season.

Other races to wet the feet into mountain biking including various off road triathlons including the popular Chippewa Triathlon  which is a favorite for many Nords, and the growing Tri-Loppet, promoted by the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation. Of course, there are many low key mountain bike races that are always a good time. Ultra/endurance/12-24 hour events continue to increase in popularity and few events to note include the 24 hours of Afton and one of the highlights for North Dakota mountain bikers, the 12 hour race to Sunset in Mandan, ND.

The Superior Bike Fest in Marquette, MI on June 20th and 21st features a weekend of racing including the usual cross country event at Marquetee mountain and other popular area trails and one of the rare downhill events in the Midwest.

Another early season distance event in May at Memorial Park in Red Wing, 12 Hours of Sexy Night - "Get sexy fast"!!

 

Riders

Once again the Midwest enters the season stacked with some of the best elite riders in the country. With two National races and the big Sea Otter mountain bike festival already taking place, Midwest riders making the trip west have posted some impressive results. Top finishes by Jenna Zander of Mankato who was second in the Pro xc at Sea Otter and Mike Phillips of Milwaukee cranking out a top 10 at a recent National have definitely turned some heads among the mountain bike community.

In Minnesota, last years men's state champion, Brendan Moore will be back to defend his title hitting all the MNSCS races plus big local races like CORC, Chequemegon and the US Nationals at Vermont. Paul Hanson, posting a top 25 in a recent National will also be racing locally when time permits. The Oftedahl bro's, Sam and Eric, will be in the mix and look for Chris Fisher to come on later in the season. Jeff Hall who raced all the Nationals and most World Cups last year in effort to be named to the Olympic long team, just missed being named and will focus on Midwest events this season. Doug Swanson, always a threat on any type of bicycle will be rolling 29's on Gary Fisher's new Superfly with the first MNSCS race, CORC, and possibly Iola if the road race the day before goes well.

On the women's side Jen Meyer who is now Mrs. Fisher after recent marriage to Chris Fisher, will be defending her title while top MN riders Kyia Anderson, (Malenkovich, also married last fall), Sara Kylander-Johnson and Zander race in series races as scheduling permits.

In Wisconsin, brothers Jesse and Marko Lalonde were the buzz of the dirt last year recording top finishes in the WORS series. Jesse claimed the overall title and scoring the big Chequemegon win of course on 29'er rides and most impressively, in single speed fashion. These two riders will be leading the charge of a 29'er movement which is in full swing. (I would not be surprised to see some races with close to have the field rolling 29 inch wheels) Another top Wisconsin rider, Brian Matter will also be rolling the big wheels for this season and will be another rider to show form mid to late season after moving into a new home recently. Phillips will also be a player when not racing the National series and top ten riders from last year Ronald Stawicki and Seth Lenns will be ready to show their cards. Sheboygan's top cyclist, Tristan Schouten, (also recently married!) will be racing dirt and a major player mid to later season as he gears up for a big cyclocross season.

On the women's side, Abbigail Strigel, Anne Grabowski, Holly Liske and Jenifer Whitedog represent a group leading a strong field of Elite riders in the elite women class. Sara Lukas should move up a few spots this year as well.

Wrapping up

As a reminder, trails are very vulnerable this time of year and even though the snow might be gone, it takes 1-2 weeks before a trail is "rideable" and even a small amount of rain can delay the riding this time of year.  Be patient, the wonderful feeling of flowing through twisty singletrack will soon be upon us! The Minnesota Off Road Cyclists is an example of a great source for riders to check trail status.

Think Summer and keep the wheels moving!!