Trek CXC Cup

Trek CXC Cup! Our local UCI race!

Day 1

I raced at 2:15 and my sister raced at 3:30, I slept in late and was over at the race before one. I did a few pre laps and warmed on the trainer. I headed over to the start line and got my call up for the third row out out over 100 starters. They blew the whistle and we took off, I didn't have a great start and was about 20th going into the first corner. There was too much traffic to move up and over the barriers I accidentally kicked open my rear break as I remounted. I had to stop and fix it and I lost about 10 places. I got back on and begin to work around people with a full head of steam. I moved up 10 places by the end of the second lap. People who started ahead of me were fading but because I had such a slow start I only picked up the pace. I moved up the whole race and by the beginning of the last lap I was in 10th, I chased hard and caught my team mate Al Krueger after he had a hard crash before the barriers as well another rider and ended up 8th. It was a great first Cat 2/3 race and I was thrilled to get 8th out of over 100 racers.

Day 2
It was time for round 2 and I was really hungry to break the top 5! I slept in again and headed over, I hopped on the course and checked out the new changes and then finished my warm up. I headed over to the start and got my call up, this time I got to start front row which was a huge help. They blew the whistle and we took off, this time I was 5th into the first corner. Over the first lap I went back to ninth but as the race went on I moved up to 7th. Me and 6th place fought it out wheel to wheel for the last two laps but I just didn't quite have it so he won the sprint. I ended up 7th out of over 100 starters so I was pretty pleased. It was a fantastic way to really kick off cross season and there will be many more races to come!

Front row start thanks too my team president Dave Eckle

Me last year vs this year!

Lake Geneva Cross

Saturday evening I drove down to Lake Geneva and stayed with my friend Andy Schmidt. We got to hang out for a few hours before going to bed, in the morning we had plenty of time and washed our bikes before heading over to the race which was only five minutes from their house. We hung out for a few hours, rode some practice laps and watched the races until it was our turn. We warmed up and went to the start line, they did call up by points ranking so I started in the front row. They blew the whistle and we took off, Andy took the lead right from the start. I was third going into the first turn and soon passed second. I chased Andy hard the whole race but could never make contact. We finished a minute ahead of second place and even farther ahead of the rest of the field. It was a super fun weekend and soon it might be time for me and Andy to start racing the 1/2/3s!

Sheboygan Cyclocross Classic and WORS #10 Tread Fest

We managed to get my new Trek Boone built the night before and it was tuned and race ready for the first Wisconsin Cyclocross Series race. My sister won the pro 1/2/3 and then it was my turn at 3:30 for the Cat 3s. We lined up and took off, I was second into the first corner and I stuck on that wheel until the run up where I pulled ahead. I lead the rest of the race and made up time on second the for the next 6 laps. My new Boone worked like a charm and smoothed out all the bumps. It accelerates like a motorcycle and corners like its on rails! I won my first Cat 3 race on my first ride on it! I also won 50 bucks and a twinky so I was pretty stoked.

 The next day was tread fest WORS #10 and my debut as a Cat 1 for mountain. We went down early so I could watch my friends Andy and Sam race. My legs were a little tired but not to bad. I warmed up and went to the start chute. They called up the pros and then me and the other Cat 1 boys rolled up behind them. We took off and stormed up the start hill, I was in about 35 elite men out of the elite men going into the single track after all the climbing. It was a 20 mile 3 lap race for me, I kept the pace and slowly picked more people off the whole race. The course was awesome, technical and super fun. My legs were surprisingly good after they opened up but no where near full strength, I rode a clean race and left it all out on the course, I ended up 2nd out of the juniors and 1st in my age group. It was a great first Cat 1 race and unfortunately I will only be doing one more this year. Next up is Lake Geneva CX and then Trek CXC Cup!