My first Chequamegon and Lake Geneva Cross

On a last minute change of logistica I rode up to Hayward with my coach, Joseph Maloney, Thursday afternoon. We went for a quick spin around the lake and then hopped in the car for the five hour drive. We arrived at my family friends, The Jackson's house just past 10 and I went straight to bed. The next morning I hung around the house with the Jackson's before heading over to pre-ride the course with them. It was an interesting course and the rolling birkie trail was challenging but fun. We headed back, washed bikes, had a massive dinner and hit the hay. The next morning everyone woke up early and I headed over to the race with my parents. I eventually found my back tag and warmed up on some awesome ATV trails near the start and then lined up in the start grid. They fired the gun and we took off, Sam Olson went straight to the front and hammered the pack to 32 mph. By the end of the first climb shortly after the start it was down to a group of five. Sam Olson and Sam Elsen pulled the entire race and once we got onto the birkie trail we were down to a group of 4. Going into the final climb over the ski hill I attacked a little too early and both Sams went by because they had more momentum from the downhill just beforehand. I kept hammering but Sam Elsen got a gap and finished four seconds ahead of me. I managed to pass Sam Olson back right before the finish to take second overall. It was a fantastic first Chequamegon Short & Fat and although it was my goal to win I am content with 2nd overall, there is always next year! :)  It has been one heck of a MTB season and has been my best so far by a long shot! I would like to thank my team, Team Wisconsin presented by KS energy services/MOSH as well as Emery's Cycling one last time for the amazing support this season as well as ESI grips and Wolf Tooth components.

Love the Northwoods!

Love my new Trek CXC bikes and kits!

After the awards ceremony my family and I drove over to my cabin an hour and a half east in Minocqua where we had dinner with my uncle and Grandpa before driving all the way home to Madison. The next morning my dad and I woke up late, packed the car with my cyclocross gear and drove to Lake Geneva. The course was super fun and technical with lots of awesome features! Andy Schmidt and I warmed up together before heading to the start. Andy pulled the hole shot and I settled into the top group of five. The group stuck together almost the whole race until a rider slid out with three laps to go and caused a split. Andy and Casey Hildebrandt got ahead and Jordan and I started chasing hard. The next lap while in third I slid out in a corner and dropped back to fourth and unfortunately fell out of reach of Andy and Casey. I chased hard but couldn't pull Jordan Roessingh back over the next two laps and took fourth. I was happy with my finish considering the mistakes I made and was the only one who had raced the day before. This coming weekend I will be doing some big training and then its time for my first 17-18 UCI race in Providence, Rhode Island on the 3rd and 4th of October, time to represent my new team Trek Cyclocross Collective on the national scene!!!

I am also very proud to announce that I will be working with Lizard Skins this cyclocross season! I started using their products a couple of years ago and their bar tape is the best on the market! I can't wait to represent them on the 17-18 UCI circuit this fall and in other national races!

Cyclocross is here!- Silver Creek and Sheboygan!

Manitowoc

Saturday morning we took the drive up to Manitowoc  for the first cross race of the season and it was an awesome course! I lined up second row behind Brian Matter and they blew the whistle. I stuck on his wheel and was 5th into the first corner. The race was super fast and intense with many technical sections. I was in a group with Travis Braun and Scott Mclaughlin fighting for 4th. We stayed together until the last few laps of the hour long race. Travis got a gap, while Scott and I duked it out for the rest of the race. Going into the final lap I sprinted up the run up as fast I could and got a 15 second gap on Scott. I drilled the rest of the lap not making mistakes to take 4th! It was a shocking and painful reminder of how hard cross is but as soon as I crossed the line I remembered how incredibly awesome it is. After the race I cooled down for awhile with Brian Matter and Bill Street and then headed over to Travis Braun's family farm outside Manitowoc. A big group of people stayed over so we had a super fun evening and night hanging out. The next morning we woke up, saw the five minute old baby calf, had breakfast and then drove the 45 down to Sheboygan.

Sheboygan

I saw some of the races, warmed up and went to the start. I was 5th off the line and into the first corner, I passed two people through the barriers and into third. At the end of the first lap Brian passed me and started chasing down Tristan and Dan. I settled in with Michael Dutczak who I rode the entire race with. We rode the next 11 laps together, slowly riding away from Scott, Travis, and David Reyes who were hunting us almost the whole race. Scott and his group closed the gap to about 15 seconds with five to go but Michael and I turned it up a notch and opened the gap to over 30 seconds over the next couple laps. Going into the final lap Michael and I were neck and neck but I couldn't quite get him at the end and finished 5th on the podium. 

My new Boone 9 Disc was absolutely amazing and my CX1 gruppo is so smooth and fast, also Katie Compton's race wheels from last year certainly helped! I'm so stoked to open up the season and my first races for Trek Cyclocross Collective with two podiums in the pro field!

Nearing the end of MTB season

After I got 17th in my first pro race back in June at Camrock I set a goal for my self to crack the top 15 and then the top 10 before the mtb season was over. Three weeks ago I cracked the top 15 and since this was my last WORS for the season so it was now or never! After a short warm up due to the 90 degree temps I headed to the start. We charged up the start hill and after a smart inside pass I was in about 10th heading down the big descent down the ski hill. Unfortunately I dropped my chain due to a shifting issue and had to stop while everyone flew by me. I hopped back on and thinking my chances of a top ten were ruined I angrily started hammering my way back from 25th place. Due to the heat I sorta felt like I was dying and was pretty unsure if I was gonna survive going into my second lap. I perservered and kept moving up with a group on my tail. I managed to stay ahead and eventually the group broke apart, going into the final lap I finally caught up to Casey and into 9th. With a quarter of a lap to go Cory came flying by us, I jumped on his wheel and we dropped Casey. Cory drilled it and I stuck on his wheel and we sprinted it out to the line. I couldn't quite get him but was still stoked for my first top 10 and my first 19-23 WORS Pro/Elite Men age group win!!! Cyclocross season kicks off tomorrow and Chequamegon, my final mtb race of the season is next weekend!

WORS #8 Collectivo Coffee Bean Classic, and NICA #1!

Since my parents were dropping my sister off at college I got a ride with Isaac Neff, along with Mark and Lisa Harms. It was about 90 degrees out so thankfully Lisa was nice enough to do bottles for us! I had a great start and settled into the top 20. I moved up the whole race and once I got in a group with Parker and Fletcher we were flying! At the end of the third lap Fletcher attacked and neither of us could follow, he drilled to an 8th place overall and I fought off Parker and caught one other rider for my 12th place overall in the pro men! I was so pumped to knock off another season goal of a top 15 in the pro men! Next up is Treadfest in Lake Geneva where I hope to achieve my top 10!!!

Interview with Don!

I was so stoked to take the win at the first NICA race of the season! I took the lead into the first single track section and attacked. I led off the front for the four laps of the hour and a half race. It hurt and probably wasn't the smartest tactic but it was a ton of fun! It was great to race the high school league and to see so, so many kids out racing! Many for the first time!