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.
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| Love the Northwoods! |
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| 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!
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