Ore to Shore

This is a very late race report but goes the a quick summary!

Nothing beats a fresh pasty! 

I left Friday afternoon with my dad and we drove the 5.5 hours to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan fueled by Yooper pasties.

Saturday we were up early for breakfast and then headed over to Negaunee for packet pick up.
Then I got on the bike and warmed up with my teammate Brian Matter, before crowding into the front row of the 1000 person mass start.

I was quick off the line and settled into the front group quickly. After the road section and first couple of grueling climbs we were down to a total nine riders at the front of the race including riders such as Jeff Hall, Tristan Schouten, Pete Karinen, Brian, and last years winner Jordan Wakeley.

After that selection by mile ten, it was 30+ miles of sitting in the group and suffering with Brian through mud, sand, gravel, fire roads and endless rolling climbs. With five miles to go things started to heat up and I got popped off the front group along with Jordan Wakely. We duked it out until the last 200 yards when I out-sprinted him to take 8th place overall out of nearly 1,000 starters.

Shortly after that I was elated to find out Brian took the win!!! The icing on the cake was some cliff jumping into a frigid Lake Superior in our full kits mid cool-down. Matter and I have had a lot adventures in a lot of different states this year!

Linear Sport Racing Team!

The Trek Top Fuel was the perfect machine for the grueling 48 mile race.

WORS #8 Hixon Forest Epic

A few weeks late but here is my race report from Hixon Forest Epic!

After two chill weeks following MTB Nats it was time to race again! I drove to La Crosse solo and as I got closer and closer I saw ominous rain clouds closing in from the West. So, I set my tire pressure for mud and crossed my fingers hoping for a downpour. Sure enough. 20 minutes before the start it started coming down.

The first lap things were a little slick but the water hadn't soaked in yet. Cole, Isaac Pete, Mark Lalonde and I drilled it on the slightly sloppy course for that first lap. Coming into the second lap the conditions were totally different. The hundred other racers had ripped up the course turning it into a absolute slick, sloppy mud fest. I started that second lap in fourth place a bit behind the lead three and ahead of Pete. Pete caught me at the end of the second lap and we rode together braving the mud that was getting stickier and slower by the second until I made a few mistakes at the end of the third lap and lost his wheel.

Fletcher caught me at the beginning of the fourth and final lap and we rode together until he unfortunately broke his chain with half a lap to go. I rolled in solo happy to finish fifth behind such tough competition.

Two muddy team mates!

Bike doubled in weight throughout the race!

As always, big thanks to all my sponsors, Linear Sport, Trek Bikes, Bontrager, Wheel & Sprocket, Styled Aesthetic, Kettle Moraine Preservation and Restoration, and David Hobbs Honda, as well as Honey Stinger, Mike's Mix, Englewood Grass Farm, Wolf Tooth Components and ESI Grips! Next up will be an Ore to Shore report followed by a Indiana MTB race(DINO).

Lastly, if you haven't already heard, I have been selected to represent Team USA at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns, Australia on September 7th. It is a very costly trip and I am trying to raise funds to help me get there. Please click the link and help if you can! Thank you! https://usacycling.rallyme.com/rallies/8973/sendcalebtoworlds

Cross Country National Championships

After Thursday's big short track race I spent all of Friday just chilling out in the condo, only leaving for an hour to ride in the pouring rain. I felt like I had my lines dialed and felt ready to give it my all on the muddy technical course.

Saturday morning it was business as usual and I was prepped to race at 1:30. Around 10:30 I found out my start was delayed until 2:30. I adjusted accordingly and started my warm at 1:45, and rolled up to the start at 2:15. There I found out the start was delayed and after two thirty minute delays we got called to staging. I got my call up and lined up second row. Adrenaline surged through me as they counted down and blew the whistle. The guy in front of me missed his pedal and I cut to the inside around him. We hammered into the first corner and after that I entered the single track downhill about 7th wheel.

Kevin and Trevor got a slight gap on my group on the first climb and we pursued them at a ruthless pace. On the first lap I was a bit worried about how my race was going to go. My legs weren't quite warmed up yet and I struggled to hold my position on the climbs. Coming into the second lap I started to feel better and more comfortable.

The six of us kept pushing the pace and our group started to shake up a bit. Connor Patton dropped off part way through the second lap after a crash and Calder Wood fell off on the third lap due to cramping.

It was down to me, Gaelen, Nick and Paul. We heard that Trevor had gotten a flat and that we were now fighting for second place! I started to strategically put in efforts where I knew I had advantages, slowly whittling away at my competitors. Gaelen still had plenty of juice going into the fourth lap and layed down the power. Only I stayed on his wheel and we broke away from Nick and Paul. I held on tight as long as I could but got popped part way through that fourth lap.

Photo: Kenny Wehn

Photo: Kenny Wehn

I came into the fifth and final lap in third place knowing someone was hunting me down. Thar someone was Connor Patton. After his gnarly crash early in the race he charged the next three laps fighting back up to us. Unfortunately I didn't have the gas to fend him off, coming into the final steep climb I was completely cracked and Connor rode right by me into third place.

Photo: Kenny Wehn

When I crossed the line I had absolutely nothing left to give, and was completely and totally empty. The course, the conditions, the competitions, were some of the toughest I ever faced.

Photo: Kenny Wehn

It hurt to miss out so narrowly on a bronze medal, but I am still immensely proud of my effort. I know I gave it everything I had and I still ended up fourth, which is my best xc nats finish by a long shot.

Photo: Kenny Wehn

This was a huge break through for me in my racing. It really proved to myself that all the work I have put in has been worth it, which has been incredibly motivating. For some nationals is the end of the mtb season, but I have another WORS race, Ore to Shore and then a full season of collegiate mountain biking with Marian University!

Now time for a few thank yous! First off, thank you to my friends and family for their amazing support and encouragement! Next up, huge thank you to my coach, Joseph Maloney for always helping me push myself and for helping me reach the next level. Next up big thank to all my sponsors, thank you to Linear Sport, Trek Bikes, Bontrager, Wheel & Sprocket, Styled Aesthetic, Kettle Moraine Preservation and Restoration, and David Hobbs Honda, as well as Honey Stinger, Mike's Mix, Englewood Grass Farm, Wolf Tooth Components and ESI Grips!