WORS #1 Iola Bump and Jump

WORS season is finally here! For those who are new, WORS is the Wisconsin Off-Road Series, the largest and longest-running mtb series in the country. My parents started racing the series in the early 90s and got me started racing mountain bikes in 2009. 

Due to excessive snow, the Iola Bump and Jump was pushed back a weekend. This meant great weather and perfect dry/tacky conditions everywhere. I opted not to preride on Saturday and just drove the two hours up Sunday morning. It was great to be back on the WORS scene and see so many familiar faces after being away at college for nine months. 

Photo: Bradley Sovinski

I started off on the front row and was quick off the line along with Ben Senkerik going 1 and 2 into the first corner. Cole House and Pete Karinen came around us at the top of the ski hill climb and then we dropped into the bowl. Pete was putting down the hammer and I dangled just off the group of three. As we emerged from the first single track section I latched onto Ben but he was feeling the burn too and a small gap formed between Pete/Cole and Ben/me. I came around Ben and tried to close the gap for the rest of the first lap but just couldn't do it.

Photo: Bradley Sovinski

Ben passed me back at the start of the second lap and took up the hunt. We settled into a good pace and established a solid gap on the rest of the field.

Fueling up with a Honey Stinger gel! Photo: Bradley Sovinski

I led for the whole third lap and Ben took over again going into the fourth lap. At the climb half-way through the lap, Ben launched an attack and stayed on the gas trying to drop me. It almost popped me but I barely managed to stay on and did my best to recover.

Photo: Gary Smits

Ben stayed on the gas all the way back to the start of the same climb a lap later. As we approached the top I counterattacked as hard as I could up and over. I put it down as hard as I could for the rest of the lap navigating through lapped traffic emptying the tank.

Photo: Gary Smits

I finished in third with almost a 50-second gap on Ben and two minutes down on Cole House who won. These guys have been out at the Pro XCTs in California whereas this was my first race of the season, so no complaints from me! The handling skills felt good and the legs felt great, now I just need to work on not missing the podium :)

Missed the podium, so solo shot instead lol!

For any data nerds out there, here is my heart rate data from the race. You can see where I was leading from miles one-ish to five on lap one, where Ben was leading from miles 5-10 on lap two, where I lead again on lap three from miles 10-15, where Ben attacked on lap four around mile 17 and finally where I counterattacked on lap five around miles 22. 

Overall pretty stoked to open the season with a top three. Big thanks to my team Linear Sport  RT and our sponsors: Trek, Bontrager, Wheel & Sprocket, Styled Aesthetic, Kettle Moraine Preservation and Restoration, and David Hobbs Honda. Thank you to my personal sponsors, Englewood Grass Farm, Honey Stinger, Mike's Mix, Wolf Tooth Components and ESI Grips. In addition, new to my program this season are TOGS and Fox Racing Shocks, so huge thanks to them as well and I'm proud to be representing them. Next up is the Englewood Open on Saturday, I'm heading out there today to pre-ride and will be posting a course preview video soon!