Midwest MTB Racing Report
An intense weekend of racing with the big WORS cup at Cascade Mountain drawing some of the top pros in the country and a strong field racing in Duluth at Lester Park for the Minnesota series. This weeks report includes coverage from the WORS Cup and a first hand report from the Great Hawk chase. Also a link to an interesting perspective on natural vs machine built trails and the look ahead.
WORS Cup
Cascade Mountain was host to a full weekend of mountain bike racing with short track racing kicking off on Friday night, Super D and Pro XC races on Saturday and amateur xc racing on Sunday. Many top Pros from around the country rolled in to take on the Wisconsin Pros on their home turf. Chequemegon 40 sensation Brian Matter had a strong showing, posting podium finishes in both the short track and cross country. Todd Nutter reports from Wisconsin as posted on Cyclingnews.com:
The sixth race for the Wisconsin Off Road Series (WORS) also happened to be the penultimate event for the US Pro Cross Country Tour or Pro XCT, giving competitors seeking national recognition a final chance to race before cross country national. The newly named WORS Cup was held in a new venue compared to previous Pro XCT races in Wisconsin. Conveniently located near Madison, Cascade Mountain in Portage, Wisconsin hosted the three-day event.
The elite women raced for five laps of a 3.6-mile course. The newly designed track featured a more than fair amount of climbing mixed with a number of man-made obstacles to keep riders on their toes and out of their saddles. Volunteers have been working on the course for several weeks in preparation for the event. Spectators lined the trail in sections like the Boarder Lans, an obstacle course featuring a gap jump followed by a section of whoops and a descent through a set of timber stairs. This was followed by the Trek Skills Area which consisted of a curved wood bridge between two narrow trees followed by a fan filled stepped rock garden descent. The trail came back on itself a few times to allow the crowds many cheering and photo opportunities.
The lap started with a steep, sandy climb. Some early confusion by a few riders at the top allowed Evelyn Dong (backcountry.com) to take the lead. She handled the course smoothly and stretched out her gap on each lap.
Behind her was Erin Huck (Tokyo Joes-VCGraphix.com) trying to close the gap. Huck had been right on the wheel of Chloe Woodruff in the short track on Friday night for a second place finish in that race, too, so she finished the weekend with two silver medals.
Third and fourth spots were up in the air until Megan Carrington (Naked Womens Racing USA) moved away from Chloe Woodruff (Backcountry.com) to solidify third place. Woodruff finished strong with fourth place added to her short track win from the night before.
The day had been warm and sticky, which is customary in Wisconsin. But for the elite men's cross country event, the skies opened up and left the trail a sketchy mess. The dirt is very hard packed and fast when dry, but gained a layer of mud in the later laps for an added element of caution.
Todd Wells (Team Specialized) battled against Stephen Ettinger (BMC Mountainbike Racing) for much of the race. But, according to Ettinger, Wells took a few turns a little better and climbed a few hills with better traction in the mud.
Wells said that it was almost comical the way they were trying to stay upright. Several photos showed racers with one foot unclipped, taking turn motocross style.
But, in the end, the Olympian Wells took the win. Ettinger grabbed a respectable second place to add to his short track gold. Local legend Brian Matter (KS Energy Services/Team WI) took an impressive third place to give him his best Pro XCT finish to date.
Matter combined his third place XCT finish with a third in short track to give him the best weekend results for any local WORS regular competitor. Rotem Ishay (Team Jamis Bikes) grabbed the fourth step on the podium. (Photo: WORS/Dave Reich)
Photoset: Dave Reich
Full coverage on CyclingNews.com
Great Hawk Chase
The Minnesota series headed north for the first time this year, taking on the fresh course at Lester Park. New trail had been built that was included in this years addition. Riders on course the day before found slick conditions and rain at the start of the elite races made things interesting at first but overall a great day of shredding according to the racers. The Minnesota series added a marathon class this year, which winner Brendan Moore stated "the popularity of the marathon class has surprised the MNMTBS folks (larger than the elite field). I am not surprised though!"
One of the riders racing in the marathon class was endurance specialist Ben Doom who, after a 7 year hiatus in the MNMBS, toed the line en route to a fourth place finish. Doom provides a recap:
It wasn’t till Thursday night that I decided to head North and do the Great Hawk Chase race in Duluth. Once work was finished Saturday the family and I packed the van and were on our way
Having received some rain Friday night the course was shortened a bit to eliminate the more muddy sections. My race, the Marathon class, started at 9:30, providing a bit more time for the course to dry out. The race started us up a nice up hill. I like hills at the start as it thins the crowd a bit. I was riding single speed so I really only have one speed going up. This allowed me to pass several riders. Once single track was hit I realized my skills at race pace need some improvement. But alas I never crashed or clipped a tree so I’m getting better!
We finished our first lap in about 30 minutes. At this point I was in a group of three. I passed them on the climbs and they caught up to me in the single track. At one point I rode away from them and caught the next group of two. It was then we started to hit race traffic. I lost the two riders I was with and was eventually joined by my first group. This group then became two and we would leap frog off and on the rest of the race. I looked forward to the start/finish loop for the energy of the crowd. It always pumps me up. Just wish I could make it last longer!
On lap 6 Matt Ryan, my riding partner on and off again all day, caught me near the end. He came up on me so fast I thought it was someone out pre riding the course. Nope, he was just that fast. I let him pass. I stayed with him as best I could. We started the climb on lap 7 together but I never passed him as I did in previous laps. I knew he was riding much stronger than I, he ended up 2nd! My goal was just not to let anyone else pass me. It started to rain a bit half way through my last lap. This made the trails super slick for me. On the climbs I have to stand as I’m on a single speed and my rear tire would constantly slip out. I was able to stay upright the entire lap, which is a small victory in itself!
I ended up 4th. I was super happy with that. Of course I had the “I should’ve” or “I could’ve” thoughts but being my first series race in 7 years I’ll take it.
I’m ready for more dirt. Super fun day on a great course. Duluth has something special going on up there. Hope to be back for more. (Photo: Todd Bauer)
Photoset: Todd Bauer
Results
Primitive or Machine Built
Kurt Gensheimer recently posted an interestin article on Mountain Bike Review about the beauty of primitive built trails. Below are excerpts;
"Raw, primitive trails are an integral part of the mountain bike experience. There is a place in this world for primitive trails, and it would be wise for organizations focused on trail building and advocacy to recognize this and let these trails be. Don’t try and repurpose primitive trails to appease the lowest common denominator. You’re doing a disservice to mountain biking.
Yes, I completely agree that sustainable trails are good for helping grow our young sport, but riding raw terrain originally cut by man or even animal and shaped by Mother Nature through rain, wind, snow, fallen trees and a number of other natural processes is innate to the experience of being in the great outdoors. Not every trail should be like a bike park or pump track.
We need primitive trails because they create an amazingly fun experience from a completely different perspective not hogtied by bureaucracy and red tape. And paradoxically, provided these primitive trails hold up over time, they become so cherished by users that they are adopted into existing trail networks…" (Photo: Derek Diluzio)
Check out Ken's full article
I am in the same boat as Ken, having started mountain biking on "raw, primitive and natural" trails. My inspiration to build trails came from these experiences. These trails I find most challenging and what really makes me enjoy mountain biking. The rapid expansion of flow trails has definitely introduced more people to the sport of mountain biking and they are certainly fun to ride, but given the choice, I'll choose the old school stuff.
Looking Ahead
The Minnesota series goes back to back, heading south to the hilly Afton Alps. Although the course isn't technical per se, the climbing puts it at one of the toughest races in the Midwest, in my opinion. The original trail system was constructed over a decade ago and has seen continual growth and improvements over the years. The trails are maintained by Afton Alps Ski area.
USA Cycling National Championships
Hundreds of the best mountain bikers in the country will return to Bear Creek Resort in eastern Pennsylvania on a quest for a coveted Stars-and-Stripes jersey. Between July 17 and 20, riders of all ages, including the top professionals, will take to the trails to compete in cross-country, short track cross-country and Super D.
Keep the wheels moving!
 | About the author... Jay Richards maintains a very active lifestyle. He somehow finds time between managing a full-time resort (Maplelag) and bringing up a family of four boys with his wife Jonell, to compete in both mountain bike and a few cross-country ski races. Jay rides for Maplelag Resort, manages the Maplelag/Paramount/Podiumwear mountain bike team and enters his 24th year of racing and promoting mountain bike races. |