Midwest MTB Report: Chequamegon Preview Edition

Pretty much a textbook perfect fall weekend for mountain biking. Couldn't ask for better conditions for racing and riding. This weeks report includes recaps from the Minnesota racing scene, a report from the inaugural Grand Traverse in Duluth, a special report from Gary Sjoquist who was in Durango over the weekend for Ned Overend and Todd Well's Durango Dirt Fondo which celebrated the first ever World Mountain Bike championships and a look ahead which includes our annual preview for the Chequamegon Fat Tire Forty with a list of the favorites in the 40 mile race.

SingleTrack Escape

The "Jail Trail" was host to series racing in Minnesota for both the MNMBS and HS Cycling League. The Jail Trail features snappy riding on a course that was buffed to perfection by the Mid Minn Cycling Club and ideal race conditions only made the riding faster. Quick turns and berms requires riders to be dialed in 100% and hole shot at a top priority to get to the singletrack first and avoid the bottlenecks.

Race official extraordinaries Kris and Kyia Anderson provide a recap as well as Anne Ellefson who also was coaching HS kids on Sunday after racing Saturday.  

Kyia Anderson's recap:

Great weather greeted all the volunteers at course set up on Friday (and held through the entire weekend!) as the MMCC and MN High School League set the course for the Revolution Cycle and Ski Single Track Escape. The weekend serves as the primary fund raiser for both the MMCC (Mid MN Cycling Club) and the Central Minnesota Nordic Ski Club and good weather is always a plus!

Racing got underway Saturday with Kids Comp where racers did ~½ a lap of the course under excellent conditions. Custom granite trophies were taken by Cooper Camp and Isabella Mazion! Special recognition goes out to Phoebe Hackensack (4 yrs old of the MMCC for completing the Kids Comp Course!).

Citizen commenced thereafter for 1 full loop of the Jail Trail! While rock gardens were omitted the twisty tight singletrack coupled with passing lanes serves as a great test to riders bike handling skills, acceleration and fitness. Top honors and of course custom granite trophies were awarded to Matt Nelson and Sudie Hall. Special recognition goes out to Ted Schmid in 3rd place overall (MMCC member and owner of Avon Lumber) for donating lumber and materials for the replacement bridges at the event!

The Sport race continued under blue bird conditions and featured 2 laps of the Jail Trail. Taking top honors and granite home were Anna Christen and Andrew Urban.

The Marathon Race had a large contingent of racers and many racers from Revolution Cycle and Ski's own Metal Squad. Racers navigated 2 hours of the Citizen/Sport course followed by the last 2 hours of the Comp/Elite course featuring the famous 2 rock gardens and 3 drop off sections! The Marathon sorted itself out within the first hour or so and saw official race director and Revolution Cycle and Ski co-owner Benjamin Doom out front with Pamela Nielsen in front for the women. Benjamin ended up winning with about 2 minutes on Alex Meyer while Pamela was about 20 minutes out front for the women.

The Comp race featured three races; Comp Mens, Comp Fat Bike, and Comp Single Speed (and the Single Speed State Championship!). Comp Men was won by Eric Pirius who tackled 3 laps with rock gardens in a time of 1:35:40.2. Comp Fat Bike was won by Dan Funke and Sheila Cushy Amo! Comp Single Speed and the State Championship was taken by Daniel Logan and Melissa Jacobs.

The Elite Race featured 4 laps for men and 3 laps for women on the famous tight, rock garden ladled single track. Spectators in the rock gardens were in for a treat as over the years riders have mastered the rocks and learned the lines to ride the course fast! The mens race was taken by Dominic Talerico (4 laps in 1:56:22) with Mason Bacso in second only 30 seconds back! Kyia Anderson (Podiumwear) who has quietly become slightly less retired in racing over the last month or two took a convincing win on her home course in a time of 1:33:07.8 (3 laps). Robyn Williams was second in 1:39:16.

As the announcer on the day it was fun to give out some great prizes from Revolution Cycle and Ski and see both Ben Doom (marathon win) and Kyia Anderson (women's elite win) who had done lots of work for the race & trails also have great races on the day!

Sunday brought another round of clear skies and over 700 high school racers to the Jail Trail!

Today many local cyclists in the area attended the funeral of John Seiler (MMCC member) who last Tuesday was riding on the road on a large shoulder when he was stuck from behind by a vehicle and killed. John who always helped out with trail work, raced and was an extremely caring individual would have been proud to see his trail work lead to over 700 high school racers on Sunday! It was great to see the connection after todays' service and see his work lead to opportunities for others for his spirit and passion to live on.

Anne Ellefson's recap:

The MNMBS was a fun race with the ladies as we stuck close together and gave shout outs through the woods to cheer each other on.

Anna Christian, Martha Flynn and Kelly Skillcorn went off the front and hit the single track first, It was Laura B. and Becky Alexander next,.We wound are way through the twists and turns of the jail trails and when there was an opportunity to pass I let Andrea Horner through to get up wear she belonged. It was great following her line and lean into the turns but I could not keep her wheel and dropped back 10-15 seconds behind her. Always in sight or sound I kept the gas on and pushed to that edge with my skill, Julie Gujer came up on my wheel and we went back and I let her by. I hung on to her wheel for a bit as she pulled us up closer to the group of three women, they felt within reach. I made a pass on the ski trail and we used our sweet bike ninja skills to stay together and bring it in to the finish. We met Becky, Laura and Andrea at the finish smiling ear to ear and we high fived each other while passing stories.

What great fun we had and decided it was an awesome race to end the Series. Hung at awards, saw all the familiar faces and was thoroughly entertained by race announcer Kris Anderson and his outfit choice on the day?

The high school race was quite the event with just over 730 official racers. I have to say as a racer myself this had to be an overwhelming experience for our first time racers as the number of kids in each category was very large! This number is on the level of what I have experienced at National level Xterra and Mountain Bike Nationals! GIves you a taste of what they experience and readiness if you choose to race at that level.

Although it can feel like a lot of rules and regulating I have to say it does become a case of crowd control!

I am proud of the kids etiquette on and off course?.passing and being passed etiquette,respecting the helmet strapped at all times on the bike,red tape course crossings and call up procedures.

What an effort that was put in for this 2 day weekend by MMCC Thank you!

MNMBS Results 
Minnesota Cycling League Results 
Video Highlights

Gitchi Gummi Traverse

As Duluth expands the incredible network of trails, area riders have engaged the current network to provide a 50 mile epic event as future plans include a 100 mile event on the entire trail system. Griffin Myslivecek provides a recap of this years version:

Tim and Odia Krueger, owners of Advocate Cycling Productions, put on the inaugural Gitchee Gumee Traverse this weekend in Duluth. The GGT was a 38 mile point-to-point race, starting at Piedmont and ending at Mont du Lac. As with all other events that Advocate Cycling Productions puts on (such as the Chequamegon 100), 100% of the proceeds go towards building more trails, by being donated to the event location ? COGGS in this case. With the help of the 68 participants they raised over $3,700! Twin Six and Angry Catfish's sponsorship paid for the operational costs of the event, which included a shuttle service from Mont du Lac to Piedmont's trail head.

The race took us through Piedmont, Brewer, Spirit Mountain, Mission Creek and ended in the parking lot of Mont du Lac. My favorite part of the ride was the DWP trail between Spirit and Mission Creek. Views of Lake Superior and the surrounding bluffs were spectacular! The DWP trail brought us through an old tunnel where rock had fallen and parts of it were pitch-black. Despite getting off my bike at this point I still struggled to get through without stumbling over the large sharp rocks ? pretty unique and memorable experience for a MTB race.

Mont du Lac supplied Sandwiches and a Taco Bar at the chalet following the race. Several of us stayed to embrace the good weather we had that day, the food and fellowship. This is a great event put on by two cycling service junkies that give our sport and community a ton of love. Thanks Odia and Tim for all your hard work!

Durango Dirt Fondo

MNMBS Series Director and QBP Advocacy Director Gary Sjoquist attended the Ned and Todd's Durango Dirt Fondo 2015 event over the weekend. The event, hosted by Specialized racers Ned Overend and Todd Wells, was an anniversary of the historic World Cup win in Durango by Overend 25 years ago.

The weekend included a Land Manager Symposium on Friday, 25 and 50-mile Grand Fondo races on Saturday, and a Sunday NICA Benefit Breakfast. A Saturday night party at the Powerhouse Science Center in Durango offered racers and volunteers a museum-like collection of historic bikes, gear, and photos from the 1990 event. Sunday's NICA Benefit Breakfast raised nearly $5000 for NICA.

With all Salsa demo bikes at Interbike, Sjoquist rode a LaMere mid-fat for the event. The bike was a LeMere carbon fat bike frame running 27.5 carbon rims and a Lauf fork. "Even a 21lb all carbon bike can't make up for 62-year old lungs from MN when it comes to long rocky climbs at 8,000 ft," said Sjoquist. "But it was an awesome event and a cool way to acknowledge a historic time in mountain bike racing."

While Specialized racer Todd Wells scorched the 50-mile event, notable finishers for the 25-mile event included MNMBS and Minnesota High School Cycling League alumni Sam Hayden (Duluth) and Ethan Depman (Rochester). Both now race for Fort Lewis College's mountain bike racing team. Hayden finished 4th overall, averaging just under 13 mph for a brutally hard, rocky course. Depman was 8th.

Bikemag photos and a write-up of the event

Steve Tilford's blog posts from Durango Dirt Fondo 

Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival

Hard to believe Chequamegon week is upon us. The foliage in the northwoods still has the appearance of late August maybe early September. Regardless, another classic mountain bike race weekend is on tap with the full range of riders battling at the front for the overall win and many folks just happy to complete the full 40 mile race and even the 16 mile event and spend time with like minded folk.

All signs are pointing to another great weekend with dialed in race conditions and the forecast at this point looks favorable for fast and dry riding.

We preview a handful of riders for the 40 mile race, both male and female.

Male Favorites

Although there doesn't look to be any fast guys from "out of town" the field is as stacked as ever with a solid crop of shredders from Minnesota and Wisconsin and the usual suspects from neighboring states.

• Brian Matter- With five CFTF 40 race wins it is hard to bet against Matter. From a tactical standpoint he knows exactly what has to happen and when. Knowing where to be at the precise moment to pull it off only comes from experience and added bonus when you win it. It also takes a bit of luck as many top riders over the years have fallen victim to flats, broken chains etc. and amazingly Matter has avoided all that. His form seems to be dialed in once again this year and I don't think anyone would be surprised to see him pull off an historical sixth win, just amazed in bewilderment is all.
• Tj Woodruff- As I said have said many times, one day TJ should win this event. He had a great race last year, pulling out a third place and just 9 seconds from the win. Born and raised nearby in Spooner, the area is home to him and he knows the trails and course well like so many others. TJ had some some solid National finishes earlier this season and look to him to be near the front once again.
• Eric Thompson- At the age of 25, Eric was one of three riders under the age of 30 to crack the top 10 last year in a race that favors the seasoned, grizzled vets. Eric is a big strong rider that has no problem being the driving the force in the pack. Once again Eric has had a great season, motivated as ever after dealing with some health issues that kept him on the sidelines a few years ago. Great to see him back riding strong and another top 5 finish is certain.
• Jeff Hall- After taking a few years off from hard core racing where he was one of the few local riders to really hit the National and world cup scene hard, Hall has been racing throughout the summer after a busy winter of fat bike racing. His form is dialed in from weekly commuting that sees him log over 250 miles a week. I talked to Jeff at Seeley Hills Pre-Fat and he said it is in his blood to keep on doing Chequamegon. Does he have what it takes to pull off another win? Most definitely. Halls racing style is to ease in to the race, powering through like a diesel locomotive which could be a concern in Cheq where a fast start and hanging with the front group is key. With that said, I was surprised to see him go at the front in the Maplelag short track and break things apart so early in the race and eventually go on to win. I think his form is a bit better than last year where he finished 12th overall.
• Jesse Lalonde- Jesse secured his legacy in the Chequamegon when he won the 40 a few years back in single speed. That's right, one gear only folks. If there is one win that people talk about today, especially among fellow single speeders, it is basically bad ass how he rode away in just one gear. Considering all the dynamics of Chequamegon, it is truly an incredible feat. Jesse has once again been at the front this season including some wins in probably one of the most competitive years in the Elite class in Minnesota. There are a ton of fast guys in Minnesota right now that even if 2-4 don't show up, it is still impressive to pull off the win.
• Josh Bauer-Josh has become the fan favorite this season, taking his first ever wins in the Minnesota series all the while gearing up for the upcoming cross season, his main cycling focus. His form is coming around nicely and his compete level might be the highest in the field, maybe not so much for Chequamegon since his focus is cross. Either way you know he will be doing everything possible to be in the front group and hold it until the line. Josh elevated his himself to rock star status after jumping on a plane at the last minute to race cross over in China, of all places. After two races, he came back stateside than traveled north to race at Maplelag. Personally, if I have one rider I would like to see pull it off this year, it would be Josh. Super classy move to drop me a personal email while he was busy preparing to go to China to say he still planned on coming up to Maplelag. It spoke volumes to me and I can only say good things about his character and demeanor as a racer.
• Isaac Neff- Isaac was one of the three riders to be in the top 10 last year, throwing it down in the main group. He has had another solid season in the WORS series, and has the experience of racing the 40 to improve on his seventh place finish from last year.
• David Lombardo- David was the youngest finisher with the highest placing in last years 40 miler at the young age of 18 just missing the top 10 with the 11th spot. Posting a high finish among the veterans is a nice accomplishment and the Crystal Lake, IL rider is ready to rip it up again with big dogs.
• Michael Olheiser- Michael has been Mr Consistent in the most recent Chequamegons, pulling out a top 5 finish last year. I don't know much about Michael coming from Alabama other than a distant relative of mine ran in to Michael at a local supermarket, saw he was wearing a Chequamegon shirt, knew my association with the race, and said something to him and a connection was made. Neat stuff. Once again he will be a factor in the front group.
• Tristan Schouten- On paper, Tristan is a rider who should be placed at the top. He has rich road, cross and mountain bike background and all the ingredients to take a win. He has had some top finishes over the years including a 8th place last year. Some year he is destined to win the thing.
• Jack Hinkens- Jack hasn't been as visible in the race scene this year as other years but you can't count him out of a top 20 finish if not higher with his pure raw talent and compete level and the times he has raced locally, he has been right up there.
• Corey Stelljes- Another strong Wisconsin rider that had a very impressive 6th place finish last year, just loosing out in a sprint by a hair to Olheiser. Has had another solid season, should be in the mix for a top 10 finish, probably higher.
• Michael Phillips- Michael is another rider that can't shake the Chequamegon off his race list, even though he has been racing less with his heavy involvement with a specialty meat service. One of the seasoned, grizzled vets of the Chequamegon that always seems to pull off a top 15 finish and should do the same this year.
• Joe Maloney- Joe flies a bit under the radar racing a bit more nationally, which gives him a bit of an edge. But as we all know about Chequamegon, there is no other race like it. If all goes well for Joe, he should nail down a top 10 finish again and might be a surprise rider to step on the coveted podium.
• Brendan Bellew- Brendan scratched out a top 15 finish last year and has another year of racing under his belt with some solid results in the Minnesota series. Should be able to improve on his top 15 placing from last year.
• Dominic Talerico- Scored a win in a strong field in the Minnesota series earlier in the season. Has been training hard, no reason not to be in the top 20 if not higher.
• Steve Tilford- Tilford has to be mentioned, even at the age of 55, as a contender. He shocked the mountain bike endurance world this summer pulling off an incredible win in the Lutsen 99er. A feat that even Jeff Hall said was amazing but stated plain and simple "the guy knows how to race a bike". When all those riders are lined up, it would probably take 10 of them to equal the number of races Tilly has done his lifetime, including a grueling Durango Dirt Fondo last weekend. The legend continues to impress.
• Ben Olson- Most people will probably say "Who is Ben Olson?" Ben gets the nod as the dark horse in this years race. Ben is a guy I have gotten to know the past two years that is an incredible raw talent with tremendous upside. In just his second season of full on racing, he has gone from dominating the Sport class in Minnesota, to dominating the Comp class and now made the jump to Elite, pulling off two back to back top 10 finishes in Minnesota. I featured Ben's trails in a report a few weeks ago and on Monday Ben rode a loop including part of his trails climbing almost 3000 feet in just over 20 miles! I've had the chance to ride with Ben multiple times this summer, road and off-road and his bike handling skills, for not having any technical background, are incredible. Although those skills won't particularly be needed in Chequamegon, he's got a diesel engine that coming from wave three, folks in wave 2 and the back part of wave 1 better watch out when he comes around. Ha!

Notes:

Cole House will be one rider not on the start line despite a very impressive mountain bike season, if not one of his best ever. We were unable to confirm why he wouldn't be able to make this years version but many riders agreed he was the clear favorite for this year.

Dennis Kruse hit the big 7-0 this year and gets the mention for top nod in the old-guys-that-rule category. "Jeff Austin along with Dennis are the two Fat Tire Founders who have done all 32 & this year 33 Chequamegon 40's", reports race director Gary Crandall. "The elite gate 1 assignment is an honorary nod to their first front row starting position in 1983. They are a big component of our decades long history." states Crandall.

Female Favorites

With a handful of top 10 riders from last year absent from the start sheet sent to me, the race will be open for some new top ten faces. Expect a tight battle at the front though.

• Chloe Woodruff- The USA Cycling National Mountain bike champ is back for a go and another title. Chloe is having probably her best summer of impressive results nationally and internationally. She is the clear favorite and should be standing on the top wood block atop Telemark bowl.
• Jenna Rinehart- Last years reigning champion and also a five time winner might not have the results as previous years on the local scene that doesn't make Jenna any slower. She has been busy being a bike shop owner but still putting the miles in, focusing a bit more on the gravel scene. Jenna has that experience like Matter, on what it takes to win. Racing with the guys adds a whole new element as the female pack racing isn't prevalent like the front of the race with the males.
• Sara Kylander-Johnson- Even though Sara can slay the rocks, roots and techy stuff like no ones business she can also drill it on the fast fire roads and ski trails. She has had a great summer, winning a lot of races and staying healthy, which says a lot when she has battled through concussions and other injuries. Sara is fit as ever and I wouldn't be surprised to see her add another win to her collection.
• Kyia Anderson- The Super D (now called Enduro) podium placer at National Championships a few years back, Kyia is always laughing and smiling but when the racing gets serious and intense, look out. I was super stoked when Kyia nailed a top 5 finish at the Ore to Shore, just loosing out in a sprint finish to Sara Kylander-Johnson. It was great to see Kyia back on the race scene even though she has "retired". I was even more stoked to see her at Maplelag, pounding out two laps on the rocks, roots and gnarly terrain in a tropical like environment. As of Sunday, Kyia was not racing the Chequamegon but after attending the funeral this week for John Seiler, a rider who "lived" for Chequamegon, she felt moved to race. Kyia coming in as last minute with awesome form from some solid training this summer is going to make for an exciting throw down in the female event.
• Kaitlyn Patterson- To be honest, I don't know much about Kaitlyn but anyone that wins the Ore to Shore is a contender for Chequamegon. She is ready to roll on the start line and will be a rider other female riders will need to keep an eye on.
• Rebecca Sauber- Rebecca represents the super nice and friendly vibe in the mountain biker community. Strong results with some wins in both the short and intense cross country races with equal results in the epic endurance events put her at one of the most well rounded riders in the Midwest. Just missed the podium last year by 30 seconds, she could make it this year. All for the glory of God!
• Jennifer Nowlin- Jennifer has always posted consistent finishes in the 40 and no reason she shouldn't do the same this year.
• Catherine Wahlberg- A seasoned rider with plenty of experience. If the pieces fit together, a top 10 placing should be in the works.
• April Morgan- What was said about Nowlin could be said about Morgan. A nice season wrapping up for April and looks to improve maybe a spot or two from last year.
• Linda Sone- Linda doesn't race much mountain bike but she is fit and fast! A bit of a wild card with no hands being dealt so to speak on the mountain scene locally but a top five would't be surprising with her cycling background.
• Linda Cooper- The fast female formally from Fargo, Linda keeps the wheels moving nicely, mixing it up with the guys on weekly rides and pounding some hard gravel miles to prepare herself for Chequamegon.
• Sara Morse- Sara has been across the country this summer nailing some sweet shreds and having fun on the bike -- what it is all about folks. The training and diversity should bode well for another top finish among the females.

Have a great and safe race everyone!

Parting Video

I was passed along a neat video about mountain biking in Alaska, thank you Mike Mason. Definitely a bucket list area!

Looking Ahead

One more event this weekend...

Kappel's Challenge - Inaugural mountain bike races at Detroit Mountain Recreation Area this Saturday, September 19th.

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 25th year of racing and promoting mountain bike races.