Midwest MTB Report

by Jay Richards
August 16, 2023

This past weekend was a very busy one packed with a lot of racing and events. The mighty Ore to Shore brought top riders from the Midwest and beyond to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, while Minnesota Mountain Bike Series racing action took place at the Tioga trails outside Grand Rapids, and the iconic Leadville Trail 100 MTB race went down in the high country of Colorado. Also, the World Championships were being held concurrently in Scotland which featured some legendary finishes. Highlights from those events, including exclusive interviews with Jenna Rinehart and John Wessling who competed at Leadville, are part of this week's report, with a look ahead to some events coming up this weekend topping it all off.

Leadville Trail 100 MTB

The Leadville Trail 100 MTB is a race you must be prepared for, with distance and the elevation the two key components that make this such a demanding and tough race. A strong contingent from the Midwest was in attendance and produced some great results—congrats to all, great accomplishment. We interviewed two riders who participated: our featured rider, Jenna Rinehart, who is competing in the Life Time Grand Prix series, and Minnesota native John Wessling of Troll Training:

Jenna Rinehart:

Congratulations on the 8th place finish at Leadville! Very impressive. Going into the race, what were your expectations? I know there were some publications that had you as a rider to watch in the top 10. Obviously everything needs to go well but what was your mindset going into this?

Thanks! It was a special day where everything just came together. I was really trying to let go of any results expectations for this race. I'm still trying to figure out how to race these really long events and having never done this race before I wasn't sure what to expect of myself. I was trying to be in less of a race mindset and more of just an all day epic adventure mindset and challenge to complete. I wasn't feeling too nervous until I saw that "Top 10 Riders to Watch List '' come out. I was really honored to be included on that list but that definitely brought out the nerves a bit. I just didn't want to disappoint anyone.

A race of that magnitude with the distance, elevation and course is pretty complex. How did the race unfold?

Yes, this race is massive with distance and elevation. I think it was helpful to mentally break it into different segments. I kept telling myself just don't start too hard. I really wanted to be able to finish strong instead of the one who is fading at the end and getting passed. That was really tough at the end of the Crusher race when I got passed by so many at the end. The roll out to the first climb was super fast and a little sketchy. It sort of caught me off guard how hard it was for this type of a race. But it sounds like it was faster than previous years due to Keegan's teammate trying to help him go for the course record. My power meter was not connected to my Garmin for the first climb so I wasn't sure exactly how hard I was going. I just tried to go by perceived effort. I was able to connect to it on the next paved climb so that I could use it to help my pacing. I found myself in the main chase group with about 4 other women. All 5 of us come from more of a mountain bike background versus some of the other women so it was fun ripping a couple of the descents as a group. We'd have a couple other women from more of a road background join us for a bit or pass us but I think the descents on the course were just technical enough that MTB skills helped and we would bring them back or drop them on the descents. That made things fun and interesting out there. The 5 of us rode as a group until we hit the base of the Columbine Climb. This climb is 7.8 miles long, 3,000 ft of climbing and topping out at 12,500 ft. The first half is more of a gravel road and then it gets steeper, narrower and more rocky towards the top. The further up the climb we went the group started to separate a bit. I focused on trying to pace myself and reminding myself to not go too hard at the bottom because the top gets really tough. I was running a 34t chainring which was pushing my limit on the steep sections. I surprised myself and actually felt strong towards the top of the climb. I broke away from some of the riders in our group and also started to catch a couple of riders toward the top and then passed them as soon as we started descending. One cool thing about this course is that you go out and back on the same trail for most of it. It was pretty cool to watch the top of the men's race come down as we were still climbing up and then to get to see all of the other riders coming up as we were descending. Everyone was cheering for each other which was really fun to see. About halfway down Crystal Anthony passed me and I jumped on her wheel to the bottom. From there we ended up riding and working together all the way back to the Powerline Climb around mile 80. That section had some open road sections so I was grateful to have company and someone to work with. We got some updates that Sarah Sturm was only a minute up the road and by herself. We could start to see her and then when we hit the bottom of the Powerline Climb we could see she was within reach. Powerline is about 3.2 miles long with some really steep sections in the first half. My legs were starting to feel it here and it took everything I had to make it up those steep pitches. I heard Lauren De Crescenzo come up behind us at the bottom of the climb but then I heard her mess up and she had to get off and walk. This motivated me to stay on the bike and hopefully keep a gap. Crystal was really pushing the pace here and I just couldn't quite match the effort. She ended up bridging up to Sarah and a couple guys. I ended up riding the last 20 miles by myself just focusing on keeping my power up and hoping to not get caught. The last climb and downhill it started raining and sleeting a bit but I knew I was getting close. It was so exciting hitting those last few miles and knowing I was almost there. I looked back a few times and didn't see anyone but pushed it hard all the way to the finish line.

Looked like you had a great trip out in Colorado before the race, acclimating to the altitude and what not. How important do you feel this trip was?

I had such an awesome time acclimating and camping around Colorado before the race. I told myself no matter how the race went, the experience before it was amazing. Knowing how much I have struggled with altitude racing in the past I think acclimating really helped me. I decided it was probably not the best to go straight to Leadville which is over 10,000 ft. I went to Trindad at 6,000 ft, then Salida around 7,000, then a night in Buena Vista at 8,000 and then on to Leadville. The first half week or so I felt pretty awful and slow riding and sleeping wasn't great. But after that I could tell I was starting to come around. By the second week I was feeling much better. Also having never raced Leadville before I think it was super helpful to get some time on the course. I was able to ride the entire course both directions before the race. A climb like Columbine isn't really something you want to do the week of the race. It was helpful to know what it was like before hitting it in the race.

The support for a race like this has to be so critical. I understand you had a good crew helping you out? How about the signs on the side of the trail!!

Yes! I had Justin and my parents out there working two different feed zones. Because of the out and back nature of the course they were able to feed me 4 different times. This allowed me to just have bottles on my bike instead of having to lug a hydration pack up those big climbs. We also had some of our family out cheering and friends who've done this event many times with tons of helpful tips. One of our friends from Mankato who's crewed for this race many years organized our High School MTB team and our Nicollet Bike group rides to make signs for the race. That was such a cool surprise and thoughtful of everyone!

This season has been unlike any other. I can imagine it has been a lot of learning along the way what your mind and body can handle. How is everything holding up so far?

This season has really been full of ups and downs. I'm learning to really be grateful for those ups when everything just comes together and the day seems perfect. To just soak it all in because just like life there are probably going to be some more challenging times again at some point. With how tough these events are and the level of competition you just need everything to go right to have that perfect day. But when I signed up for this series that is what I was looking for. To see what I was capable of and really push myself out of my comfort zone. Sea Otter went so well but then I had a couple tougher races with Unbound and Crusher. It just felt really good to be able to pull off another top 10 in a race that I thought would be one of the toughest for me. I think the variety of these courses and how different the training is for each event has helped me stay mentally fresh and I have so far been able to avoid burnout.

Up next is the Chequamegon which has to be exciting, given your history with the race. Will you do any recon rides? How does the next month look for you leading up to Fat Tire?

I'm really excited to be back racing in very familiar territory. It does feel like a little extra pressure with my history with the race but I'm trying to not get caught up in it. I'm hoping to check out a couple sections the day or two before the race again but I'm not sure I will be able to squeeze anymore time on the course before then. We have a local gravel ride called the River Valley 100 next weekend, then it's on to the Dakota Five-O which is one of my favorite events of the year. I'm contemplating doing Gravel Nationals in Nebraska the weekend after but I haven't quite decided yet. It's going to be a busy fall of racing!

Any other thoughts or comments you would like to share?

I always said I was never going to race Leadville.Not much single track and all over 10,000 feet etc... But never say never haha! This event ended up exceeding my expectations in every way. The town and the course is really beautiful. I had only ever just driven through Leadville in the past but getting to spend some time there I really fell in love with the area. The race is so unique and challenging. To see what the race has done for the community there and how involved everyone is was super cool. The organization was top notch and I'd highly recommend others give it a shot.

John Wessling:

First off congrats on the excellent finish at Leadville! Going into the race, did you have any specific goals for placing or time?

Thanks Jay! The Lifetime Grand Prix is so stacked with North American and international talent, I figured I would be lucky to sneak into the top 50, so my only goal was to finish in under 7 hours. To my surprise, I was able to place 37th in the Pro category with a time of 7:02:20. I was close to going under 7 hours, but I was happy with my effort regardless of my finishing time or position.

How did your race unfold? Anything crazy or unusual happen?

For me, as you know, I'm the king of going out too hard in races. Luckily, I felt horrible for about three hours and had come to the realization that beating my time from last year probably wasn't happening. Then, about halfway up the Columbine climb my legs came around and I started to feel really good. From there I was able to hammer a pretty solid pace to the finish and pick off about 15 people. Who knew pacing a 7 hour race was a good idea?!

This was your second Leadville, correct? What did you take from your first Leadville or what adjustments did you make for this year?

Yes, this was Leadville number two for me. I took off about 12 minutes from my time last year- all coming in the second half of the race. The first 3 hours were about the exact same pace for me both years. The biggest adjustment I made was running Vittoria inserts both front and rear. Although everyone tells you this is a gravel race, some of the downhills are really high speed and technical with big rock gardens. Flatting isn't ideal, so I'll take the 50g a wheel weight penalty to run lower pressure and to be a little more squirrely on the downhills when I'm cross eyed.

You have had a super interesting season from racing in Europe to Nationals across the country and now Leadville. Obviously your base training has been solid going back to the winter with specific training for each race I suspect but how was your preparation for Leadville?

I learned this year how hard it is to balance 20 minute short track races and 5+ hour distance races haha. Leading up to Leadville I did a three week block after XC Nationals with a ~20 hour, ~15 hour, and then a ~12 hour week leading into the race. The first week was mostly just aerobic training, the second week I added in some intensity. The third week I just had two key workouts, with one of them being a 90 minute XC race the Saturday before Leadville to get some speed in my legs. I think this plan worked well for me- I've been sleeping at 6500ft since May, so that helped a lot too. I arrived at Leadville around 5pm the night before the race and was gone by 5pm on Sunday, so my body didn't get negatively affected by the 10+K of altitude up there.

What did it take nutrition wise to get through the race? Did everything go as planned?

I decided to go overboard on nutrition this year, and it seemed to pay off. Thursday and Friday I took down around 600g of carbs each day, which honestly felt like a job. Then, the morning of the race I ate 200g of carbs by 4:30am, as the race started at 6:30am. Ideally I like to finish eating around 3 hours before the start, but I wanted to sleep a bit more for this one. During the race I averaged around 130g of carbs an hour through Skratch superfuel, Herbalife CR7, and Maurten gels. I also made sure to take in around 800mg of sodium an hour. I'm 180lbs, so for most people this is way too much food, but being on the bigger side of bike racing I burn through glycogen stores much faster than a 150lbs competitor going the same speed as me. Not to mention racing between 10 and 12,000ft, all you're doing is burning through your glycogen stores just breathing the air haha.

Might be a tough question to ask since you just completed this race but do you plan to do it again? After your jump to the Pro class, have you found a preference for a specific discipline? Short track, XCO or endurance/marathon?

Oh yeah, I'll be back to go sub 7 hours in 2024! This will be my last year focusing on XC races, as next year I'm aiming for endurance events only. Maybe a few XC races here and there, but nothing like these last few years.

You've had a long race season starting back in the spring, moving forward, what is on tap for the remainder of the season?

It's been a long season, that's for sure! My first race was at the end of January, and Leadville marked my 29th race of the year counting weekday races. I have reached full "nut job" status this year. I will be doing the Park City Point to Point race in two weeks that is ~78 miles and around ~12,000ft of climbing. I think it's around 75 miles of singletrack all-in; so a true mountain bike race! I'm looking forward to that and then maybe another one that I can drive to if I'm feeling motivated.

Any other thoughts or comments you'd like to close with?

Anyone can reach me at [email protected] for questions or coaching help! I always like nerding out on peoples questions or ideas.

Leadville Trail 100 MTB Results

Related: This 80-Year-Old Mountain Biker is Racing the Leadville 100, and He’s Ready

Ore To Shore

Riders from the Midwest and beyond flocked to the UP of Michigan to take on the point to point race, Ore to Shore.

Chelsey Youngberg reports on her second place finish in the Hard Rock:

"This race goes out so freaking fast. Last year I blew myself up right away chasing 1&2 so I promised myself I would chill and be patient this year. My legs were tired going into the race and I never felt great but tried to race smart regardless. I found myself in a large group 20 minutes in and we were trying to catch the main pack in front of us. I redlined the entire time but forced myself to stick with them and catch a free ride. We passed the 3rd female and caught the main pack at Misery Hill. I caught 2nd soon after that and rode with her for a while before working with a group of 6 or so men, taking turns pulling for 30 seconds to 1 minute all the way to the single track, and then sent it to the finish. The body is definitely fatigued from school, work, and life but happy this went well! I had an absolute blast working with some solid guys and won $1100."

Jordan Wakeley took his second win and reported on his race:

"The Ore to Shore takes a lot of fitness and alot of luck to cross the line 1st, thankfully I had a decent amount of both this time around.

O2S is a race I look forward to every year, it draws the best competition from the Midwest (and beyond lately) for a 48 mile point to point slugfest.

Brian, Caleb, Dax and myself got away on Misery Hill and kept the train rolling all the way to Marquette. They dropped me off the back a few times but was able to claw my way back to them. It’s always a privilege to race against these guys and test myself.

I played my cards right when it counted to nab my 2nd Hard Rock victory. Super excited to keep the momentum rolling this week into Pennsylvania for the Trans-Sylvania Gravel Epic."

Ore to Shore Results

MNMBS #8: Tioga Thrillseeker

The Tioga Recreation Area outside Grand Rapids, MN was host to the latest race in the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series on Sunday. Chris Ziegler secured his top ranking in the Elite men's race with yet another win, and Kate Bittenbender took the Elite women's race victory.

Tioga Thrillseeker Results

Mountain Bike World Championships Highlights from Olympics.com

"Olympic champion Tom Pidcock took victory in the mountain bike cross-country Olympic (XCO) race at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland's Glentress Forest on Saturday (12 August).

Pidcock made his move on the sixth of nine 3.5km laps, moving clear of 10-time world champion Nino Schurter and South Africa's Alan Hatherly.

The 23-year-old won by 19 seconds from New Zealand's Samuel Gaze who raced like a man possessed to pass Schurter and Hatherley before running out of road to reel in the Briton.

Swiss legend Schurter had to settle for bronze having tried manfully to stay with Pidcock as he launched his decisive attack."

Full Recap: Men's Race

"Pauline Ferrand-Prévot scorched to her fifth world mountain bike cross-country Olympic discipline title on Saturday (12 August).

The 31-year-old Frenchwoman took the lead early on lap two of the seven 3.5km circuits in Scotland's Glentress Forest, having spent the first lap moving to the front.

Ferrand-Prévot and compatriot Loana Lecomte formed a front pair, but only briefly as the 2014 road race world champion quickly dropped her teammate."

Full Recap: Women's Race

Olympics.com: Cycling Mountain Bike

FreeRide MN: A Call for Writers

FreeRide MN is a website with a mission statement to:

"...unite and empower the mountain biking community in Minnesota by creating a central hub for all things MTB. We strive to foster a vibrant MTB community where riders can easily find what they need, keep up to date and contribute to trail build-outs, and engage with a thriving network of fellow riders, coaches, and influencers. Join us as we build a stronger, more connected Minnesota MTB community."

The site is looking for contributors and has a form to fill out for anyone interested.

Looking Ahead

Giants Ridge GRIND

"This year’s event will feature the Long GRIND (35 miles), Short GRIND (19 miles), Junior GRIND (5 miles) & Miners Kids Race! Register now for the ultimate test of strength & endurance on one of Minnesota’s most scenic and challenging race courses nestled in the heart of Minnesota’s Iron Range. Expect extremely tough climbs, fast descents, varied terrain with rocks, roots, creeks and plenty of passing opportunities."

Giants Ridge GRIND Registration

Seeley Lions Pre Fat

The Seeley Lions Pre Fat features multiple race distances for all rider abilities racing on a mix of trail in the Chequamegon Forest. A great grass roots event with no ego and fun, low-key fellowship post race makes this an especially fun event.

Seeley Lions Pre Fat Registration

Keep the wheels moving!