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Angell Park Speedway Cyclocross Race
Photos: How fabulous is it that Angell Park had record attendance with 141 racers!!!! There were so many highlights of the race that it is hard to know where to start. In the C and Junior race at 10 am it goes without mentioning that Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory Team) was the star of the day what with passing all the C racers on his way to a commanding victory in the Junior race. For the C Men Jack Hirt took another win to get the coveted state championship. Hans Higdon from Hampshire Cycle Club worked his way up through the field to get the silver medal. Eric Knuth (Brazen Dropouts) got off to what seemed to be a slow start but then charged through the field to a 5th place on a shiny new Salsa cross bike. In the Women's race Clarissa Werre from Vermont took the win but the race of the day belonged to Katie Stubbendick who has been on fire for the late season races and took home the bronze medal. Heidi Ploeg (Atkins) is still perfecting her mount and dismount but is so fast that she still had no problem taking home this year's C Women's state championship. The B Men's was once again dominated by Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory Team) who rode away for the win. Not too far behind the usual B Men were duking it out for the rest of the medals. Jeff Melcher (Pedal Moraine) and Mark Harms (Brazen Dropouts) shadowed each other throughout the race with both trying to break away and stay away. In the end it came down to the final corner with Jeff Melcher getting away to ride home for the silver medal and Mark Harms taking the bronze. The 40+ Men's race was dominated by the unstoppable Steve Gayner (Team Wisconsin). Not far behind Dag Selander (Alan Factory Team) was mixing it up with John Handlogten (One Percent More/Stone Creek Coffee). However, Dag rode away to take the silver with John hanging on for bronze. In the 30+ race there were 18 racers on the line including all the usual big names from the WCA series and 3 Alan Factory Team riders from Minnesota. The Alan Factory team took the early lead for their guy Jason McDonald and set a fast pace with the first laps at about 5 minutes. This split up the group by the second lap with a lead group of about six and a second group of five. In the front Jason McDonald was pushing the pace until it was down to only two. The plan worked as Jason McDonald took the win but Marty Netzel (Dean) took the state championship with Ben Lund (Endeavour) rolling in third. Behind those guys a race within a race is taking place amongst the posse of Madison guys. The second group had Scott Topel, John Ericsson and Paul Roltgen (all Brazen Dropouts) as well as Travis Goodlund (Stoton Cycles). Travis, however, crashed on the downhill on Lap 3. Travis got back in the race but he was left chasing the others. On Lap 3 John tried to break up the group but oxygen debt caused him to almost crash in the barriers. Eventually Rami Aburomia (another Madison guy) recovers from his perennial chain problems (not that I don't believe he can use common household items like stove drip pans to fix this) and passes John. Then around lap 5 or 6 Scott catches John and passes him. John then chased about 5 seconds in back of Scott. Eventually all this work from the Madison posse pays off as they close the gap down to something around 12 seconds to the leaders and finish in 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th. And Rami gets the bronze medal as the 3rd WI finisher. Next up the A/B Women who also get to race for a 35+ state championship. Sam sprints off the line for the early lead but by the time the women are off the track Rebecca Cleveland (Team Bike Hub) has taken the lead which she will hold all the way to the finish. Behind her Patti Kaufmann (Team Wisconsin) breaks away to solo in for the 35+ state championship and 2nd overall. Behind her is Samantha Kaplan (Capitol Velo Club). A ways back is Clarissa Werre, Heidi Ploeg (Atkins) and Tina Raehsler (Alan Factory Team) who are battling it out. Clarissa broke free first and held that to take 4th overall. Heidi and Tina rode close together for a long time before Heidi finally made her move to take 3rd and a bronze in the 35+ race. Tina took the silver in the A/B race. The A Men had a good sized field as well with riders from WI, MN and IL. However, the outcome was not unlike those we've seen in the weeks prior. Eventually Tristan Schouten (PCW) and Brian Matter (PCW) broke away from everyone else and worked together to increase their lead. Today Tristan took the win to take the state championship but that's fair since Brian will be the series champ. Behind them plenty of action was taking place. Two Salsa guys were not far behind the PCW pair with local rider Jim Holmes (Alan Factory Team). However, two against one is rarely a good situation and eventually the Salsa guys wore Jim down and got away. However, Jim rode a strong race to maintain fifth with another local guy Kurt Refsnider coming in sixth just in front of tri-geek turned cyclcocrosser Brian Halusan (Alan Factory Team).
Results:
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