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Sheboygan Cyclocross Race Photos:
C Men, C Women
and Juniors
The Sheboygan Cross course lacked for nothing as it featured a long run up, fast downhill into a sand pit, tight trees and so much more to challenge the riders. Yes, the WCA season is over but the Sheboygan race brought out many new racers who hopefully enjoyed their many times up the steep hill and then down through the sandpit and will return to race the series next year. In the A race Brian Matter (PCW) had the home course advantage and took off the front of the pack early. He wowed the crowd as he bunny hopped the double barrier section at the bottom of the hill on each lap. In a not too distant second Andrew Hargarten (Hampshire) time trialed the course looking smooth through every difficult section. In third Mike Spiro (PCW) made his first appearance in cross this season on an old mountain bike. In the 30+ race Paul Roltgen (Brazen Dropouts) hung with Mike Spiro for much of the race and had a nice gap on the rest of the Master's field. Scott Topel (Brazen Dropouts) was just behind Paul after slipping in the barriers and hitting them hard. However, Scott's 2nd was enough to clinch the Series title. Behind Scott, Travis Goodlund (Stoton Cycle) and Bruce Breitrick (Trailhead) were duking it out. Travis was the early leader as Bruce fell back after falling and sliding on his knees into the barriers. However, Bruce recovered and found his rhythm and passed Travis late in the race to clinch third. Just behind them Lowell Kellogg (IS Nova Corp) and Rebecca Cleveland (Team Bike Hub) rounded out the A race. In the B race Mark Harms (Brazen Droupouts) was looking to round out his last B race with a win and that is exactly what he did. Running up the hill and diving into the sand he and Brian Halusan (Alan Factory Team) slowly worked their way off the front. However, Mark was able to use his cornering skills to keep ahead of Brian. In the end that was the deciding factor and Mark soloed in for first with Brian just behind in second.
In the Women's A race it was all Rebecca Cleveland (Team Bike Hub) and I mean that literally. Rebecca was the only A woman up to the challenge of running up the hill and flying through the sandpit. However, Rebecca mixed up with the men's field and didn't take it easy on her way to her seventh consecutive win in the series.
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In
the 40+ Race it was all Dag Selander (Alan Factory Team). Not that the
race wasn't without challenges for Dag. With about eight laps to go his
pedal came off the spindle. Yes, Dag ran eight times up the hill with his
pedal stuck in the cleat in his shoe . . . and then he bombed down the hill and
through the sand pit with his foot on just a spindle. And yet he took a
decisive win! I guess that cross racers just get tougher with age.