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Viroqua, Monday,
September 17Y
It was another beautiful warm day in Viroqua, WI, filled with exciting cyclocross racing!
Youth 5-7
This week featured the new
categories for the kids races: 5-7, 8-11, and 12-15. In the 5-7 we
had a record number of participants who all raced very fast and ate
lots of delicious cheese and chocolate milk from Organic Valley.
Thanks again OV!
The new 8-11 category opened up the
competition, the ten year-olds who were scattered in the wake of the
15yrs were suddenly leading the charge. Ephraim Sutherland returned
to racing after a week off. The rest looked to have treated him well
as he took the holeshot and carried his lead to the finish. Noah
Carlson and Justys Greneir were slugging it out for second until
they tangled in a crash on the last lap, leaving the door wide open
for Noah Gullion and newcomer Will Beatty to ride into 3rd and 2nd
respectively. Justys and Noah were banged up, but slowly got to
their feet, they showed a lot of heart out there! The rest of the
field, Arlo and Charley Townsley, Giddeon Hooper-Schmidt, Maris Boch,
Miko Shanka, and Will Sherwin all raced hard and rode well. The
Question for next week is can anyone bring down two-time champ Ephy?
All of the other riders have the skill and talent to bring home the
first Chocolate Milk and Cheese, so we'll have to see how it turns
out. See you guys next week!
In the Blue Dog Cycles 12-15 race
we saw a small field, 3 to be exact. But what the race lacked in
depth it made up for in excitement. Ephraim's Older Brother Avery,as
well as last week's 1st and 2nd place finishers Elijah Sky and Shane
Koubaz all raced to win the multi-tool, socks and patchkit provide
by Blue Dog cycles. The four lap race never truly separated as each
rider's attacks were quickly reigned in by the other two racers.
Avery, racing for the first time AND in clipless pedals no less, was
looking smooth in the transitions considering, but neither he nor
Shane could handle Elijah's smooth pedaling style and seamless
accelerations. In the end, Elijah rode home with a new multi-tool,
Shane and Avery were close behind. An excellent race. The only hope
is that some of our previous racers turn away from the joy of
speciation and give these boys a run for their multi-tools.
The Kickapoo Coffee Beginners Race
was our biggest adult turnout of the season, and it was thrilling to
watch. With last week's winner held up at work, Paul Duetsch looked
like the early favorite for a pound of Organic Fair-Trade Coffee
after bringing home half a pound last week. Paul must have been
fueled-up, because he went immediately for the holeshot, followed
tightly by Shelia Sherwin, local triathlete and first time rider.
Trailing behind was another group of first timers, Matt Vogel and
Dan Schaefer, with Paula Greneir. In a final chase group was Meg
Newlin and Flyin' Hank Duetsch. While Paul and Shelia duked it out
on the front, Meg Newlin slowly crawled into the race from half a
lap down, using smooth transitions and a comfortable riding
position. While Meg was moving up, Matt and Dan began to fade, and
Paul and Shelia were truly going at it off the front. Shelia seized
the lead with 4 laps to go, and then proceeded to overcook a turn in
the heat of anaerobic threshold! Paul scooted by and Shelia was left
with almost half a lap to regain. Paul proved to be a good front
runner and kept Shelia at bay for the win and a pound of Coffee. Meg
came into home for a quarter pound in front of a shattered group.
Matt and Dan, first time riders proved to have heart and moxie as
they came across the line looking good. Paula raced smoothly, but on
an unfamiliar bike. One wonders what she could do on a new Jake the
Snake?
The VMH Wellness Center Expert/The
Local General Store fields were combined to provide more racers. As
the word of the series spreads racers from far and wide are coming
out of the woodwork. This week Andrea and Lee Venteicher from All 9
Yards Racing/Iowa were up as was TJ Brook, LaCrosse Honch. With
locals Chris Newlin and Jay Skrede, both riding for Vernon Trails,
the field was ready to take on the new and improved course. Chris
sprinted for the corner and managed to get a gap. That gap proved to
be the undoing for the other racers as he held it off from a fast
chasing Lee. Jay Skrede in his first race brought home $10 for third
place as TJ and Andrea followed quickly behind. It certainly looked
like Lee would have caught the local Newlin if the race had just
been a bit longer. Andrea has taken the next 7 Mondays off, so I
guess we'll have a chance to see what will happen on a longer course
later! Thanks to the out-of towners for making the long drive.
Hopefully the fun race, cash and prizes made the drive home more
pleasant! Thanks again!