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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!