Sassafrass Sunday

WISCONSIN: The WCA Cyclocross schedule has some changes, the first race is now 'Cross The Domes instead of No Good Double Cross which has been cancelled due to some problems with the site owners. So the first few races are:

Oct. 1	Cross the Domes, Milwaukee
Oct. 2	River Hill Park CX, Kewaskum
Oct 8	Grafton PumpkinCross, Grafton

WISCONSIN: Fond du Lac - First off, is the event that is happening at this very moment - Race the Lake, which is the 90 mile long 'citizens' race around Lake Winnebago, or as Rahsaan Bahati calls it ... Lake Wisconsin. It would appear that he was in the area for the US PRo Crit. Grand Rapids looking for a one day ride on a Pro team, but evidently didn't get it. Watch the video to find his motivation for this one ...   (Maybe he can cash in on the KOM $)

MICHIGAN: Grand Rapids - Congratulations to Bloomington, IN resident Eric Young on his win in yesterday's US PRO Criterium Championship! Seen here just nipping Brad Huff in the final dash to the line. (Image and video: Bloomington Velonews)  A bit of background on Young, he was on the winning Cutters Team in the Little 500 bike race at Indiana University.in Bloomington  last year after enduring an awful car collision during a training session. This is a great win for Midwest cycling fans. Earlier this summer, Mathew Busche (Radio Shack) of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin took the US Pro Road Championship, and now Eric Young of Bloomington, Indiana wins the US PRO Criterium Championship. Proof of the depth of talent found right here in our backyards.

MICHIGAN: Marquette - Ore to Shore. While mountain biking is not a major goal of these pages, some races are worthy of mentioning, one of these being Ore to Shore - the first in the Triple Crown of mountain biking (Ore to Shore, Chequamegon, and Ice Man). Sheboygan, Wisconsin's very own Brian Matter won the 2011 edition on Saturday, August 13th. These MTB races are being invaded more and more by strong road racers such as, second place this year, Cole House who has his back pockets full of solid European racing experience including the big spring classics like the Tour of Flanders. Read the winner's account of how it played out on his blog: "The race played out way different than in the past. Cole went hard up the luge climb. Lead group of 30. I went hard over the power lines. Lead group of 15. Tristan went hard before the Misery Hill. Lead Group of 15. I went hard up and after misery Hill followed by Tristan going hard. Lead group 13. WOW. " Third place finisher Tristan Schouten gives his view from his blog: "The dynamics of the race have changed a lot in the last 5-7 years I think and I'm not sure why. I remember the first years I did the race and going gangbusters for the first 30 minutes after going over the luge climb. It just never let up. Now it seems like it is more road racing tactics with lots of group riding and lots of guys being able to sit in the group. I had the best legs I've ever had at this race this year so it was encouraging to be able to train specifically for the event, and then have excellent form. I was never in trouble at all in the race and always felt in control and comfortable. The last mile didn't play out that well for me, I think having Cole House in the race changed the race dramatically in the last 10 miles because of his strength and sprinting capability." (C'mon Cole, when are you going to start your own blog???) What's it like to ride this race? See for yourself ...