Weekend Wrapup Wednesday

Today, we'll do a final wrap up of this past weekend's action, then tomorrow a report on tonight's Gateway Cross Cup in St. Louis and a preview of the UCI USGP scheduled for Wisconsin this coming Saturday and Sunday. As you will see, there is a LOT of cyclocross racing here in the Midwest.

Mike Sherer (Pony Shop)

ILLINOIS: Chicago - Jackson Park - Do they love 'cross in Chicago? Ask one of the 680 riders that participated in the kickoff race to their Chicago Cross Cup season. There on the left, that's Mike Sherer (Pony Shop), winner of the Pro 1/2 race at Jackson Park on Sunday, treating himself to some fine Michigan fishing on Monday. Next up, this coming Sunday, is Hopkins Park in DeKalb and immediately following the sanctioned racing, is the Official Unofficial Illinois State Single Speed Cyclocross Championship (OUISSSCC).



A nice POV video of the 4As. Great start, lots of crashes, PSIMET gets passed.
Watch the whole thing and see the mud consume the camera.

But wait there's more! Don't forget there is still some road racing to do in Illinois with the Fall Fling Stage Race (points based omnium) put on by ABR. $6,500 in prizes!

Saturday, Sept. 24: Pella Factory Criterium - West Chicago, IL

Sunday, Sept. 25: Maple Park Time Trial - Maple Park, IL

Saturday, Oct. 1: DuPage Tech Park Circuit Race - West Chicago, IL

Featuring Kids' Races for Riders 12 & Under @ 1:00 PM!
9.19.11 - RIDERS: Please note updated start times for this Circuit Race!

Sunday, Oct. 2: Wood Dale Circuit Race - Wood Dale, IL

MICHIGAN: Houghton - Sherman 'Cross - UPCROSS.Net has a nice summary of the Yooper action plus links to all the photos taken. Looks like a great start to their season. You sure can't beat the lighting system they got to use for their night time event.. Next up in the series is this coming Sunday, Sept. 25th at the Al Quaal Trails in Ishpeming. $10/race, no charge for kids.
MICHIGAN: Waterford - Waterford + Tommy Tsunami Cyclocross - The spirit is alive and well in eastern Michigan as they just wrapped up a Sat/Sun double header.  jbhancock in his blog Back To Racing, gives us the story: "Double this weekend at Waterford and MMCC for the new Tommy Tsunami race.  Waterford was tough as always.  It was the tale of two races - the first 30 minutes were ok but the last 30 minutes were rough.  Too bad the 1/2 race isn't 30 minutes long.  Scaling the flying rhinover gets old quickly.  A new staircase could make all the difference there.Sunday was the Tommy Tsunami race at MMCC, which was held in conjunction with their fall festival.  The atmosphere was pretty neat - there was a car show and a few bands playing throughout the day.  The course was mostly what we had planned out with a few changes, including a brief singletrack / rooted section that shook things up a bit.  Jeff Adamcik, Mike Seaman, and I pushed the first lap pretty hard.  Going into lap two Mike and I were feeling the effects of Saturday's race and Jeff got a gap.  Soon I was chasing alone and it would remain that way for the rest of the 9 or 10 laps.  I slotted in 2nd and was pretty happy with that considering the difficulties from Saturday." Next up for them is the Red Zone race at Saginaw Valley State University on October 9.

PHOTO: Jack Kunner

MICHIGAN: Grand Rapids - Plaster Creek + Highland Park - In western Michigan, the eight race Krisscross Series just finished their second weekend of racing at Highland Park. PHOTOS Also, just recently added is a three race series in Southwest Michigan/South Bend, IN area called  RUNUP Cyclocross beginning October 9th.



INDIANA: Indianapolis - The Indiana CX Cup begins this weekend with the  Brookside and St. Mary's 'Cross races.

MINNESOTA: Minneapolis - The Minnesota Cycling Federation begins their season this weekend as well with Saturday's Cross Conspiracy in Corcoran and Sunday's EC3 River's CX in Maple Grove.

IOWA: Des Moines - This past Saturday was Iowa's season opener at Cory's Irish Cross in Bondurant. PHOTOS with more posted on their Facebook page. Next up is the two day Capital City Cross in Des Moines this coming weekend. Check the Bike Iowa / Cross website for more info.






Speaking of racing 'cross ... this dude can RIDE!