Video Special: Lincoln Park, Leland Kermesse, Meno Falls, Little 500

Lincoln Park

Leland Kermesse

Menomonee Falls

Little 500 - Women's Race

Read more...

Meno Falls, GDVC #2, Leland Kermesse, Lincoln Park, Little 500 video

It was a crazy busy weekend of racing here in the Midwest. Here in Wisconsin there were sanctioned races on both Saturday (Menomonee Falls) and Sunday (Madison), plus a citizen's WISPORT road race (Whitwater) on Saturday. Just to the south, in Illinois, there was the increasingly popular gravel road race, the Leland Kermesse (Leland) on Saturday, then criterium racing in Chicago's Lincoln Park. Over in Indiana, it was the Little 500 weekend (271 arrests) at Indiana University in Bloomington, as well as the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Championships in South Bend, at Purdue University, with a team time trial, road race, and criterium. More collegiate racing was held in Iowa City, two more sanctioned races ran in Ohio, and three additional races were held in Missouri! There was no reason not to race if you really wanted to! We cover a few of these today.

WISCONSIN: Menomonee Falls - Menomonee Park Criterium - PHOTOS RESULTS - Held on a smoothly paved, gently twisting and rolling course around an old quarry, this is a local favorite springtime race. Former Wisconsin State Criterium champion Rob White (RACC pb GG), who rode for Kenda Pro Cycling the past few years, took the men's Pro 1/2 race while on the womens' side, it was once again TIBCO's Samantha Schneider, freshly back from the Redlands Tour, taking the win.

Jeremy Werbelow gives us his perspective on the 3's race (read more about his racing in the Madison recap as well!):

"The race was relatively uneventful from my perspective at least. It had parts where it was fast, but not crazy fast that I ever felt like my heart was going to explode. Then the times that it was going slow it was really going SLOW. Travis chased down a break easily and Brian chased down 2 or 3 breaks.
At one point I was talking to Travis asking him if he wanted to do a tandem attack. He was all for it, but this didn't happen because of the make up of the rest of the race. Ok, 3 laps to go, pretty slow, 2 laps to go Brian get on the front and pulls for the entire lap, 1 lap to Jeff gets on the and pulls for 3/4 lap. Then people started going through the "S" curves with the little rollers. I went with and then on the final roller I drilled it and went into the last corner first and I know it is a long way to the finish. I kept going as hard as I could, and then past just before the line. 2nd place, I am happy very happy with that. I was marked by the guy that past me, but oh well, that is racing."

"The Look"

WISCONSIN: Madison - Great Dane Velo Club Criterium (GDVC#2) - RESULTS PHOTOS - Recall, Jeremy Werbelow's second place in the 3's noted above, he -almost- got the win in this race, but ...

"This race was much harder than Saturday's race, with attacks and then more attacks. Finally a small break was out there, but it was eventually brought back. I put in plenty of hard efforts, but managed my matches well. I was on the front at 2 laps to go and knew this is not where I would like to be. I rode on the front very slow, but ready to go if someone was going to launch. It did then pick up a little, 1 lap to go, around corner 1 into the head wind, pace to really fast at all. Around corner 2 up the roller through the curve nothing to crazy so I start moving up and finding a opening. Over the crest started sprinting into the last corner way ahead of everyone. Again, a long ways to the finish. Now, what not to DO! I looked back and so I thought I had this huge gap and I started celebrating early hand off the bars and everything and then I was passed! 2nd place again, I wasn't gassed I still had more and I should have easily won the race. That is what I get for being cocky I guess. Not to mention the officials didn't like it either and they made sure to let me know. I am glad that they didn't DQ me. Time to move on!"

Jennifer Perricone (IS CORP) took Elizabeth Lauer (Kenda pb Gear Grinder) on the line in the very aggressive Women's 1/2 race. The men's Pro 1/2 was also very aggressive with everything brought back until about half way through the 1 hour event when 10 riders gained 20 seconds. It looked serious and they seemed to have a gap that would stick. With 5 laps to go, Frank Dierking (Machinery Row) put in a strong effort, but didn't have the legs to make it past 2 to go. All together on the bell, and while it's not clear what happened on the back stretch, it appears that they just -barely- stayed away with Rob White (RACC pb GG) taking the win (two in a row for the weekend) over Dan Ajer and Thompson Remo.

Men - Pro/Cat 1/2 - 19-29
	Place	Points	Name	City, State		USAC #	Bib	Team
	1	229.38	Robert White (1 - Cat1)	Brown Deer, WI		197162	84	RACC pb GG
	2	238.33	Dan Ajer (2 - Cat1)	Fitchburg, WI		180160	76	Great Dane Velo Club (GDVC)
	3	247.28	Thomson Remo (1 - Cat2)	Fond Du Lac, WI		212914	75	Team Wheel & Sprocket

Perricone wins.

Dierking attacks.

Final sprint.

White takes the win.

Leland Kermesse by Peloton-Pix

ILLINOIS: Leland - Leland Kermesse - RESULTS PHOTOS A big city race held in a small town, the Leland Kermesse has a large following by the Chicago crowd, and that enthusiasm appears to be spreading with riders coming from nearby states to participate in this unique event. The road race is held on a 25km loop that twists and turns through the flat Illinois farmland and is 40% gravel roads. Kristen Meshberg, winner of this year's women's race, gives us the insider scoop:

"The race is a 25K Loop consisting of windy flat barren roads with 3 gravel sections making up  40% of the loop.  This year, the women and cat 4 men were doing 4 laps for 100K.  The gravel's consistancy can vary  wildly depending on what the weather's been recently.  It can be deep and loose, or tightly packed, and if it's wet and sticky it gets all over you and your bike, and if it's dry it is incredibly dusty and gets in your lungs.  Your positioning when you hit the gravel ends up making the race.  Depending on the condition of the gravel, passing can be difficult or impossible, so if you can to the front on the gravel riders opening up gaps behind you can cause a split. When you hit the pavement, a fluid breakaway can be impossible to catch due to the wind. "

The men's race was 5 laps of the 25km course and the winning break went right from the first gravel section with 6 riders forming a substantial gap. With approximately 50k to go, David Williams (Competitive Cyclist) ventured out on his own and simply rode away from the others, a very impressive win on the loose gravel. David Williams seems to be a time trial specialist according to his team bio, and is in good form just coming off a solid ride at the Vuelta Mexico.

Men - Cat 1/2
	Place		Name	City, State		USAC #		Team
	1		David Williams	Indianapolis, IN		225765		Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
	2		Daniel Lam (1 - Cat1)	Kalamazoo, MI		239504		Bissell-ABG-NUVO
	3		Ryan Freund (2 - Cat1)	Lake In The Hills, IL		279249		Enzo's-PSIMET

David Willams

Willams leads on lap 1.

The chasing Pro 1/2 field on lap 4.

The lead six on lap 3.

ILLINOIS: Chicago - Lincoln Park Criterium - RESULTS PHOTOS On the shores of Lake Michigan they raced. Some did well ... John Mason (DiD Electrical), apparently a fairly accomplished Irish racer who is in town for ?? that won the Men's Pro 1/2, and Kristen Meshberg (Spider Monkey) who won the Women's 1/2 race (2 for 2 on the weekend!). Others didn't have luck on their sides, such as XXX racer (Checkers or Wreckers) Luke Seeman who appeared to have the Masters 1/2/3/4 race in hand after a 2 man breakaway.
Remember Jeremy Werbelow's mistake in the Madison Cat. 3 race also on this same day (mentioned above)? The photos and video tell it all.

Photo: Joe Costello

Read more...

Monday Update

It was a big weekend of racing with two sanctioned races in WI and two in IL, not to mention a WiSport road race. Photos are being uploaded (Leland Kermesse and GDVC#2) and videos being searched. Look for the full update late tonight or on Tuesday.

Read more...

2012 Hillsboro-Roubaix, Great Dane #1

Hillsboro-Roubaix 2010

 ILLINOIS: Hillsboro - Hillsboro-Roubaix - RESULTS - Maybe it's living in the big city, or something else, but there is something about crummy roads that Illinois racers just can't get enough of.  Their spring classic race in Hillsboro offers high crowned streets paved with cobbles, followed by wind swept country lanes that gets area riders all excited every spring. Then add rain into the mix?  For example, take this great race report written by Jake Buescher (XXX), 3rd in the men's category 3 race as he writes for their team blog:

 "Waking up to a forecast of rain the entire day oddly made me happy.  I’d raced in rain before at races like Snake Alley and Tour de Grove and it was scary.  I did not feel confident cornering or descending.  So, your guess is as good as mine as to why I was creepily smiling on the hour-long drive through a drizzle from Springfield to Hillsboro.  Maybe it was the idea that this was “classics weather”.  Not only was I going to be racing on the crummiest roads in Central Illinois, but also I got to do it while soaked to the bone the entire time!  There’s really no way of rationalizing a jubilant attitude like this going into it…"

Bissel - Nuvo swept the podium in the Men's Pro 1/2 race, and for the cat 2 women ... ??? ... who knows, they aren't listed in the results. Maybe there weren't any?

Men's Pro 1/2Mac
1. Mac Brennan
2. Alex Wieseler
3.Weston Luzadder




WISCONSIN: Madison - GDVC #1 - RESULTS - Racing continued in Wisconsin on Sunday in Madison with the first of the annual double header sponsored by the Great Dane Velo Club. The same course is used on both days, but with the riding direction reversed. No pix or video from this day, not surprising since the weather was pretty raw.

Holly Mathews (IS Corp) (2011 Wisconsin State Criterium Champion) took her first win of the year in the Women's 1/2 as did perennial Men's Pro 1/2 favorite Steve Scholzen (IS Corp)..

Their team, IS Corp, has a nice wrap up over on their blog, of the women's race:

With three laps to go, the wind picked up, and it started raining, but Andrea was feeling strong and bridged back up to Holly and the Kenda rider.  She continued her fast pace and rode right by them, and continued with her lead until the last lap.  Holly stayed with the Kenda rider until the last corner, then launched a massive attack to drop the Kenda rider and sprint past Andrea for the win.  Andrea hung on for second place, and Jenn came in 4^th.  Lindsey played it smart in the field while her teammates were up the road and sat in, refusing to do any work.  She timed the field sprint well, placing 2^nd in the field and 6^th overall.

Read more...

Schneider in Holland, Prinner in El Salvador, Ann Arbor

Photo: Team TIBCO

HOLLAND: Slocteren - Energiewacht Tour -RESULTS - Team TIBCOs assault on the the 5 stage Energiewact Tour is over and quite successful with Wisconsin's very own Sam Schneider coming in with a solid 55th overall, the team placing 7th out of 23, and congratulations in getting Megan Guanier into the top 15 on two stages, 4th on the final stage, and 21st overall. 



Energiewachttour 2012
General Classification, Final Ranking
1 Teutenberg, Ina Yoko 13 Specialized - Lululemon 11:24:45
2 van Dijk, Ellen 14 Specialized - Lululemon 11:24:52 0:07
3 Vos, Marianne 7 Rabobank 11:25:28 0:43
4 Worrack, Trixi 17 Specialized - Lululemon 11:25:35 0:50
5 Gunnewijk, Loes 26 Greenedge - AIS 11:25:55 1:10
...
21 Guarnier, Megan 49 Tibco to the Top 11:41:06 16:21
33 Millar, Amanda 50 Tibco to the Top 11:43:48 19:03
55 Schneider, Samantha 51 Tibco to the Top 11:48:53 24:08
66 Hall, Lauren 54 Tibco to the Top 11:50:19 25:34.
105 Wheeler, Jennifer 53 Tibco to the Top 12:02:23 37:38
106 Purcell, Jennifer 52 Tibco to the Top 12:03:57 39:12

EL SALVADOR: San Salvador - Vuelta Ciclista El Salvador - Elgin, Illinois' Jessica Prinner writes in her blog about her travels last week with the USA National Team. It's a great read, check it out:

"After a month and a half of suffering from mononucleosis, I finally got back on the bike in time to get my invite to race in El Salvador for the National team, having a pitiful amount of base miles logged and no intensity as of then. So my coach and I dreamt up a massively masochistic training schedule to tear my legs off and sew them back on just in time to hop on a plane and head into the Southern Hemisphere.

Looking back I give myself credit for not packing any cold weather gear and going through all the trouble to find a compact crank set, because as it turned out all the racing we would be doing would be in ridiculously hot and humid weather on mountainous courses. Not only that, but the race schedule included a five day UCI stage race sandwiched between two UCI one day races without any rest days. For those of you who don’t like long sentences that’s seven days of racing in a row.

We got three days to attempt to acclimate to the insanely hot weather as we stayed in a small complex owned by the promoter just a stone throw from the beach. If you ignored the fact that the bathroom had four adjoining doors to it the place seemed like paradise; a large shaded outdoor patio hung with hammocks beside a pool that looked over the pacific ocean. I was almost fooled into thinking we were on vacation until the first 1.1 UCI race arrived and I realized I was in for a long, sweaty week."

MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor - Kevin Lillard has a set of great photos from last week's collegiate race in Ann Arbor. PHOTOS

Tomorrow, we'll try to track down Ashley James in the Classica Citta di Padova, and U23 Lawrence Warbasse of Traverse City, MI in the Le Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux in Belgium.

Read more...

Velo Campus, Evanston, Ann Arbor, Favorite Climbs

Photo: Chicago Velo Campus

ILLINOIS: Chicago - The Chicago Velo Campus is now open for spring training in 2012. The 166 meter wooden track has 50 degree banking, there is a full service bike shop on site, and bike rentals are available. The National Sports Center Velodrome in Minneapolis opens May 1st. Bloomer Park Velodrome near Detroit appears to be open for training if you have a season pass. Washington Park Velodrome in Kenosha is open all year for training. The status of Major Taylor in Indianapolis or Northbrook is unclear at this time.

Plans continue to build a new velodrome in Cleveland, OH



ILLINOIS: Evanston - News has been flying about regarding "The race in Evanston" being canceled, mainly from two articles published in the Chicago Sun Times ONE TWO. This was a race planned for a June weekend however, and doesn't appear to be the very popular Superweek stop which is scheduled for July 15th.

Marcus Thompson posted some nice photos on Facebook from the collegiate race in Ann Arbor this past weekend. Gives us a feeling of what conditions were like.

Video of a few climbs here in southeast Wisconsin. The Map My Ride links are on the Youtube side of each video:

Read more...

Michigan Spring Racing, Collegiate Racing, Super Crit Video, USA Cycling Funds

Photo: Loren Eggenschwiler

There were several races over in Michigan this past weekend, but not much news coming from there. One race was in Ann Arbor which boasts a good turnout - RESULTS, also in Ann Arbor there was a collegiate race (the same event?). Again, results are sketchy with each team boasting their own news:  Notre Dame version, Marian College version. Plus there was one more race north of there on the Waterford Hills auto track - RESULTS.  Elsewhere, Milwaukee native, now living in Texas, Josh Carter took the collegiate A race down in Austin, TX this past weekend as well as Elgin, IL native Jessica Prinner who shared the victory with her team mates. That makes 4 wins for her in 2012.

More out of South Beloit, IL from Illinois Cycling:

Nearly $3 million distributed so far through LA payout program (link)

USA Cycling announced today that based on 2011 license sales, it will distribute $421,170 back to its 34 Local Associations (LA) as part of an ongoing effort to grow competitive cycling at the grassroots level.

With the 2011 payout, USA Cycling has now delivered nearly $3 million in direct funding to its Local Associations since the program’s 2003 inception.

“The LA Payout Program represents a major reinvestment of membership dollars back into racing at the local level,” explained USA Cycling President and CEO Steve Johnson. “These monies are then allocated by the Local Associations to fund specific programs in their state or region, thereby ensuring our resources are used as efficiently as possible to grow cycling in all parts of the country.”

...

 The payouts have also helped the Minnesota Cycling Federation with their new rider outreach, enabling them to offer things like junior development grants and free entries for juniors at cyclo-cross races.

“Our primary funding is the USA Cycling payouts,” explained MCF spokesman Kevin Lennon. “None of the above would have happened without the support.”

For 2012, Minnesota will continue developing the junior side of the sport, but they’ll also use the payout for a State Championship jersey program, Rider of the Year awards, and officials training.

2011 Local Association payouts:

Illinois Cycling Association $15,245
Indiana/Kentucky Cycling Association $9,580
Iowa Bicycle Racing Association $4,700
Michigan Bicycle Racing Association $8,850
Minnesota Cycling Federation $7,955
Missouri Bicycle Racing Association $7,940
Ohio Cycling Association $11,065
Wisconsin Cycling Association $8,250

 

Read more...

Criterium Detroit City

Photo: Criterium Detroit City

MICHIGAN: Detroit - Last year, in 2011, race promoter Erica Fulk and her team of tireless workers brought back bicycle racing to the downtown Detroit area, the first in probably 20+ years, since the demise of the Tour of Michigan in the 1990s, with the "Criterium Detroit City". It was a rousing success - very popular with the locals and it drew some strong talent in the Pro 1/2 fields for men and women. Sadly, this year however, it is not to be. Stating mounting financial concerns and the inability to secure a course, they were forced to pull the plug for 2012. Fulk writes on the Michigan Bicycle Racing Assn webpage: "It is with a heavy heart, and a heavier hand that I write this email. After months, days, hours, several beers, lots of tears, a very helpful team, that I write you to tell you that there will be no Criterium Detroit City in 2012. There have been many developments in the past few months that I've been trying to fix and refix. Our course downtown was canceled due to a scheduling conflict. We tried to move the course but haven't found a suitable replacement course. We have made lots of headway with several new routes for the course, but I have been unable to raise enough money to put on the crit, or find the perfect course.

In full and total disclosure, last year I was able to raise $5,200 in sponsorship dollars, the race cost us $16,000 to put on (and that was the amount after we pulled every favor in the book). This year, I can't pull those favors again, it will cost more, and there just isn't enough time.

This is just a bump in a roubaix-esque course - there are lots of them, and you'll never know which one gave you the flat, and you know you'll get back in it.

I will be at Detroit Bike City on March 24th to talk about the future of the race. There is a future. The race will be back in 2013 in a new location. The point of Criterium Detroit City is, and has always been, to show off Detroit. To do that we will move the race course around the city and show off it's great assets.

To the racers - you have to know that for me canceling this race is the hardest thing I've ever done.  Putting the race on last year was hard, I broke down a week before the race as I was given two bills for $2,500 each that I couldn't pay. But I stuck with it. My moto last year was 'it's going to be the most amazing thing you've ever seen, even if I go broke doing it.'  I wanted to show you something you had never seen before, and I hope that I did.  In continuing with that tradition, I want to give you a race that you will always remember, and at this point I can't.  I can't keep getting you (and me) excited every time we have a silver lining. I thought we had a course, I was wrong. I thought we had a new course, I was wrong. I thought we had a title sponsor, I was wrong.  I want to give you an experience that you've never had before, and right now, I can't.

I have been trying to figure out a way around this. But I can't. I don't want to waste my planning teams time, they are a great bunch of people and I want them to focus on something that will work, like CDC 2013. I can't waste resources that I don't have, it seems that last year taught me something. Next year the race will be back - better than last year.  "

Fear not fellow readers, the Michigan cycling scene is strong and there are many other excellent races to be enjoyed in 2012. We wish them good luck in bringing racing back to downtown Detroit next year!

Read more...

Schneider in Flanders, Busche in Spain, Selander in Italy

BELGIUM: Flanders - Ronde van Vlaanderen - Congratulations go out to Samantha Schneider in her 38th place in this year's Tour of Flanders! This follows on the heels of her 65th in the Dutch world cup race - Ronde de Trenthe on March 10th. Next up for Team Tibco appears to be the 5 stage long Energiewacht Tour in the Netherlands beginning this Wednesday along with her teammates on the start list:

49 Guarnier, Megan U.S.A.
50 Miller, Amanda U.S.A.
51 Schneider, Samantha U.S.A.
52 Purcell, Jennifer U.S.A.
53 Wheeler, Jennifer U.S.A.
54 Hall, Lauren U.S.A

SPAIN: Girona - Keeping with the European theme, Wisco native Mathew Busche (Radio Shack) keeps us informed of the war on wheels going on in Spain."Well, the end to Volta Catalunya was less than ideal for me. I crashed on the final descent about 2.5km from the finish. It makes me incredibly frustrated to think about it, but I am looking at the positives of everything to help me get through it.






We're also keeping an eye out for news on Bjorn Selander of Hudson, WI who is racing for his new Canadian team -Spider Tech p/b C10 and just raced in the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali in Italy. Details are sketchy, but he and two of his team mates seem to have fallen outside the time limit on stage 3. Check out the awesome images posted over on Steephill TV.

 Sorry ... can't help myself.

Read more...

Burnham Racing Spring Super Criterium

Other stories we will be watching this week as info becomes available:

FRCC Spring Fling #1 in Waterford Hills, MI
2012 Detroit Criterium canceled.
Mike Sherer wins Colorado Springs Classic Criterium.
Kaitlin Antonneau wins collegiate road race.
Samantha Schneider rides Ronde van Vlaanderen - Dames.

ILLINOIS: South Beloit - Burnham Racing Spring Super Criterium - RESULTS PHOTOS  Nearly 500 riders took part in the first race of the Illinois Cup series this past Saturday. The weather was cloudy and cool but lacked the serious wind that seems to be the norm in this event which is held on the Blackhawk Farms auto race track on the southwest side of Beloit. Riders from all across Illinois, and Wisconsin competed as well as a few from Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio! 72 riders competed in the Mens 4/5 race for the largest field of the day, but many of the other races fielded 50+ riders as well. Notable performances include (but not limited to!) Tom Driver (Velosmith) of Chicago in the Masters 30+ Cat 4/5 who mashed the gas pedal with 1 1/2 laps to go, put a solid 20 seconds on the field, and never lifted until crossing the line first for his victory.  In the Masters 30+ Cat 1/2/3, six riders formed a tight group and built a solid 30 second lead that they held to the end. Michael Norton (Michaels Cyclery) of Beloit took that sprint for the win. ( A category 1 racer from out east, it looks like he might be a force to be reckoned with this season). Photo credit: Big Ring Flyers

Photo: Peloton Star

Lastly, the Pro 1/2/3 race was a lively affair with many surges early on with a break of six riders finally getting a solid gap about 2/3 of the way through the 1 hour event. The pace was hot, with an average speed of about 27 mph posted on the gently twisty course, and two of the six were ultimately dropped. A number of Kenda riders were posted at the front of the group to mess up the chase in support of Chad Hartley (Kenda - 5 Hour Energy), as well as riders from Team XXX blocking for Liam Donoghue (I believe). The final four never built more than 20 seconds on the field and with the ringing of the bell signaling the last lap, they only held a tenuous 11 second margin. Coming around the final bend, it looked like the field sprinters timed the catch perfectly, but only Donoghue was caught, and Hartley easily out sprinted Ryan Freund (Enzos - PSIMET) and Kyle Seph (Sammy's Bike) for the win.

Men - Cat 1/2/3
	Place		Name	City, State		USAC #		Team
	1		Chad Hartley	Fox Point, WI		126996		Kenda 5-Hour Energy
	2		Ryan Freund (1 - Cat1)	Lake In The Hills, IL		279249		Enzo's-PSIMET
	3		Kyle Selph (1 - Cat2)	Naperville, IL		290759		Sammy's Bike

Photo: Peloton Star

Read more...

Sunday update ...

News from the Burnham Super Criterium is on the way. Major computer crash put the April Fools joke on me ... new hard drive - reinstall XP, drivers, software ... almost recovered.

News and VIDEO coming up ...

Read more...