If you race mass starts and TTs, you’ve probably noticed that crits and road races tend to have more photo nuts at them. Hmmm…I wonder why. There’s no question that mass start races have more action and intrigue. However, I’d argue that most time trialists look cooler on their bikes and show more pain and suffering than you’ll see in your mass start rider.
The good news is that we’ve got some photographers out there at TTs and even have some experimenting with video. Here’s a few I’ve found so far and please let me know if you’ve got photos and video that you’d like to highlight.
Thanks to Team Apache for getting the results up so quickly for this race. I saw they were posted on Sunday. I know conditions weren’t ideal with the wind, but at least they were better than last year and people still had some fast times.
The fastest times of the day were posted by Leigh Thompson of Vision Quest, who covered the 40K course in 58:41.44; and Mark Schwartzendruber (Lucas Oil) with a time of 52:21.04. Leigh has a mounted a hefty lead in the Women’s Open overall MATTS standings.
I was really impressed with the Masters 50+ category. There were nine riders who all broke an hour–wow! No other group came close to having this much muscle power. Tom Doughty of Amgen/Giant Masters posted the fastest 50+ time of 55:42.40. The overall MATTS standings in Masters 50+ have turned into a real horse race, though Josh Mallan (Metlife /Pony Shop) has a fairly comfortable lead.
There are just 4 more races left in the MATTS series, so riders are really going to step it up if they want to move up in the standings. The next MATTS event will be the DICE 40K in Cordova, IL. For those of us in the Chicago area, this is quite a drive but the course and event are outstanding. I made the trek last year and had a great time (plus, I also got a 40K PR).
BTW, sorry for the delay in the results, but I just had surgery on my broken right clavicle on Thursday.
I heard from a couple of riders that the Willow Springs TT on Sunday was postponed due to the severe T-storms that were coming though the Palos area. I feel bad for the organizers since that’s the second race in a row that twas postponed due to the weather. Still, a smart idea when you have thunder and lightning. When I receive official news, I’ll post it here. Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed for good weather in the future!
There are 2 time trials this weekend to help celebrate the Double F holiday weekend (Flag Day and Father’s Day). Both are geographical spread out and offer very different atmospheres. Should be a good time at either one. And if you want a fun race right in Chicago, check out the Sherman Park Criterium. Sure, it’s not a time trial, but it’s a great race sponsored by my club, XXX Racing (thus, the self-promotion).
Frederic Lions Club TT - June 14 - Frederic, WI = For those you in the north woods or looking at getting away for the weekend, there is a nice time trial in Frederic, WI. A longer 28 mile TT that is part of the Wisport series and benefits the Frederic Lions Club. The race is held in northwestern WI, about an hour north of the Twin Cities. Entry fees are $25/rider or $40/tandem. Lakeside camping and showers are available. For more information, please visit the event website here.
Homemade Pizza Co Chicago TT#3 - June 15 - Willow Springs, IL = The third race in this new TT series is actually the second after the Monee TT was postponed. This 30K course should be a unique one and features the first KOM points in the series. Riders will follow a 15K loop around the Palos Forest Preserve. The route is very scenic with recently paved roads. Expect the “mountain goats” to appreciate the 6% climb right after the start. The first riders start at 9:00 AM with following riders at 1 minute increments. Preliminary start times will be posted here. The series website has a course map and directions on where to park. The race is sanctioned by USA Cycling and hosted by Beverly Bike-Vee Pack. Entry fees are $25 for adults and $15 for juniors on the day of the race. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and riders will treated to a nice, new course just a few miles from downtown Chicago. More information can be found on the race flyer here.
Have you wondered how well you would do time trialing against pros like Chris Horner, Ben Jacques-Maynes, and Chris Baldwin? Now, you might have the chance.
I just received news from Steve Hansen that the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove has partnered with the Homemade Pizza Co Chicago TT series for a special opportunity for riders in the series. The Top 6 riders in the series through July will be invited to race in the Tour of Elk Grive Pro TT on Friday, August 1. This will be a shorter, 4.5 mile TT–more similar to a prologue–so we can expect some very fast times.
So, start training harder! You’ve got a few opportunities in the next few weeks to improve your standings in the series (you need at least 3 Chicago TT series races to qualify). Check back here for more information or visit the series website here.
Here’s his official notice:
The Chicago Time Trial Series has teamed up with the Tour of Elk Grove to bring a special benefit to local time trial specialists. The six best placed athletes based on average speed will receive an invitation to compete in the Pro only time trial at the Tour of Elk Grove. This is a chance to have local time trial specialists compared to professional bike racers. Who knows? perhaps a very fast local athlete will catch the eye of a pro team’s management staff! To qualify, you’ll need to have competed in three of the Chicago Time Trial Series events by the end of July. The lucky six will be determined by August 1.
Thank you,
Steve Hansen
Managing Director
Chicago Time Trial Series
Sorry for the delay in results, but I’ve been nursing a broken clavicle the past week. I took the turn by the start going into my second lap a little fast and wiped out. Oops. I can now officially say I’ve crashed in arace, but it was a TT not a criterium…how embarrassing…:)
The turnout for the Wisconsin State TT last Saturday was amazing. Nearly 200 riders raced the ever popular Bong TT course. Some riders had done the course two weeks before at the Double Bong, but most were racing it exclusively for the state championships. The weather finally cooperated with temperatures in the mid-60s, however there was a fair 10-15 MPH wind out of the SW. A nice improvement from the earlier Bong races of the year.
Despite the wind, there were some very fast times posted. The Top 3 fastest men’s times were Eric Bean, Jeff Otto, and Steve Scholzen who all broke 52 minutes (28+ MPH). The Top 3 women’s times were Julie Foerstch (Planet Bike) at 25.5 MPH, Leigh Thompson (Vision Quest) at 24.7 MPH, and Heidi Ploeg (Mad City Velo) at 23.5 MPH. The Top 3 junior’s times (20K) were Scott Rosenfeld (Vision Quest) at 27.3 MPH, Chris Hurst (Baraboo Sharks) at 27.1 MPH, and Jordan Cullen (Loon State Cyclists) at 26.1 MPH. The top junior girl was Ashley James (IS Corp), whose time would have been third in Men’s Cat 3 at the MATTS Single Bong.
The best team performance of the day would likely have to go to IS Corp, which had the Top 3 fastest times of the day and also claimed 5 state champions. It’s no surprise that they are currently leading the Wisconsin Cycling Association team competition (though the state TT results don’t contribute points).
Thanks to Team Wheaton for hosting the event and to the USA Cycling officials for making sure we had a state TT championship in WI.
There’s one major race scheduled for this weekend…the Wisconsin State TT championships! Don’t worry, out-of-state riders are welcome. Here are the details:
Wisconsin State TT Championship - 5/31 - Kansasville, WI = Another chance to race the Bong! The WI state championships are being held on the course this Saturday and utilize 2 loops for a full 40K. In-state riders can go for the state title in several categories, while out-of-state riders still have a chance to race for time and to see how they fare against the best in the Badger State. The race is sanctioned by USA Cycling and is being hosted by Team Wheaton Cycling. I posted a course preview earlier here. Entry fees are $27 day of race. Registration opens at 7:30 AM at the Brighton Elementary School. The race flyer is here if you want more info.
There is a legend that one day the planets will align and riders will experience sunny skies, mid-60s, and no wind on the Bong course. That didn’t happen last Sunday.
Although not as bad as the Single Bong conditions back in April, the conditions for the Double Bong were less than ideal. Mostly cloudy skies and a stiff 10-15 MPH wind out of the NW brought a chill to most ride even with temps relatively mild in the low 50s. Many riders were dressed for the chill with tights, gloves, and long-sleeves. I know I made the mistake of not wearing knee warmers, and paid for it on my second lap. Many riders might have complained about the weather, but I would say the conditions were more psychologically challenging than physically. Some riders really flew on the 2-lap 40K course (24.6 miles by my measurement), while others struggled.
The top time of the day was posted by Francis Manfred from the MOB Squad who covered the course in 52:34 (28.1 MPH). Wow! The next 2 fastest times went to a couple of multisport guys, Lance Niles of Brone’s Bike Shop, and Jon Toftoy, who is quickly moving up the MATTS Cat 4 standings.
The top lady of the day weas Julie Foertsch of Planet Bike who smoked the course (and much of the men’s field) in 1:00:40 (24.3 MPH). Leigh Thompson of Vision Quest and Heidi Ploeg of Mad City Velo posted the next two fastest women’s times.
I thought one other performance to note was Chris Padfield of Team Pegasus, who finished second in Cat 4 without a fancy TT bike. He has showed some strong TTing ability this season, especially after winning the Monster’s of the Midway Cat 4 the day before in a solo breakaway. Way to go Chris.
I was also shocked to see that a few riders not only decided to race twice, but they broke an hour each time! Rob Jungels of ABD/Geargrinder and Mike Jones, Josh Mallan, and Ted Westerheide of Metlife all did a sub-hour double.
Were you unhappy with your time or just want a chance to ride in better conditions? The great news is that the Double Bong will be hosting the WI State TT championships on Saturday, May 31. Both in-state and out-of-state riders are welcome. More info can be found on the race flyer here.
Thanks to Tim at HED Cycling, I discovered several more time trials being held around Wisconsin. They are part of the WISPORT cycling series, which has races all over the state (some just a few hours from Chicago). The complete schedule is posted here. I’ll add the races to the MTT calendar in the next few days.
There are two races in the area this weekend and both of them are part of the ABR’s Rider of the Year competition….
MATTS Double Bong 40K TT - Kansasville, WI = Couldn’t get enough of the Bong the first time? Now is your chance to do it twice! I’m sure there will plenty of riders this Sunday with temperatures expected to be in the mid-60s. This race covers 2 laps of world-famous Bong TT course. I posted a course preview earlier here. Entry fees are $25 day of race. Registration opens at 7:30 AM at the Brighton Elementary School. This race is part of the season long MATTS series and is sanctioned by ABR. The race flyer is here if you want more info.
DICE 20K TT - Barstow, IL = For folks living closer to the Mississippi, the DICE 20K TT is also on Sunday. It features a shorter 20K course that is supposedly very flat. This race is organized by Donnie’s Indoor Cycling Experience, Entry fees are $25 day of race. Registration opens at 7:45 AM at the Barstow Fire Department. This race is part of the season long Rider of the Year series and is sanctioned by ABR. The race flyer is here if you want more info.
