Posts from 200705
How do I get one of those sweet event T-shirts? It's a popular question at the Big Ring and we don't sell them, so here's the secret: WORS is in need of volunteers to course marshal or work the timing chute at our first marathon event. These tasks are as simple as pointing people in the right direction, calling out numbers or pulling back tags and you can even support your favorite racer while you do it by cheering for them on the course, doing water bottle hand ups or being there as they cross the finish line. In exchange for 3 or more hours of your time, you'll get a special event staff Rudy Rack Big Ring Classic T-shirt and a light lunch. Volunteers are needed for time slots between 10am and 4pm. To volunteer or if you have any questions please contact Alexis Edberg at acedberg@gmail.com.
With Rudy Rack Big Ring Classic, the inaugural event of WORS new Marathon Series fast approaching we would like to reiterate some of the procedures for this new format and one very important change* for the Sport category since the print of the 2007 WORS Racer Handbook. All racers need to be aware that start times and wave procedure is different for the marathon series. Citizen Youth










Also, please beaware that if you registered for the series other than online, your account will state: You currently have no series registration for 2007. Don't worry about this a go ahead and add your series number to your profile.
Treadfest 2007 at the Mountain Top Lodge, Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Genva, WI
Some thought that cyclocross season got off to an early start this year at Treadfest, race number two in WORS 2007 sponsored by Subaru. Once the Elite/Comp racers took to the track, a sudden cold downpour lent the newly created Treadfest course that extra element* of challenge. In the Ladies' Elite race, Abigail Strigel (Team Polska - FDL Cyclery, finishing time 2:09:26.5), beat out her closest competitor Erin Disterheft (Team Billy's, Galesburg MI) by a nearly 8 minute margin to win the Ladies' Elite overall. Tristan Schouten (Trek/VW, finishing time 2:05:14.8) held off Jesse and Marko Lelonde (Gary Fischer/BKB, 2nd and 3rd place respectively), to win the Men's Elite overall. Honors in the Comp Males overall went to Mike Sherer, racing for Pony Shop, who crossed the line with a time of 1:57:38.2.

Abigail Strigel placed first for Team Polska
Citizen racers Liz Baumgardt-Kays, and Matthew Amman (Team Extreme) took top honors in the Women's and Men's races, respectively, while Alyson Davis and Brett Poulton were first place finishers in the Citizen Youth races. In all, over 740 racers turned out to test the newly created course. Lake Geneva-based bike club Skinny's Club Tread (pictured below) deserves a Big Thank You from satisfied WORS racers for the 1000+ hours that club members and friends invested in carving out both the track as well as the necessary collaboration with local land-owners.

Men's Start
Skinny's Club Tread made the Treadfest course possible.
* Originally this was Seth Lenss' pun, but he said I could have it because he didn't want it.
Article and photos by Claire Cannon
Over 750 riders turned out for the first WORS race of the 2007 season, the Iola Bump & Jump to enjoy near perfect conditions and a fast course. The lead-out, a first of many climbs, was well rewarded by a rapid descent into the ski jump bowl. Spectators waiting in the jump bowl area probably enjoyed a good show at the lip of the bowl, where many riders chose to catch a bit of air on their way down. Some may have noted that on her first lap through this descent, Sara Kylander-Johnson, 2004 WORS Overall Women's Champion of Duluth, MN (pictured below speaking with a younger rider) had already caught the wave that started ahead of her! She went on to dominate the women's elite field while 2006 WORS Overall Men's Champion, Brian Matter of Sheboygan, WI displayed his early season fitness as he rode steady to take the top men's prize. For complete results from the Bump & Jump click on "Results" on the left side of this page.
Article and photos by Claire Cannon