Jesse Rients:

His Spin-Scan was in the Low-70′s when we started working together.  Those of you who train with a Computrainer know how hard it is to make the screen look like this:

Yes, those are little “90′s” up there.

Pro/1/2 46 1 Corey Stelljes MADISON

Pro/1/2 9 2 Chad Hartley Fox Point WI

Pro/1/2 85 3 Craig Faulkner MENDOTA HEIGHTS

Pro/1/2 80 4 Jesse Rients SHAKOPEE MN KUHL/Bicycle Fit Guru

Pro/1/2 13 5 Michael Hemme CHICAGO IL

Pro/1/2 84 6 Christopher Fisher INVER GROVE HEIGHTS MN

Pro/1/2 81 7 Joshua Roeser MONTROSE MN Flat City Cycling Club In

In Bold:

TEAM MINNESOTA – WOMEN – 1. Claire Bootsma, 2. Cathy Yndestad, 3. Becky Youngberg, 4. Michelle Andres, 5. Ruth Brennan Morrey, 6. Heidi Keller-Miler, 7. Kortney Haag, 8. Jenny Wilcox, 9. Suzie Fox, 10. Jan Guenther.

Junior Boys

The elite men’s series title was to be a showdown between current leader Rients and 2nd position Chris Fisher (Crossniacs). Faulkner marked Rients early in the race to help his teammate, while Lemieux and Allen attacked off the front. Once the front group caught the leading duo, Faulkner went on the attack, taking only Lemieux with him. Lap after lap ticked by as Lemieux continued to stick to CJ’s wheel. Lemieux made his move to the front on the far side of the course, only to have Faulkner push past as they approached the sandpit, and take the victory. Rients was able to distance himself from a fading Fisher, to seal his Lazer Series victory, with Peterson finishing well enough to move up to 2nd in the overall.

A huge thanks to title sponsor Lazer Sport for a great cross series, and HUP united and Biketrow Racing for putting on a great weekend of events. Good luck to all the local racers as they push on to Cross Nationals in January in Madison, WI.

Elite Men

Great Job Jesse!!!!!!

Elite Men

For the 2nd year in succession, a Wisconsin rider spoiled the party at the MN State Cyclocross Championships. Last year it was Specialized rider Mark LaLonde. This year, it was 16 year-old Jordan Cullen (Clif Bar Development Cross Team) taking the win at Minnesota’s biggest cyclocross event of the year. The rider, who hails from just across the border in Hudson, WI, overcame a 20 second deficit, catching CJ Faulkner (Crossniacs) just after the barriers as they approached the finish. Jesse Rients (Kuhl/Bicycle Fit Guru), Matt Peterson (Balance/Eriks), and Matt Allen (Behind Bars/LGR) finished 3rd, 4th, and 5th, respectively. As Cullen is a Wisconsin resident, the 2011 MN State Cyclocross Elite Men’s title goes to Faulkner.

Snowy, blustery, and cold conditions were a factor in the races later in the day. Nothing compared to the blizzard conditions of last year, but it certainly wasn’t just any day in the Park. The biggest challenge for riders was iced up cleats, making it difficult to clip back into their pedals, which made for a scary ride down the hill after the stair run-up.

Jenna Rinehart (specialized) chose to ride her mountain bike, and it proved to me the right choice. She made quick work of the Elite Women’s field, riding away almost immediately, and growing her gap all the way to the finish. The battle for 2nd place was much tighter, with Bianca Bergman (Texas Roadhouse) out-sprinting Linda Sone (CycleSmart.com/Flanders) for the honor. Jeanne Fleck (Velo Duluth), and Terra James (Sweet and Salty Cycling) finished 4th and 5th, respectively.

In the Elite Men’s race, Cullen was first off the line, but Jay “Hollywood” Henderson (Silver Cycling) would not be denied the hole shot, overtaking the youngster going around the ball field. A large group of over a dozen riders were still in contention after the first lap, led through by Cullen, Hollywood, Faulkner, and 2009 winner Doug Swanson (GrandStay Hotels). By the end of the 2nd lap, Cullen and Faulkner had separated themselves from the pack, with Swanson the closest chaser. By the halfway point, Swanson faded, and Rients had taken over 3rd position followed by Peterson and Masters 35+ leader, Chris Smith (HUP United). Contender Josh Roeser (Crossniacs/Bicycle Fit Guru) pull his hamstring and was out of the race, and his teammate Chris Fisher struggled with the cold, and pulled out as well. 2008 winner Pat Lemieux (Specialized) was not on a good day, but was still having fun, doing cross-ups off the bumps near the finish line.

With 4 laps to go, Faulkner dropped young Cullen and made his bid for glory. His lead grew to over 20 seconds with 2 laps to go, and Rients was closing in on 2nd place. Then the youngster seemed to find a second wind, and started charging forward towards the leader. As Rients fell back into a solid 3rd place, Cullen halved his gap to the front by the start of the bell lap. Faulkner still held a solid gap at the top of the stairs, but Cullen would not relent. The charge continued, and the catch was made right at the barriers, just a few turns before the finish. Cullen carried his momentum all the way to the line, posting up as the crowd looked on in bewilderment. An amazing comeback that no one, not even the winner himself could have predicted.

A hearty congratulations to all the newly crowned MN State Cyclocross Champions. A big thanks to HUP United and Curt Goodrich Racing for putting on an amazing event. Hope to see you Sunday at the season finale and final race of the Lazer Sport Cyclocross Super Series, the GP Zac Daab.

Elite Women

Elite Men

Elite Men

Elite Men

Elite Men

* MICHELLE ANDRES, 34, East Gull Lake

- A shoo-in to earn her first berth on Team Minnesota, the mother of five won seven of her 13 career victories in 2011. Her win at Gear West Du was particularly impressive, almost earning her a Performance of the Year nomination to go with her MI and TOY nods. (Photo below with her basketball team.)

* SUZIE FOX, 28, Chaska

- Formerly Suzie Finger (her legal name change becomes official tomorrow!), the 2009 Rookie of the Year has twice flirted with a Team Minnesota spot. She’ll make it this year, thanks to her wins at Apple and Iron Girl and her podiums at Gear West, Manitou, Minneman and Turtleman Du.

Men 1/2

Men 4

Men 4

Men 123

Masters 35+

Josh Roeser, Crossniacs took another victory in the masters 35+ race, in a tight battle with Jesse Rients, Kuhl/Bicycle Fit Guru, and Chris Smith, HUP United. Tom Puzak lived up to his bib number 1, winning the Cat 4 race, after race leader Kesha Zavyalov, Omnium Racing, broke his chain on the final lap.

Women

Jesse Raced the 1,2,3 event AFTER the Master’s race!

Masters 35+

Men 123

 St. Croix Valley Triathalon - Olympic
                                             Hudson, WI - Sept. 3, 2011
                                           1.5K Swim - 40K Bike - 10K Run

Place Div/Tot  Bib  Name                    Age Sex City               St Rank   Swim  100yd Trn.1 Rank    Bike  Rate Trn.2 Rank Run     Pace  Finish
===== ======== ==== ======================= === === ================== == ================== ===== ================== ===== ================== =======
    1           508 David Holden             42 M   North Hudson       WI    1   18:50  2:57  0:57    1 1:02:10 23.9  0:44    3   38:50  6:15 2:01:30
    2          1611 Jim Felling              32 M   River Falls        WI   13   23:48  3:43  1:02    2 1:03:09 23.6  0:40    1   38:22  6:10 2:06:57
    3           440 Tom Krenz                50 M   Chisago City       MN    9   21:50  3:25  1:23    4 1:03:52 23.3  1:05    4   39:03  6:17 2:07:11
    4           479 Micah Turman             30 M   Minneapolis        MN    8   21:47  3:25  1:10    5 1:04:04 23.2  0:52    7   40:57  6:35 2:08:48
    5           424 Kortney Haag             32 F   New Hope           MN   11   22:15  3:29  1:03    7 1:04:46 23.0  0:45    5   40:50  6:34 2:09:36