Bump n’ Jump - WORS #1

Iola, WI
WORS #1 Iola Bump & Jump Sunday May 10, 2009
by: Landon Lueck

WORS race #1 is complete and Mafia Racing had an excellent day! Four podiums! Top finish of the day was our amazing elite female, Abby Strigel, taking 2nd place overall!

Other finishers were Bryce Schmidt in his first WORS race on his 69er single-speed taking 11th. Nick Caliva (left sportin’ a PBR tee in white) rolled in at 17th overall in Comp and John Miller finished mid-pack at the elite level.

For myself, the men’s elite race began under wonderfully sunny skies and mid-sixties temps. It was all the old faces in the shoot with all 10 out of 10 series place finishers showing up for the first grinder this spring. It should have worried me, but it didn’t - it was great to see all of the guys from last year in their new digs all excited about what glory this season will bring!

Called up 7th I found a lovely place (guy in gray w/hand in back pocket) on the front line between Tom Bender and T.J. Woodruff (numbers 4 & 2 from 2008 respectively) and out of the gates was running 2nd up the loose gravel hill. I found myself in 1st about a mile in, which should have worried me…and it did this time. There is always a split thought as to why you’re off the front, there is always the chance you’re just so huge this year no one will see you for the next 24 miles. But, what came abruptly after this thought was a rude awakening and revisiting of last year on the same course… I got passed by about 20 guys in a matter of a couple miles.

I dropped off.

I will say this, my endurance is…okay. My strength is…okay. But my race pace is precisely NOT that - a race pace. The intensity of a typical WORS race at the elite level is much like the kick of the final portion of a running race. But in the WORS the kick is the entire race; it is the race.
First lap I didn’t take water which is quite typical for the level of anxiety I had going into this race - I generally don’t think to drink when the intensity is more than I can handle. I tried again and again but failed right away to hold anyone’s - ANYONE’S wheel. Then third lap I began to cramp in my calves. I couldn’t believe they were locking up already. But, my fourth and fifth lap were uplifting as I maintained and even fought back a few spots (which at that level does not come easy).

I finished 17th overall and 5th in my new older age group of 30-39 (ages are according to your Dec. 31st age).

I felt pretty ho-hum about the place. I was hoping for top-ten but that obviously went bye-bye about three miles into the 25 mile race. I’m not shattered though - last year I began the season slow too and finished in top shape. I have to keep reminding myself that WORS are not my central focus this year - though it is quite difficult because there is so much shit-talk that goes on pre-race at a WORS event and with twelve of these great races in all it’s a lot of shit to deal with.

My new ride felt spectacular I am pleased to report. I modified the tires since the Bontrager XDX’s I had on there weighed roughly what my Pirelli’s weigh on my Audi. I took my stock Bontrager Jones ACX’s in hand with a utility knife and about three hours to kill and hacked ‘em up something fierce! When it was all said and done I had a really light, fast tire I could probably sell back to Keith Bontrager for $100,000. It was PERFECT! I have been waiting for a tire I can confidently jam into a corner with and not have all my 188.5 lbs blow right through and off on a tangent towards the nearest red pine. The rear was fast and narrow but the front tire held me strong! I’m so pumped! - I have my race tires for the season!

Two weeks before the Rhinelander WORS #2 - Great Job Mafia Racing Midwest!