WORS #3 Trek Big Ring Classic

Nine Mile Recreation Area, Wausau, WI
WORS #3 Big Ring Classic Sunday June 07, 2009
by: Dan Ellerkamp

Hot and dusty conditions greeted racers for this year’s Big Ring Classic.  The course was true to its name with very fast, open doubletrack sections.  I drove up to Wausau the morning of the race, changed into my new METAL kit, which was awesome!, warmed up briefly then lined up for the start.  GOOOOO!  and off we went.  Rode decently well the first lap, got a bit worked by the steeper climbs early in the lap but recovered in the singletrack and had fun on the fast downhills on the second half of the lap. 

Lap 2 I was a bit slower, so I ingested a couple 2x caffeine gels and drank over half of my deuter hydration pack (which saved me today) for a much needed boost.  The gels kicked in and I felt strong on the 3rd lap, rode hard on the open doubletrack sections and passed a couple groups of tired riders.  Sprinted to the finish line after hearing another rider close on my wheel, but turned he wasn’t in my age class, it was none other than Open singlespeed racer Ryan Shiroma!  Placed 6th in my age class and 22nd overall in Comp, my best to date!  steadily improving…

Time to recover and get ready for WI State road championships on 6/6…