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Alan Factory Cup Challenge #1
Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 27, 2003
Cyclocross season opens with a bang on Boom Island
By Bicisport Media USA
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Boom Island was once used as a log sorting station for the logging industry. No longer an island due to mans need to control the river, the area is now use for recreation opportunities and a new residential community built along the Mississippi River.
Situated above historic Main Street, Nicollet Island, and the St. Anthony Lock and Dam in Minneapolis, Boom Island connects residents and visitors to the majestic beauty of the Mississippi River.
The historical main channel of the Mississippi River flowed to the west of Boom Island. The east channel was gradually filled in during the lumber mill days. Booms are chains of logs use to float other logs down the river. Boom companies would pluck the logs from the booms and sort them for their respective lumber company. In 1857, the boom companies merged and Boom Island became a sorting station before the logs go to St. Anthony Falls.
Boom Island remained undeveloped through the remaining years of the 19th century. As steam powered saw-mills were built in the 1880, enormous stacks of lumber began to cover the island. On August 13, 1893, a fire broke out from southern Nicollet Island and spread quickly through the pile of lumber, engulfing the sawmills, businesses and houses for miles around.
On September 27, Boom Island, now a city park, greeted hundreds of racers to a perfect season opening for crossers in the northland. Temperatures in the mid 40's and NW winds of up to 25 MPH are a made to order Cyclocross feast. Add a sprinkle of cold rain, and you have Minnesota cross the way it was meant to be. HARD CORE!
The course was laid out along the Mississippi river meandering about the parking lot and an old landfill. It was a spectator friendly course as it was quite short and narrow. The tall well-built barriers kept the bunny hoppers at bay, however the course itself was boring and lacked creativity. There was no notable hill or technical section to cause difficulty along the way. Boom Island has been used several times for cyclocross and bike messenger races in the past and does not lend well to good course design. Be that as it may, the easy course in no way tempered the competition.
The Men's A Race was a quick affair as the top two riders took their spots at the front of the race in the first five minutes. Southern California's Brent Prenzlow (Velo Pacific) attacked straight away and was joined on the second lap by strong local rider Jake Stechman (Alan Factory Team). The duo gained time on each lap taking turns at the front and setting a blistering pace. A strong and organized chase group of up to nine riders formed. Lead by Team Salsa's Tim Norrie and Fast Freddy Feirn with Nature Valley's Dan Swanson and Scott Ralston, Harry Anderson (Ski hut) and Jay Henderson (Gravity Labs) taking turns pace setting. This was a dangerous group loaded with strong capable riders yet they were unable to gain even the slightest time back. Such was the strength of Stechman and Prenzlow. The two leaders were walking away with little regard to the battle behind.
Up in front Stechman kept the pressure on riding all out lap after lap. Prenzlow worked a bluff long enough to take advantage of a lapse in Stechman's concentration late in the race. Attacking after a hard pull by Stechman, Prenzlow put paid to his experience with five laps to go and Stechman could not respond. Prenzlow pulled away and never looked back throwing his victory salute still 100 meters from the line and waving to the enthusiastic crown
The battle behind was brutal and ultimately the chase group ate itself alive. Dan Swanson dashed the hopes of podium pretenders with a true show of force taking third spot while Fred Feirn took fourth in front of teammate Tim Norrie. Scott Ralston settled for a well deserved 6th spot. Gravity Labs legend in waiting Jay "Hollywood" Henderson battled mechanical trouble all afternoon but managed to work his way back through the splintered chase group to finish seventh on what seemed to be a doomed ride. Derek Laan (Alan Factory Team) Harry Anderson (Ski Hut) and Kevin Kralston (Kenwood) rounded out the top ten finishers
Though many of the elite local cross racers are still racing on the road, the Boom Island turnout was possibly the largest season opener recorded and leads one to believe that the 2003 Cyclocross season will be ranked as one of the best in Minnesota History.
Photos
Images by Robert Lindstrom
- The Men's A race start was a quick affair, as the top two riders took their spots at the front of the race in the first five minutes, the easy course in no way tempered the competition.
- Jacob Steckman (Flanders/MBRC) leads eventual winner Brent Prenzlow (Velo Pacific) over the tall barriers.
- The tall barrier sent the racers into orbit.
- Team Salsa rider Tim Norrie leads the chase.
- Jay Henderson (Flanders/MBRC) made a mid-race bike change after mechanical troubles.
- Jake Stechman (Flanders/MBRC) leads Brent Prenzlow (Velo Pacific) though the paved section, moments before Prenzlow's final attack.
- The Alan Factory Team had a simple plan: put two in the top ten, two in the bottom ten, with Paul Thoresen holding the Lanterne Rouge.
- An unknown Salsa rider jumps clear out of the frame.
- The floating style captured forever.
- Charlie Townsend (Bianchi/GP) leads the third group on the chase.
- This was the moment Brent Prenzlow (Velo Pacific) was waiting for. The chess match is over, it's check mate, mate.
- Brent Prenzlow (Velo Pacific) worked a bluff long enough to take advantage of a lapse in Jacob Steckman's (Flanders/MBRC) concentration late in the race, attacking with five laps to go.
- The large turnout was a suprise, as many of the local hot-shots were racing elsewhere.
- Jake Stechman (Flanders/MBRC) tried every move he knew, but in this chess match, there is only one king.
- Downtown Minneapolis is the back drop for Jay Henderson's (Flanders/MBRC) suffering as he leads the chase.
- Chuck Hood (Salsa) was sporting a single speed Salsa cross bike with disc brakes.
- Smooth operation and handy.
- Winner Brent Prenzlow (Velo Pacific) began celebrating so early that I missed the money shot as he crossed the line; the batteries did not make it.
- The Minneapolis skyline is the backdrop for Brent Prenzlow's attacks.
- Bike here, bike there, bike and bike parts everywhere.
Results
Expert / Cat 1/2 1 Brent Prenzlow (Velo Pacific) 20 pts 2 Jacob Steckman (Flanders/MBRC) 17 3 Dan Swanson (Nature Valley/Penn) 15 4 Fred Feirn (Salsa) 13 5 Scott Ralston (Nature Valley/Penn) 11 6 Jay Henderson (Flanders/MBRC) 10 7 Harry Anderson (Ski Hut) 8 Paul Thorsen (Alan) 0 9 Chris Edin (Bicycle Sports) 0 10 Pat Dowling (Flat City) 0 11 David Simpson (u/a) 0 DNF Kevin Honkens (Orbea/MoEx) 0 DNF Andy Kruse (Tonka/MCT) 0 Comp / Cat 3 1 Tim Norrie (Salsa) 20 2 Derek Laan (Alan) 17 3 Kevin Kralston (Kenwood) 15 4 Tom Coy (Salsa) 13 5 Mike Weisptenning (AUC) 11 6 Brandon Gavic (Salsa) 10 7 Todd Heiser (Squadra) 0 8 Steve Rowentree (Kenwood) 0 9 Tom Lapinski (Freewheel) 0 10 Ross Fraboni (u/a) 0 11 Dave Dingman (Bianchi/GP) 0 12 Timothy Case (Squadra) 0 13 Todd Wilson (Bianchi/GP) 0 DNF Chuck Hood (Salsa) 0 DNF Patrick Humemmy (VW) 0 Men 35+ 1 Brent Prenzlou (Velo Pacific) 20 2 Scott Robertson (Birchwood) 17 3 Brian Mohrlant (Metrix) 15 4 Charlie Townsend (Bianchi/GP) 13 5 Wallace Alexander (Kenwood) 11 6 Tom McDonald (kenwwod) 10 7 Tim Boyle (Make Shift) 0 8 Paul Schoening (Alan) 0 9 Mark Milnar (Bianchi/GP) 0 10 Raleigh Loresh (u/a) 0 11 Gary Friedell (Kenwwod) 0 DNF Mike Pederson (BT) 0 DNF Steve Sonnesyn (Alan) 0 Sport 1 Cory Gross (Flat City) 20 2 Wynn Roberts (u/a) 17 3 Matt Meuyres (Flat City) 15 4 Kent Thorson (u/a) 13 5 Matt Huron (Kenwood) 11 6 Jon Friedell (Kenwood) 10 7 Ben Popp (Bicycle Sports) 0 8 Tim Ramos (Flat City) 0 9 Sean Poetter (Flat City) 0 10 Allen Robertson (VW) 0 11 Keith Bianchi (Bianchi/GP) 0 12 Ian Hall (VW) 0 13 Eric Zimmerman (Sports Hut) 0 14 Iamon Mee (u/a) 0 15 Patrick Lemieux (MNJR) 0 16 Brian Szlalorkuk (VW) 0 17 Joshua Peterson (Flat City) 0 18 Jeff Lewis (u/a) 0 19 Brian Costello (u/a) 0 20 Tom Scherber (Salsa) 0 21 Lee Bengel (MNJR) 0 22 John Coleman (u/a) 0 23 Robert Tomb (AUC) 0 24 Peter Schweich (u/a) 0 25 Adam Stauferberg (u/a) 0 26 Thomas Thornquest (Eriks) 0 27 Chris Orr (u/a) 0 28 Garratt Nolan (Eriks) 0 29 David Weiser (u/a) 0 DNF Mark Kotz (Gopher) 0 DNF Andy Kruse (Tonka/MCT) 0 Men 45+ 1 Zackery Handler (u/a) 20 2 George Szymansky (Bicycle Chain/LSC) 17 3 Mike Lyner (Bicycle Chain/LSC) 15 4 John O'Brian (u/a) 13 5 Richard Spielberg (Tonka/MCT) 11 6 Tom Bengel (u/a) 10 7 David Hastert (Flanders/MBRC) 0 8 John Waldron (u/a) 0 9 John Krawczak (Nature Valley/Penn) 0 Women 1/2/3 1 Benita Warns (Bianchi/GP) 20 Cat 5 1 Joe Fritsch (Gopher) 20 2 Adam Birr (u/a) 17 3 Adam Piddle (u/a) 15 4 Sean Burns (u/a) 13 5 Steve Cragel (LSC) 11 6 Jason Halt (Birchwood) 10 7 Jeffrey Krutson (UoM) 0 8 David Bucholz (Bianchi/GP) 0 9 Matt McDonough (u/a) 0 10 Jack Stock (Flanders/MBRC) 0 11 Ed Szklarczuk (VW) 0 12 Brandon O'Brien (LCR) 0 13 Chris Rogers (Eriks) 0 14 John Stamm (LSC) 0 15 Drew Boeke (u/a) 0 16 Bruce Cochran (u/a) 0 17 Will Hoeg (Eagle Ridge) 0 18 Barry Schmitt (u/a) 0 19 Lonnie Sauber (LCR) 0 20 John Shepard (u/a) 0 21 Tim Power (LSC) 0 22 Mike Miziorko (u/a) 0 23 Dave Throne 0 24 Brad Beisel (u/a) 0 25 Terry Clap 0 26 Bill Hall 0 Citizen 1 Krystynn Kras (Cargill) 20 2 Becky Alexander 17 3 Benita Warns (Bianchi/GP) 15 DNF Anne Steuer (Gopher) 0 Juniors 15-18 1 Alex Lacey (u/a) 20 2 Chase Own (u/a) 17 3 Neal Peterson 15 Juniors 10-14 1 Andrew Kotz (Gopher) 20 2 Conrad Roberts (Baraboo Sharks) 17 3 Booth Bartness (u/a) 15 4 Jackson Bartness (u/a) 13 5 Greg Bartness (u/a) 11 Alan Team Challenge Cup 1 Salsa 174 pts 2 Kenwood 167 3 Bianchi/GP 94 4 Flanders/MBRC 93 5 Nature Valley/Penn 90 6 Bicycle Chain/LSC 75 7 Flat City 70 8 Birchwood 61 9 Velo Pacific 60 10 Alan 51 11 Metrix 45 12 Gopher 40 13 AUC 33 14 Ski Hut 30 15 Tonka/MCT 22 16 Cargill 20 17 Baribou Sharks 17
