NORBA North Central Championships & NORBA Wisconsin State ChampionshipMilwaukee, Wisconsin, August 25-26, 2001The Stages
Swanson boys set the standard at NORBA North CentralThe Midwest's best mountain bikers descended on Alpine Valley Resort in the southeast corner of Wisconsin for the Saris NORBA North Central Mountain and Fig Newton Wisconsin Mountain Bike Championships on August 25-26, 2001. This year the championships are both decided by the weekend's three events - giving the native Wisconsin riders a little more incentive, with points earned from races going toward both the North Central and Wisconsin crowns. The weekend was capped off by a perfect top three sweep by the Trek Bicycle Midwest Regional Mountain Bike Team in the pro/expert championship stage race lead by Doug Swanson of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Turning in an overwhelming performance during the weekend on the women's side was Wisconsin's Linda Gabor, who swept every event on her way to winning in the three event stage race ahead of local star Rebecca Cleveland. Riders who traveled to the event were treated to one of the only mountain bike stage races in the country that is open to non-pro and pro riders alike, at a pristine venue that is being groomed to host even bigger events down the road. Stage 1 Mountain bike time trialShortly after noon on Saturday, under overcast skies, stage racers began taking course in a test of individual skill and speed, with a three mile mountain bike time trial a race against the clock. Many of the riders taking the starting gate had never done a mountain bike time trial and they were amped to the race started. Riders were warmed up and ready to go after utilizing the Championship Warm-up Area until they were called to start. The course started with a short, steady climb then it turned to double track before dropping in a two mile section of traditionally tight Midwest single track, with four creek crossings. Powering on to the course fourth was Wisconsinite Tristan Schouten (PCW), who was out of his saddle for most of the opening climb. During his ride he overtook his 30 second man in the process of turning in an impressive time of 11 minutes 41 seconds. As other riders crossed the finish line, Schouten's time proved to be unbeatable with, super strong junior rider John Devine (Trek Midwest) turning in the second fastest time, 3.4 seconds back, followed by Doug Swanson (Trek Midwest), just off pace only 0.6 second behind Devine. Rounding out the top five where James Lennon (PCW) and Brian Schanning both from Wisconsin. ResultsStage 1 Mountain bike time trial 1 Tristan Schouten 11.41.6 2 John Devine 0.03 3 Doug Swanson 0.04 4 James Lennon 0.19 5 Brian Schanning 0.28 Stage 2 Short track cross countryLater that same day, following a brief 20 minute rainstorm, the pro/expert men took the starting line for the second stage, the short track cross country. This race format has seen it's popularity rise steadily at the Sea Otter Classic and NORBA NCS races. At the start, riders where overheard making comments that this ride on a wet 0.7 mile course for 30 minutes plus one lap, with its open sections and short climb would prove to be a defining moment of the weekend in the end all would suffer. Right off the start Doug Swanson (Trek Midwest) powered into the lead, pushing a very strong pace that strung out the field single file and gapped the chase group of Schouten, Dan Swanson (Trek Midwest), John Devine (Trek Midwest), James Lennon (PCW) and Brian Schanning. During the third lap, a surging Schouten bridged up to Doug Swanson who was riding hard off the front. When the two leaders hit the climb on the back half of the course, Swanson hammered hard, dropping Schouten. Throughout the rest of the mud splattered race, the top-five riders powered forward and faded back because of the difficult conditions and fast pace. In the last laps, Doug Swanson would entirely shack up the stage race general classification with a winning time of 28.07, earning himself a 1st place 10 second time bonus. He was followed to the line by kid brother Dan, 37 seconds back and Brian Schanning (PCW) at 29.03. After the race Doug said, "It was just like a cyclocross race out there, but we didnšt have to get off the bike, my Trek Fuel hooked up really well in the corners, I didnšt have to lock out the bike at all for the climb." His tactics included riding at the front of the group to stay out of mud spray and he focused on and powered up the climb on every lap to put more time into the chasers. After this decisive win in the second stage and claiming the 1st place time bonus of 10 seconds, Doug Swanson moved into first place and with a lead of 1.06 advantage over brother Dan and 1.21 seconds over third place Schouten, Brian Schanning at 1.29 and Devine in at 1.40 in fourth and fifth espectively. ResultsStage 2 Short tract cross country 1 Doug Swanson 28.07 (10 second bonus) 2 Dan Swanson 0.33 (6 second bonus) 3 Brian Schanning 0.56 (4 secondbonus) 4 Doug Wilmes 1.13 5 Tristan Schouten 1.18 Stage 3 Long course cross countryOn the line Sunday afternoon a total of 70 riders were ready to take the course for the open North Central Regional/Wisconsin State Championship long course cross country race. Called to the start line first was stage race leader Doug Swanson in his orange and blue Saris/Wipwak leaders jersey. He was followed shortly by teammate and Junior cross stage race leader John Devine in his orange and blue leaders jersey and Tristan Schouten in his Fig Newton Wisconsin State leaders jersey. When the horn sounded, Doug Swanson and John Devine drove to the front and pushed the pass for the first half lap opening loop. They were followed by teammate Dan Swanson, Paul Hanson and Luke Musselman (Sobe Headshok). Schouten got off to a slow start and came past the line in eighth position. Over the next four and a half laps, the Trek Midwest Duo increased their lead and worked together to eliminate any other threats from chasing riders. Little brother Dan chased hard and was unable to make contact with his teammates. Behind him Schouten worked hard to make up his lost ground and overtook Paul Hanson during his third lap. He then charged hard and made contact with Dan Swanson. During the leaders' fifth and final lap Doug and John continued to ride very well together. Doug was pulling on the flat and Devine was taking the lead impressively in the single track. Just past the last creek crossing and the following hike-a-bike uphill, Doug made the winning move and gapped his younger teammate to beat him to the line with arms raised, covering the 25 mile event in 1.50.03, an ecstatic Devine crossed the line 0.07 back. Two and a half minutes later, sprinting to the line came Dan Swanson and Schouten with Swanson nudging him at the line in a classic two-up sprint, completing the perfect sweep for the Trek Midwest team. Coming to the line next was Paul Hanson, followed by Luke Musselman, the first placing Midwest Collegiate Men's A rider. Musselman would later pull on the 2001 Midwest Collegiate Conference Championship Mountain Bike Series Powered by SRAM leaders jersey heading into the next weekend's Round #2 at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky. With the impressive riding by Doug Swanson and John Devine the overall general classification for the Saris NORBA North Central Championship Stage race was shaken up. Doug wrapped up the title with a total winning time of 2.29.46. With the strong finish in the long course cross coutnry, Devine was moved up from fifth place in the GC to second, 1.47 back (also winning the Jr cross classification). By placing third in the long course, Dan Swanson would be bumped back to third place at 4.45. Rounding out the top five were Tristen Schouten at 5.01 and Luke Musselman at 7.28. Schouten's fourth place finish in the GC was good enough to earn him the overall NORBA Wisconsin State Championship in the stage race and cross country. Also being crowed was the NORBA Wisconsin State Junior Cross rider Brian Schanning (PCW). "I haven't had the greatest season I guess this is redemption," said the newly crowned North Central Regional Champion. Tristen Schouten was also as excited "I am really happy to win the Wisconsin State Championship it's a big honor and means a lot to me." ResultsStage 3 Long course cross country 1 Doug Swanson 1.50.03 2 John Devine 0.07 3 Dan Swanson 3.39 4 Tristan Schouten 3.40 5 Paul Hanson 4.48 General Classification 1 Doug Swanson (Trek Midwest) 2.29.46 2 John Devine (Trek Midwest) 1.47 3 Dan Swanson (Trek Midwest) 4.45 4 Tristan Schouten (PCW) 5.01 5 Luke Musselman (Sobe Headshok) 7.28 |