Fitchburg, WI – Just one day before the state road race, 17 category 3 racers lined up in Fitchburg. The weather was sunny and beautiful, but we had raced this course only a few weeks ago, and many riders were likely resting their legs for the 18% climb they would face 8 times the next day in Spring Prairie.
KS Energy Services had a nearly a full team, with 5 riders present. Given the small field size, everyone knew that attacks would be flying.
The field pulled back all early attacks quickly until a third of the way into the race when Brian Stoveken broke away with Marshall Greene (Brazen Dropouts). Brian and Marshall are both exceptional time trialists and they worked together to pull away from the field. The field was not content with the break, and in short order there were 6-7 riders from other teams were working to pull them back. The pair stayed off the front a long time considering the chase efforts. A few bridging efforts were covered by KS Energy Team members.
Eventually the field was within striking distance and Stoveken was drifting back. Travis Miller bridged up to Greene and the pair lead for few laps, until Jon Heile and Brian Arfman (Unattached) bridged up.
Over the next 5 laps, many other riders made bridging efforts and the team marked all of them. Eventually an 8 man break solidified. It it included Travis, Jon, Kelby Shaw, and Joe Maloney – every KS Energy rider other than Brian, who had been working his tail off in the 2-man break earlier. With only 9 other racers in the main field, this break pulled away quickly.
Going into the last lap, Jon launched an attack that only 2-3 people could follow. On the back stretch, seeing he wasn’t alone, Jon let off and all but 1 rider (Brian Arfman) made it back together again. Travis took charge at the front to set up Kelby and Joe for the sprint. He pulled hard for 400-500 meters, leading out into the the final corner. Joe slingshotted around after the corner and started the sprint with Kelby on his wheel. It was still a long way to the finish. Kelby sprinted well to take first place, with Joe third and Jon 4th.
Results:
1 – Kelby Shaw – KS Energy Services / Team Wisconsin
2 – Douglas Bailey – Trek Midwest Team
3 – Joseph Maloney – KS Energy Services / Team Wisconsin
4 – Jonathan Heile – KS Energy Services / Team Wisconsin
5 – Justin Somerville – Bicycle Heaven
6 – Marshall Greene – Brazen Dropouts Cycling Team
7 – Travis Miller – KS Energy Services / Team Wisconsin