KS Energy Services/Team Wisconsin riders Dave Eckel and Joe Maloney made the 4 hour drive out to the Johnson County fairgrounds this past Thanksgiving weekend for the annual Jingle Cross Rock.
The race started as a charity event for the local hospital, but has grown in its nine year history into a massive event hosting 2 UCI C2 and 1 UCI C1 level events. Racing begins on Friday with a C2 under the lights, followed by Saturdays C2 and Sundays C1.
Friday’s course featured a long start straight, a tough off-camber hill section followed immediately by as steep fly-over, a long run up Mt. Crumpet, Lincoln logs, and a huge pinwheel. Dave started the night off with a 10th place in the Masters 45+ division against the best riders in the Midwest. Joe had a great start and avoided a pileup on the off-camber section to put him in 3rd which he maintained from the first lap until the finish 45 minutes later. Overall a great start to the 3 day weekend against the best in the Midwest.
Saturday’s course was changed slightly from Friday. If still had the off-camber crusher as it was known from Friday, but skipped the flyover in order to add in a long, painful ascent up Mt. Crumpet. Riders then took a steep twisty decent down the other side. The pinwheel remained but instead of the Lincoln logs from Friday, 2 barriers to force a dismount. To make matters even more fun, rain throughout the morning and day made the course brutal, with many sections un-rideable.
The ride down Mt. Crumpet was particularly interesting. Dave suffered a dropped chain on lap one putting him behind with ground to make up. He managed another 10th place in the Masters 45+ field. Joe was feeling good, but the long ride up Mt. Crumpet forced many to run because of the mud and on the 4 lap race he ran it 2 times which he admits is not his strong suit. He bounced between 3rd and 6th, but eventually came in for 5th place.
After a night to dry the mud on Sunday was thick and greasy. The organizers again changed the course to include the flyover, run up Mt. Crumpet, a different off-camber decent down the hill, and the Lincoln logs once again.
Dave started things off well with a good start in the top 10 and only went up from there. After battling with a rider during the last few laps he was able to win the sprint by a bike length and come in for 5th place, scoring a big result and a little cash too. Before the start, Dave rode up to Joe and gave him his wheels equipped with the new Challenge Limus tubular.
Joe was able to once again get a good start and immediately began picking up spots through the first lap thanks to his tires grip in the corners.. By the second time around he was sitting in 2nd with a local rider on his tail applying pressure. The gaps bounced between 5-20 seconds for the remainder of the race until the elastic finally snapped and the gap got huge. Joe rolled in for 2nd place in the tough Men’s Cat 2 field.
Overall an incredibly successful weekend for Team Wisconsin scoring some huge results at one of the Midwest’s biggest cross races.
Further coverage can be found at: Cycling News, Velo News, CX Magazine, Podium Insight, and Cycling Dirt.