The team came out the day before to scout the Snake Alley course and view the conclusion of the Burlington Road Race.
The morning began with bright skies and dry conditions on the snake. The Cat 3 squad arrived with time to pick up bibs, relax and watch some races, and prepare for the effort ahead. It truly was a nice day out with temperatures in the comfortable range.
After some fun and games, tom foolery, shenanigans as they are known among the UW-Madison people (which included a few swords fights to battle metal), we kitted up and began the warm up for what would be a short but intense event. With the lap counter set for 15 laps, riders took a few practice laps and lined up to begin the race.
Snake Alley contains 6 switchback turns up a steep brick road.
During the warm up period some darker clouds rolled in and as the riders took the start line the rain began to fall harder and the course was soaked. This had all the makings of an epic race in addition to the hard bite of the snake.
Over 50 brave souls took to the start of the CAT 3 field.
The race began and a few riders from the KS/TW squad had solid starting positions, something that is widely understood as critical for this particular race. While some had good staring positions, those without still managed to gain positions both before and after the tight and narrow climb. After the first few laps around the 15 city block course legs were feeling the pain and the once large group was splintering.
Despite the long course, the snake with its average grade of 12.5% and five switchbacks, 100+ feet of climbing per lap, and blistering pace, Joseph Maloney, Travis Miller, Mark Norton and Kelby Shaw all made their way into the leading group. The team was by far the best represented out of any team, both in numbers and pure strength.
Joe making his way up to the lead group in the first couple laps.
Unfortunately Travis fell victim to the slippery conditions the rain had left and crashed on the second turn of the death-defying decent on the back side of the course. Luckily, both he and his bike only suffered road rash. After making his way up from a back row start, Joseph Maloney caught the leaders and continued to push the pace breaking away on the snake and opening up a 10-15 second gap. With 8 or so laps to go the solo victory looked possible, but not assured. The gap fluctuated a bit until about 3-4 to go when he was caught by the leading group containing Kelby Shaw and 3 others.
After only a single lap together another rider attacked leaving the group shattered. He opened up a gap of 10 seconds in the first lap, but with one to go the gap was coming down to only a hand full of seconds. In the end he stayed away for the win, but Joseph Maloney was able to scoop up 2nd place with the effort of bringing the leader back. Kelby Shaw had a strong 4th place, with Mark Norton also placing high in 6th. John Heile also finished in the money with a solid 12th place. John Reynders finished in 33rd place and Brian Stoveken finished in 45th.
Maloney being interviewed on the podium.
Results (Top ten)
1 – Jonathon Schilling – Grover, Mo – CHIPOTLE JUNIOR DEV
2 – Joseph Maloney – Madison, WI – KS ENERGY SERVICES / TEAM WISCONSIN
3 – David Leatherman – Charlotte, NC – BRAZEN DROPOUTS
4 – Kelby Shaw – Whitewater, WI – KS ENERGY SERVICES / TEAM WISCONSIN
5 – Cameron Rex – Shawnee, KS – MESA CYCLES
6 – Mark Norton – Madison, WI – KS ENERGY SERVICES / TEAM WISCONSIN
7 – Dustin Morici – Saint Charles, IL – BURNHAM RACING
8 – Chrs Moore – Iowa City, IA – WORLD OF BIKES / BIKES 2 YOU
9 – Louis DeWild – Des Moines, IA – RASMUSSEN’S BIKE SHOP
10 – William Pankonin – Chicago, IL – XXX RACING / ATHLETICO
For more photos from the race click here.