Team Wisconsin wrapped up the month of May with an impressive day in the latest installment of the Wisconsin Off-road Series at the Battle of CamRock. Racers Brian Matter, Jason Balden, Caleb Swartz and Rachael Jensen all had notable performances.
“CamRock is a good course with a little bit of everything,” said Matter who raced in the Elite Males event. “It has high-speed sections, roots, rocks and tough climbs.”
On top of a fun and challenging course, the riders had great weather to race in, but for Jason Balden, he faced an obstacle before even pulling up to the starting line.
“Unfortunately, the lockout on my front fork broke the night before the race, so I wasn’t able to take advantage of sprinting up the hills like I usually would.”
Balden was convinced that the mechanical issue caused him to lose about a minute. He said afterwards that those precious seconds could have landed him a better result.
On top of that, he couldn’t test the course the day prior because rain had forced the it to close. Noting the possibility for the rain to have a lasting effect, Balden made an adjustment that he says paid off in the end.
“I put on a beefier tire in the rear just in case it was super wet, but the course was pretty dry on race day. Still, I was happy I switched the tire, because some of the punchy, rocky inclines were a little slick.”
Rachael Jensen raced in the Elite Females event and while she liked the speed and technicality of the course, it wasn’t her favorite.
“The course is a tough one, I’ve never been too much a fan of that one.”
But while most of the members of Team Wisconsin were making adjustments and adapting to the course’s turns and obstacles, CamRock was all to familiar to Caleb Swartz.
“This was my home course,” the 16-year-old said. “I have been riding here for eight years or so, so I know every inch of these trails very well.”
Swartz would be punching above his weight as he was given the green light by WORS to race in the 19-23 group. The teenager said he was nervous and anxious to go the full length of the course and be scored along with the older competitors.
CamRock was ideal for Swartz since the majority of it was single track, something he excels in.
But right from the get-go, the young mountain bike rider would face challenges that had nothing to do with his skill.
“I dropped my chain at the end of the first lap and Jason and his group caught me,” Swartz recalled. “I worked back through them and into 14th place and had a 30-second gap towards the end of the 2nd lap but I dropped my chain twice in a row and the group got by me, so I latched onto their group.”
Swartz would drop his chain two more times in an otherwise gutsy and stellar performance where he would finish 17th in the field.
“My goal was top 15 and I was pretty bummed that the mechanicals held me back from that but I was very pleased to see what I can really do!”
Swartz’s first go in a pro/elite field came with some positive takeaways. He was overall proud of his effort and says he hopes to aim for the top 15 next time and by the end of the season, climb to the top ten or even a podium spot.
His teammates raved about his CamRock pro debut.
“With this being his home course,” Balden noted, “I think he would have even been able to beat me if he didn’t have the problem with dropping his chain.”
Caleb wasn’t the only one with mechanical issues.
Jason Balden broke a spoke on his front wheel at the start of lap three and was forced to be cautious on descents and turns.
“I was afraid the tire would give at any moment and buckle on me.”
Balden managed to catch some fatigued competitors and finished 13th overall and first in his age group.
Brian Matter brought his pro skills and experience to CamRock and was in a good rhythm for the first half of the race.
“The race was pretty standard until midway through the 3rd or 4th laps when the leader took off and I found myself losing ground.”
Matter would have to pick up the pace in order to finish strong.
“I started the last lap with a 30-second or so deficit, so was very happy to be able to close the gap and then win the final sprint.”
With that final push, Matter took first place in the Elite Males race to highlight a great day for Team Wisconsin Cycling.
“Brian killed it,” Swartz said. “And to take the win against such a stacked field shows that he one of the strongest and smartest racers out there and I can’t wait to be fast enough to race side by side with him!”
Rachael Jensen was coming off a lingering injury from a race at Crystal Lake.
“I hurt my ribs, shoulder and collar bone pretty bad,” Jensen said. “When I’m fully healed I hope to do better.”
Despite her injuries, Jensen represented the Team Wisconsin Colors well by grabbing 7th in the Elite Females race and earned praise from her teammates.
“Rachel did an awesome job,” Swartz said. It’s great to see KS represented in the pro women as well as the men and [Jensen] has been a great addition to the team.”
Team Wisconsin’s WORS Warriors proved that it’s a force to be reckoned with this season.