We’re now in the heart of the cyclocross season. Alpenrose Dairy played host to the series opener, and again made for a weekend to remember. Mud was the theme of the weekend, as it should be, and the twisty circuit with just about everything a cross race asks for is always an eye opener for those that sat out the early season.
The TCNF.LEGAL squad was prepped and ready, with results to prove it. Day one saw good conditions with grippy mud from rain the days before. Taking full advantage, and the highlight of the day, were our young female riders McKenna McKee and Lauren Ziehnert. Both young ladies competed in the Women 1/2 race and came home 6th and 8th! A top ten is always a good way to start the crusade.
In the Men 1/2 race, the team fielded three riders; Paul Bourcier (19th), Justin Ziehnert (22nd), and Erik Hammerquist (DNF). It wasn’t the day the men hoped for, but they would fair better the next day.
On Sunday, Paul Bourcier moved to his National Championship focus category, Masters 50+. His ability to ride competitively with the young studs proved to cross-over well. In a battle all the way to the line, Paul edged out a huge win in a 70 person field! In a brief summary, Paul stated, ” Finished the weekend with a very challenging battle in challenging conditions for 1st, which even included a crash on the velodrome apron right before the finish line.”
Erik Hammerquist bounced back on Day two to finish 16th in the 1/2’s, while Justin Ziehnert finished 24th. Shane Fletcher was racing in the 35+ 1/2 race, a category he has been very successful in thus far this season. The success continued as he walked away with a 15th place finish.
Owen Roger’s also had a rough day one, but came back to finish at the front half of the 2/3 field on day two in 35th.
Lauren Ziehnert moved from the 1/2’s down to the 2/3’s, but she had issues with the muddy conditions and finished 11th. Staying in the 1/2’s was McKenna. She was able to better her result from the day before and finished 4th!
Vikki Bourcier also braved the muddy, wet conditions in the Athena race and finished 8th.
Next weekend is the rowdy PIR Heron Lakes Crusade, which will surely bring out some great racing for the team.
Dark Horse Racing p/b TCNF.Legal 