Isaac Neff (5Nines/Motorless Motion) and Heidi Beck (Twin Six) rode away from their elite fields on a wet, fast course at the inaugural Cross-Shooshko Cyclocross Race Saturday.
The Cross-Shooshko Cyclocross Race, promoted by the Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team, featured long straights, a lot of flowy off-camber corners, a great view atop Basilica Hill, and two uphill run-ups. The race also had an unusual start: the alley behind Ben’s Cycle, the event’s main sponsor.
Isaac Neff (5Nines) rode away from his competitors at the 2014 Cross Shooshko. © Karl Hendrikse
In the men’s elite race, Neff and Joseph Maloney (KS Energy) broke away from the field after a lap. Neff attacked on a long straightaway, got a gap, and never looked back. Maloney held onto finish second. Dan Teaters (Wheel and Sprocket), Ian Haupt (Milwaukee Bicycle Company), and Bryan Fosler (KS Energy) completed the podium.
The women’s elite race kept together for two laps until Beck broke away, dropping April Beard (Brazen Dropouts). Beard held on for second while Lisa Harms (Trek Midwest) finished a solid third.
Victoria Pink (Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team) won the masters women’s event, followed by Angela Theriault (Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team.
In the elite master’s race, Al Krueger (KS Energy) won a tight battle in the 35 plus with Joe Curtes (Twin Six) and Brady Frederick (Velocause). Curtes and Frederick finished second and third. In the 45 plus race, Jeff Abitz (Diablo Racing) pulled away early and hung on to beat Tedd Jacobsen (KS Energy) and JW Miller (Erik’s). Former national champion Robert Downs, Madison, edged Mark McGeen (Team Mack) and Michael Meteyer (Trek Midwest) in the 55 plus race.
Heidi Beck (Twin Six) took the first-ever Cross Shooshko race in Milwaukee. © Karl Hendrikse
Two teenage teammates Caleb Swartz and Harrison Winkel (KS Energy) pulled away from the Cat 3 field early and rode together until Swartz attacked and rode away to win the race. Winkel tried to hang on to second, but the effort cost him as Jason Bleedorn (5Nines) caught and passed him in the last lap to claim second.
In a thrilling sprint finish, Cale Dorn (Team Magnus) edged out Kip Spaude (ISCorp) to win the single speed race and Michael Curtes (Twin Six), resplendent in the Team Polska team kit to honor the Polish heritage of the park and neigborhood, finished third.
Joseph Maloney in front of the Basilica of St. Josaphat © Karl Hendrikse
In the women’s Cat 3 race, two Psimet teammates from Chicago edged out two BelgianWerx teammates for top honors. Katie Iserman pulled way off the front while Psimet teammate Christine Thornburg held on for second. Erin Feldhausen nearly caught Thornburg in the last lap and her teammate Nicki Lock was in fourth.
Elizabeth Arth (Team Magnus) started at the front and never let her lead drop, winning the women’s 4 race over Jenny Carmichael, Temperance, MI, and 16-year-old Megan Kruzitski of the North Star Development Cycling.
Ian Tweedie (ISCorp) finished first, Nathaniel Osborne second, and Emmett Bock third in the the boys 9-14 event. Emma Osborne (Team Extreme), Maddi Stevens, and Emma Kasza-Jones made up the podium in the girls 9-14 race. Carter Warren and Joseph Garber took first and second for ISCorp in the boys 15-18 race, while Wesley Webb finished third.
Steve Mehne of Milwaukee won the men’s Cat. 4 race, followed by Robert Berry and Steven Trebatoski, both racing for BelgianWerx. David Lawler (Main Street Bicycle Sasquatch Squad) won the Cat. 5 race with Mark Caballero (Marquette University) and Jakub Cychowski (Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing Team) finishing on the podium.
In the masters Cat 4 races, David Weis, Wauwatosa, won the 35 plus race by a wide margin, followed by Isaac Olson of Wind Lake and Jason Rudroff (BelgianWerx). Anthony James (Team Extreme) won the 45 plus race, with Andrew Stevens (Rat City Racers) and David Hanrahan (Team Pedal Moraine) filled out the podium. Kevin Dorn won the 55 plus event followed by Steven Cummins (Team Pedal Moraine) and John Senkerik (Team Extreme).
