by Paul Warloski
SUN PRAIRIE, WI—Abby Strigel (Trek) and Casey Hildebrandt (Underground Project) won the Women’s and Men’s Elite races Saturday at the Sun Prairie Cup, the fourth round of the Trek Wisconsin Cyclocross SuperCup Series.
Abby Strigel (Trek) rides up the steep hill on her way to winning the elite women’s race at the Sun Prairie Cup. Photo by B.D. Andrews
With rain from the previous night and light mist falling during the day, the course was slick and often changing, perfect for Strigel, an Elite mountain bike racer. Strigel rode away from Heidi Beck (Twin Six/ Milwaukee Bicycle Company) who edged Erin Feldhausen (Hollander Benelux Racing) for second, while Nicki Lock (Belgianwerx) and Julie Phelps (Gryphon Velo Racing) stood on the fourth and fifth step of the podium.
In the Elite Men’s race, Caleb Swartz (Trek Cyclocross Collective) took the hole shot, but Isaac Neff (5Nines/Motorless Motion) took over the race lead. When Neff faltered near the end of the race, Hildebrandt and Tristan Schouten (Unattached) caught him. Hildebrandt gapped Schouten for the win with Neff finishing third. Dan Teaters (Team Wheel and Sprocket) finished just ahead of Swartz to round out the podium.
Casey Hildebrandt (Underground Project) powers through the loose course at the Sun Prairie SuperCup race. Photo by B.D. Andrews.
With his win, Hildebrandt moved within five points of current SuperCup leader Travis Braun (Revolution Cycling) in the overall standings with two races to go. Amber Markey (Wheel and Sprocket) maintains her lead in the Elite Women overall.
Heidi Beck (Twin Six/ Milwaukee Bicycle Company) won the Women’s Masters 35-plus race and extended her overall SuperCup lead, while Michael Garber (Hampshire Cycling) did the same in the Masters 55-plus.
Simon Thompson won the 35-plus Men’s Masters Sun Prairie race, while Carlos Casali (Intelligentsia Coffee) kept his overall lead. JW Miller (Eriks) made a dent in overall leader Jeff Melcher’s (Team Pedal Moraine) by winning the 45 plus Masters race.
The next race in the Wisconsin SuperCup is the Halloween Cross at Washington Park in Milwaukee, Saturday, October 31. Visit http://wicycling.org/cx/ for more info.
