Matter and Rinehart win shortened Chequamegon 40
Press release from the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival:
When it comes to the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, don’t bet against Brian Matter and Jenna Rinehart. Matter (Team Wisconsin/Trek) won his unprecedented sixth title, while Rinehart (Nicolett Bike/Specialized) won her fifth title on a course cut from 40 miles to 38.5 miles due to recent rainfall and tree blowdown.
Matter used both speed and smarts to outsprint Jeremiah Bishop (Sho-Air/Cannondale) to win the 32nd annual Chequamegon 40 in 1:59:2.5. According to Jeremiah Bishop, “(Matter) was always one chess piece move ahead.” T.J. Woodruff (Momentum Endurance) of Phoenix, Arizona, trailed Matter by 10 seconds to finish third.
Bishop animated the race much of the day, attacking hard up the stair-stepped Seeley Firetower Climb and going clear of a lead group of a dozen riders with about 10 miles remaining in the race. Only Matter and Madison, Wisconsin-rider Corey Stelljas could respond. With less than four miles to go, the three leaders were caught and joined on Telemark Road by a T.J. Woodruff-led group that included Minneapolis-rider Eric Thompson and Alabaman Michael Olheiser (Cashcall Mortgage).
Matter had Bishop marked as they hit the final climb and the long descent into Telemark and the finish line. “He sat for one second, and I attacked,” said Matter. “I knew Jeremiah was going to be strong – but not experienced.” This was Bishop’s first Chequamegon 40.
Matter used his dozen or so years of Chequamegon experience, along with a dual-suspended 29er bike, to rail the final descent and beat Bishop to the line. “I’ve seen it (the finish) play out in a million different ways,” Matter said. He forgot to add that this typically includes him crossing the line first. This was Matter’s fifth title in the last six years.
Women’s race
In the women’s race, Rinehart also used speed and experience to win her fifth title in the last eight years, finishing in 2:10:16.9. She used the rollout down Highway 77 to position herself in the second chase group. “I was just trying to hang on, dangling off the back of the group,” Rinehart said. “I knew I was in first, but you’re always looking over your shoulder.”
Just before the Seeley Firetower Climb, Rinehart had to stop and pull a stick out of her rear derailleur. After the climb, she started to feel good and pick off single riders as she rolled toward the finish. Former champion Sara Kylander-Johnson (Kuhl/Ski Hut) trailed Rinehart by two minutes.
“It was hard,” said Kylander-Johnson. “It’s always hard. It’s never easy.”
Amber Markey of Madison, Wis. trailed Kylander-Johnson by four and a half minutes to finish third.
Other winners
Brain and Kim Eppen (Mercy) won their 13th tandem title, finishing 26 overall in 2:05:01.2 despite a high speed crash descending into Martel’s Pothole. The Iowa City, Iowa, couple led the race across the first time check 15 miles in at Highway OO. Kevin Ishaug and Adam Froemming (Freewheeling) were the second tandem in 2:08:25.9.
Josey Weik won the 16-mile Short & Fat on a cyclocross bike in 51:05.3. Fletcher Arlen of Wausau, Wisconsin, trailed Weik by 20 seconds for second and Samuel Olson of Duluth, Minn. placed third in 54:28.8. Stacy Kalemkiarian of Stillwater, Minn. won the women’s Short & Far in 1:00:51.3. Sophie St. Jacques of Minneapolis was second, trailed by Kyra Jackson of Hayward, Wisconsin, for third.
See itiming.com for complete results.
Rough Stuff Poker Ride results
Morning showers gave way to bright sunshine just as the “Sunday Funday” started on day two at the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival.
Greg Pattison captured the 2014 Rough Stuff Poker Ride title in a time of 37:50. This is Pattison’s third win in the orienteering race, which consists of finding seven checkpoints hidden around the Telemark Resort grounds.
“This year there were no goofs,” said Pattison, referring to finding all of the checkpoints stashed in the woods. “I nailed them all.” Pattison admitted that this year’s race was challenging with no gimme checkpoints.
Bill Devries was second in 44:41, nearly seven minutes behind Pattison, and Ken Statz was third in 45:21.
Marie Statz won the women’s Rough Stuff in 45:22, which put her in fourth place overall. She tied for the title last year. Keeping it in the family, Amy Statz, Marie’s sister-in-law, was second place in 1:01:22. Emily Osowski was third in 1:21:30.
Also in the field this year was Tom Puzak, who recently returned from representing the U.S. in Poland at the Adventure Racing World Championship. Puzak missed Checkpoint 4, which put him out of contention in this year’s Rough Stuff. Puzak was fifth overall with a time of 52:30.
Besides the Rough Stuff, Sunday Funday participants enjoyed several low-key events: The Klunker Toss, Bicycle Bowling and the Lumber Jack and Jill Log Pull.
See itiming.com for complete results.