Clean sweep at MTU Ronde for Culver's Racing

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

Houghton, MI 
Tyler Gauthier of Ishpeming and Cooper Dendel of Marquette captured the men's and women's editions of the 2012 Michigan Tech MTB Rondevous this weekend. Contested on the hilly and technical Michigan Tech Trails under hot and humid conditions, there was no place to hide. Downhills taxed nerves, uphills seared the lungs and the wide open fields in the lower reaches captured the sun's midday rays like a giant solar collector, delivering it's payload of photons onto the lycra clad bodies of the two-wheeled competitors.

An elite selection of three went clear early in the first of the two 12-mile laps. Pete Karinen (Atlantic Mine) set pace for fellow Culver's rider and team captian Tyler Gauthier. Also in the mix was defending champion Tom Carpenter of Marquette. The deck was shuffled several times before Gauthier made his move and set off for victory on his own early in second lap. Riding solo, Gauthier put over four minutes on his nearest competitor, Pete Karinen. Tom Carpenter finished third, just over three minutes down on Karinen. Jeff Squires, riding singlespeed, took fourth and is sure to be a factor in the singlespeed divison of this weekend's Bells's Beer Copper Harbor Trails Festival.

In the one-lap 12-mile race, it was Red Jacket rider Tim Kostner of Dodgeville who took the win. Michael Brothers of Houghton took second with Ken Wikgren rounding out the podium. Cooper Dendel of Marquette, riding for Culver's Cycling, made it 2 for 2 after her win in the Great Deer Chase with another victory. Second place in the women's division went to Kate Waring.

Story Courtesy of www.bikethekeweenaw.com

Tyler's Race Report

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

With most of the team on the line for the MTU Ronde it was my goal to include as many blue jerseys at the front as we could.  This was perfect day to throw the Jr's and woman's team to the front to gain some experience.

Our outstanding Jr. Pete K. and rising Jr. Cody M. were on the line.  I told them follow me and we will get to the front.  I also told Cooper, our knar shredding woman, to work hard to be with us.  Pete took the challenge serious and led the lead out for quite awhile.  I jumped in front to give his hard effort a break and then right before the single track Tom C. took the lead.  This stretched the group out a bit and Pete K. and I were the only ones of the team to make the break.   

Pete dug deep to stay with us but by the end of the 1st lap he was leading us through the single track.  It was an incredible feeling to see one of my Jr's at the front and wonderful to race with a teammate.  Starting lap 2 I went to the front to do some work for my guy and slowly noticed a gap was forming.  This was a good setup as it allowed Pete to learn how to race at the front with a teammate and then create a race of his own when a teammate has developed a lead.

Courtesy - Rights: xMatic

On the 2nd lap I found a good groove and rode to a victory.  The win was good but I waited patiently at the finish line to see if Pete could make a race of his own.  Sure enough a few minutes later Pete rolled in by himself to secure 2nd place.

A perfect day! 

WORS #8 - Subaru Cup

It has been a week since Subaru Cup. We even had another WORS race since. That is the month of August for mountain biking in the Midwest though. It heats up and goes fast with racing every weekend.

Subaru Cup is quite the event. A large National Series race combined with the largest state series. It brings in a lot of local riders but because of the National tag brings most of the National guys too. It is also one of the only races we do in a year where the separate just us Pro's to duke it out on a mountain.

Another unique feature of the weekend is it is 2 days of racing. Cross Country on Saturday and Short Track on Sunday.




Cross Country
Coming off a good Ore to Shore and having good fitness for it I figure I might be able to carry over a ride into the Subaru Cup. What I didn't expect is my mind and body to tell me you put me through too much the last 8 weeks and I'm not coming today. Ore to Shore was such a target of mine I put a lot of physical and mental preparation into it and I suffered an Ore to Shore hangover duruing the XC race.

I had a decent call up for not having any UCI points. Somewhere around 20th out of 50 riders. My start wasn't too bad but I wasn't all that aggressive as I didn't want to burn the first match before the start climb. At the top of the climb the race was one long line of riders from 1st all the way back. I must have been around 20-25, not too bad. We stayed in the line and I followed TJ Woodruff and Mike P. for the entirety of the first lap. I didn't want to let a wheel go because that meant a several guys coming by. I had to ride outside of my comfort level too many times and the 1st lap zapped the little I had. Lap 2 was a decline, lap 3 was a disaster, and lap 4 was recovery. I had last quite a few spots up to that point but I continued to dig for what I had. Finally I lap 5 I found some juice and was able to get a decent final 2 laps. My middle laps dropped me down to 30th. At the end I was happy to make the cut and not get pulled. This was a small victory in the end as I had day where you battle "how good can you be when your bad."

Short Track
With little motivation from yesterdays blow up and tender legs I didn't know what to expect in the Short Track. The good thing is no matter how my legs feel after a hard effort I'm usually pretty strong on day 2. Because of my finish on day 1 my call up for the STXC was near the back. Immediately after the gun a pile up happened near the front. This is one time that being near the back was beneficial. It allowed me to react to the pile up and go around. I was instantly shot into the top 15 on Chris P. wheel. Chris had felt good the day before so I figured he was a great wheel to hold onto. Slowly the strong riders from the pile up started to make up ground. As they were coming around I was feeling pretty good but was close to my limit. I was tempted to go but figured I better ride my race for the first 1/2. Chris jumped one of the wheels to give it a shot at moving up and I had to let it go. A good decision on my part because as the race continued on I got a bit stronger. The final few laps Isac N. caught me and pulled me around for several laps. With 2 to go I sold my legs to failure and went for it. I gained 3 spots on the last lap making it up to 21st.


The best part of the weekend was the company that was kept. I stayed with great people over the weekend. I could have finished DFL both days and the weekend would have been just as fun because of them all. Thank you to the Peariso's and the Adventure 212 crew for making me a part of the team and family for 3 days. A crew that knows how to make hard racing fun.

Ore to Shore Recap

The month of August is always a big one.  Not only for me but the Midwest. In other places where the cycling season is rolling to an end ours in the Midwest is hitting its stride.  The sprint starts with Ore to Shore which happens to be my home race and a target for the year.  Those of you who know me or have talked mountain biking with me know that this race is always on my radar, right in the center.

The 2011 edition was contested between 13 guys for 38 out of the 48 miles until it was finally broken down to 5.  Last year is last year but I mention it because 2011 had a part in the 2012 edition.  It made this years competitors anxious and aggressive.  It seemed as if we were on the gas for 48 miles with a lot of attempts to split at every mile.

The group went over Lucy Hill and immediately we were back on the gas over the top.  We probably had a group of 20 or so.  Typically down the snowmobile trail the pace comes back but Brian had the idea from the beginning to keep the pace high.  Coming up to Snyders I found a good line through the tracks and then Mike Anderson kept the pressure down to the power line.  The power line proved to be the breaking point for most this year.  Whether it was a mechanical or fatigue most got split off from the brutal pace of Tristan and Brian.  Their pace created a 2 man split that at the time I figured to be very dangerous.

The power line took its prisoners and spit out 4 of us to chase Tristan and Brian.  Mike P. and I took the work as we slowly pulled them back.  We were a group of 7 with the above mentioned, Cole House, Jordan W. and Christian T. for the remainder of the race.

Misery Hill

Even though we had a decent 7 man split the attacks came for most of the day trying to make it smaller.  Brian and Tristan deserve the most aggressive rider awards because they went off the front attempting a break most of the race but the strong head wind and complacency of others made it tough to make it stick.  There was an attack by Tristan I figured was going to work.  As he was off the front I noticed others were leaving wheels go as we rolled to the Noque trail.  I bridged up to Tristan taking Mike P. with me.  When I got to Tristan I went to the front trying to make it stick but Brian is to savvy to allow that to happen and he was back on our wheels.    

The final punch came at Lucy Hill.  Cole went hard over the top and created a small gap.  Tristan bobbled the climb and I cramped.  Tristan and I chased but Cole went hard over the next climb too and neither of us had the legs to pull it back.  A 20 sec gap was created with 2 miles to go.  It was myself, Tristan, and Jordan.  We gave one last attempt down the pavement but couldn't close.  Jordan nipped me at the finish and I rolled in 6th place.

letsbikemqt.com

More of an official announcement to come , but I have partnered with letsbikemqt.com and the Marquette Convention and Visitor Bureau to grow the sport of mountain biking in Marquette County.  They will be working with the team to promote our trails and increase biking tourism.  I am extremely excited to be working with such a powerful group.  I will be writing stories from time to time for the website and will soon be officially moving my blog to there sight.  In the mean-time, here is a pre Ore to Shore story I put together.

  LARGE FIELD OF PROFESSIONALS EXPECTED AT 2012 ORE TO SHORE

Posted on 08.10.2012

By Tyler Gauthier

While the weather may be cooling in the Upper Peninsula as Fall starts to roll in, mountain biking will bring some heat into Marquette this weekend.  August 11, 2012 marks the start of the 13^thAnnual Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic.  Hailed as the largest mass start point-to-point race in the state of Michigan, it is a staple in Marquette County, the Upper Peninsula, and the Midwest.  It is also the first race of the Midwest Triple Crown, which includes the Chequemagon Fat Tire race in September and the Iceman Cometh in November.  The Ore to Shore will bring 2,300 racers, from all over the country, to the start line on Saturday. This year’s event includes a 48 mile Hard Rock, 28 mile Soft Rock and 10 mile Shore Rock.

Photo by Jeni Jewell

The Ore to Shore has grown in almost every year of its existence.  Race director, Scott Tuma attributes the geography of Marquette County to that success.  “We have great terrain here in Marquette County. It’s not flat by any means, but it’s not as undoable as the Colorado Mountains either,” said Tuma. “With Lake Superior as a backdrop, magnificent views are provided as some racers descend practically 1,000 feet. Sometimes I know it doesn’t seem like it, especially at Kirby’s Hill, but from 20 or so miles out, you’re on a gradual decline towards the lake for the duration.”

Photo by Jeni Jewell

As the race grows, so does the number of professionals who compete in the 48 mile Hard Rock.  The professionals provide an exciting and highly competitive race for all spectators.  In the most recent years the race has seen about five to ten professionals start.   The list includes past winners, Brian Matter, TJ Woodruff, and Michael Simonson, along with annual attendees like Mike Anderson and Chris Peariso.  These names have been part of the Midwest mountain bike scene and the Ore to Shore for many years. The 2012 edition of the race could see as many as 20 professionals wheel the line.  This could arguably make the 2012 edition the most competitive race in its existence.

The Upper Peninsula and Marquette County has even bred a professional of their own, Ishpeming rider, Tyler Gauthier.  Tyler, who rides for Culver’s Racing, compete in the Hard Rock 48 mile, Pro field.  He has finished in the top 15 in the past two years and is competing in his 8^th Ore to Shore in 2012, his 2^nd as a professional.  “To compete as a professional is an honor, but to do it in such a big race in your own back yard is a privilege.  I ride with U.P. pride on my shoulders,” says Gauthier.  “It has been a dream of mine since turning professional to keep the Ore to Shore trophy in the Upper Peninsula and more importantly Marquette County.  My goal is to win the title for the U.P.”

Photo by Jeni Jewell

What brings so many Professionals to the Ore to Shore? According to Vision – Wheel & Sprocket rider, Nathan Guerra, “It is the most beautiful race in the Midwest with the hardest competition.  Guerra, a native of Oconomowac, WI finished 4^th in the 2011 Ore to Shore.   “The landscape is the best, it provides all of what mountain biking is,” he said.  As for the race organizers? “They understand bike racing for Pro’s.  They pay for our effort.”

Here’s a quick race prediction from Culver’s rider Tyler Gauthier:

“The race starts in Negaunee and moves West towards Ishpeming.  The race usually splits on the always-painful power line through West Ishpeming.  Exiting West Ishpeming and starting the trek towards Marquette, expect that many Pro’s might be thinking a like. After exiting Misery Hill and completing the first 25 miles, a larger group than normal may come through 510, with each one chasing the same goal.  With so many past champions and pro’s in the field, sitting in a large group can be discomforting.  So expect attacks to come swift and often as the riders exit 510 back on to the Noquemanon Trail Network.  This is where a large group may be split to a select few.  In the recent years the race has come down to the last mile.  If the same is the case this year, be ready for fireworks.  Only time will tell who will be there to shine in the end.”

Tyler Gauthier rides for Culver’s racing and Meyer Family Vision. He is also supported bywww.letsbikemqt.com, a huge promoter of the mountain biking in Marquette County. Check out his blog at www.letsbikemqt.com

Ore To Shore Pre-Ride

Ore to Shore only a week away!!

Those of you looking to pre-ride the course, this day is for you!  Whether it is your 1st time or 100th time join me in a pre-ride where I will share with you every detail of the course.  In a race where seconds matter I'll show you where you can shave them.

The ride is in combination with the 4 week Ore To Shore Clinc I have lead at Cylce Soleil.  This is our 4th and final week.  If you would like to join us it is $20 and we will provide a guided ride, instruction, transportation, and food/water supply.

Email me for more details:  tygauthi@alumni.nmu.edu