Lumberjack 100
[citation needed] Jeff Schalk (Trek) and Betsy Shogren claimed wins at this year's running of The Lumberjack 100 in Wellston, Michigan.
Race favorites, Betsy Shogren (Cannondale), Karen Potter (mtbmind.com) and Danielle Musto (Kenda/Tomac/Hayes) jumped ahead of the women's field early on and established themselves in that order and only minutes apart after the first 25-mile lap.
The winds and rain forced a marathon clean-up of debris and trees from the trails, but by the time Saturday morning broke all that was left were a few welcome log hops and three muddy sections that grew as the 250 racers passed through them.
Fortunately due to the nature of the mostly sandy course, the majority of the trail was well drained and the amount of standing water was limited to only those three short, but treacherous sections.
Undeterred by the conditions, Jeff Schalk (Trek/VW) maintained his control over the series lead with another close win by only a minute over Oregonian, Evan Plews (Scott/ Capitol Subaru).
In the women's field Cheryl Sornson (Trek/VW) took home her first win of the NUE series with a full day riding in front of the rest of her competitors.
Seventeen minutes back from the Trek/VW rider was Karen Potter (MTB-Mind.com) from Massachusetts and rolling across the line in third was last year's winner and local Daniel Musto of the Kenda-Titus-Hayes team.
Ronald Sanborn (McLain Cycle and Fitness) found himself in the fortunate position of first by only a minute over second place John (Fuzzy) Myline (Sho-Air, rock and Road/ Niner) with a time of 7:57:19.
Third position was occupied by Nate Versluis (Founders Ale / Alger Racing) and not far behind was the series singlespeed leader Dejay Birtch (Niner Bikes).
The course was so covered with limbs and blow downs that a crew of 25 men and women had to clear the entire 25 mile loop a week in advance of the race.
Michigan racer, Michael Simonson (Bell's Brewery / Quiring Cycles) led the first 40 miles with Chris Eatough (Trek / VW) close on his heels.
Third place was taken by Michigan racer Christian Tanguy (American Cycle and Fitness), who suffered a bad crash that broke his helmet and gave him some good scrapes across his forehead.
Tanguy came in at 7:03:18 while Pennsylvanian Harlan Price (Independent Fabrication) came in fourth at 7:07:05 Danielle Musto (Slingshot) lead the women's field for more than 75 miles of the race, building an 18-minute gap by the halfway point and finishing first in 8:47:09.
One rider reported feeling chills on his 3rd lap, hearing people come up behind him that were not there and a strong desire to stop and fall asleep in the woods, but afraid that he would freeze to death if he did!
His pit crew did not let him go out on his 4th lap...[citation needed] Men's Women's Perfect weather for racing, overcast and temperatures in the mid to low 70's welcomed the inaugural event.
