Battle Royale in Wisconsin Off Road Series: Matter and Eppen each take their second series win

Mark Lalonde followed by Brian Matter at WORS Big Ring Classic, June 7, 2009.  (Photo by Brittany Nigh)

Written by Claire Cannon

The third race in the Wisconsin Off Road Series was a three-way battle for the top spot between brothers Jesse and Mark Lalonde and Sheboygan racer Brian Matter. A Triple Crown winner in 2004 and USA Cyclocross National Team member in 2009, Matter (Gear Grinder) powered to the top spot this Sunday at the WORS Trek Big Ring Classic in Wausau, WI.

Brian Matter won the WORS Big Ring Classic, June 7, 2009.  (Photo by Brittany Nigh)

Heavy rains the 24-hours before the race left the rocky, root-strewn course at 9-mile park slick and technical. The three leaders rode together for two laps before Jesse Lalonde (Gary Fisher 29er/T6 /BKB) suffered a flat that would never fully seal and Matter attacked off the front. Matter gradually gapped Mark Lalonde (Planet Bike/GT/T6) to finish nearly 50 seconds ahead at 2:14:40. "It was another battle royal out there with the Lalonde brothers. The technical sections were slippery, but the throttle was wide open the entire race," said Matter.

The first sounds of his flat and the “sight of Stan's showering the underside of my down tube was an anticlimactic end to a boiling battle,” said Jesse Lalonde. Despite repeated stops to attempt repair and add air to the rupturing tire, the elder Lalonde held off the competition on a course where “every bump reopened the wound.” He managed to chase back to a third place finish despite the strong performance of Brian Eppen of Iowa City, IA (Mercy Specialized), who finished 4th.

WORS Belgioioso Pro / Cat 1 ladies leader Kim Eppen of Iowa City, IA (Mercy/Specialized) at WORS Trek Big Ring Classic, June 7, 2009.  (Photo by Extreme Photography)

Kim Eppen of Iowa City, IA (Mercy Specialized) dominated the women’s field again at the Big Ring Classic. Eppen also won at the WORS season opener, the Iola Bump & Jump.

“The Iola and Wausau [Trek Big Ring Classic] courses are 2 of my favorite race courses in the WORS series due to the diversity of terrain and awesome single track riding. The WORS crew does such a great job at setting up the courses and running the events, which is the reason why Brian (my husband) and I travel so far to go to them.”

Eppen crossed the line over 9 minutes ahead of the second place woman, teammate Robin Williams.

“My racing strategy is to try to do the best I can on any given day,” said Eppen after her race. “All you can ever do is your best, no matter what the outcome. It’s great to have so many other women to race with!”

The women’s field also attracted a strong showing from Minnesota’s Cat 1 ranks, with Kyia Anderson of Saint Cloud, MN (Hidden Bay Sports) crossing the line in 3rd place just seconds behind Williams. WORS 2008 Overall Series Leader, Abigail Strigel (Mafia Racing/Pabst/Felt), finished 4th.

Though the Eppens don’t know whether they’ll be back for more racing in the WORS Series this year, they do plan to travel to Wisconsin for a tandem showing at the triple crown races. When asked about her goals for the 2009 season, Kim Eppen’s responded with “to try to do the best I can at a variety of different types of cycling events, including MTB racing and tandem MTB racing (including Ore to Shore and Chequamegon) and possibly try to go to the first ever tandem MTB Worlds in CA. We’ll see…..”

For complete results, see http://wors.org. The next race of the 2009 Wisconsin Off Road Series will be held on June 20 & 21 at Nordic Mountian at WORS Mega Event, the Subaru Cup.