A dozen cyclists representing Marquette's KMK Cycling Club, the Chocolay Ace Hardware Cycling Team and the Keweenaw's Red Jacket - BlueSky Health Cycling Team proudly represented the U.P. at the Duluth Classic Stage Race this past weekend. Competing in four races over four days, the racers persevered through wind, rain, storms and even the occasional sunshine.

Blu Tenbrink, Derek Anderson, Tom Mahaney, Jeff Juntti and Chris Schmidt celebrate Jeff's stage 3 win.
Photo: Matt Williams

The opening time trial Friday sent riders out on a triangular, sometimes flat, sometimes rolling, 16-mile loop. A strong northwest wind switched from a crosswind to a tailwind at the first corner and made for blazing, ego-boosting, 8-mile rip across the northern Minnesota farmland. The tune was different on the final leg of the course as racers confronted the full brunt of the wind. All but the well-trained time trialists discovered muscles they didn't know existed and wished didn't over the final miles. More than one Ace Hardware rider reported lactate-induced conversations with himself during this long race of truth.

Morning came early for the South Range Road Race, stage two. With gaping craters and snake-like cracks, stretches of the 17-mile loop would have been at home in Northern France or Keweenaw county. The previous evening's wind had abated only slightly, but, situated a few miles inland, temperatures at the start/finish were ideal for racing and the morning sunshine put a smile on everyone's face. The day's highlights included a victory in the Cat IV race by Ace Hardware rider Wes Pernsteiner. Andrea Pernsteiner nearly matched her husband's feat with an outstanding 2nd place finish. The Masters 35+ III/IV race saw valiant efforts by Red Jacket - BlueSky Health rider Chris Schmidt, who's 5 mile solo break ended shortly before the king of the mountain sprint, and a two-up breakaway by Ace Hardware rider Andy Langolis and a Brazen Dropout rider that was reeled in a mile away from the finish. Langolis ended up 5th on the day and Schmidt rounded out the top ten.

Andrea Pernsteiner at the starat of stage 2
Photo: Matt Williams

The rumors that coursed through the peloton during stage two of leg-shattering climbs in Sunday's road race turned out to be true and explained why many riders had held their cards close to their chest on Saturday and why others would pay the price. The twelve mile loop contained a 350 foot climb, that -- depending on category -- was to be crested up to six times. KOM points every other lap for the coveted polka dot jersey ensured the pace would remain high. The morning races (women, kids, Pro I/II, Cat III) contended with the additional challenge of a severe thunderstorm towards the end of their races that shortened or neutralized some events. In spite of the weather, Wes Pernsteiner had another excellent finish, crossing the line in the Cat IV race in third, while wife Andrea demonstrated sisu with her top-five finish. Sam Williams, riding for KMK in the 14 and under category, rode in with a solid 9th place finish.

Sam Williams climbing to the stage 3 finish.
Photo: Matt Williams

Team tactics played a large role in the Masters 35+ III/IV race, which was started under cloudy skies that quickly turned sunny to dry up the remants of the morning's storm. Ace Hardware rider and D.S. Tom Mahaney made the early break and stayed away for nearly two laps, picking up a few KOM points along the way. Heading into the final lap, Ace Hardware rider Blu Tenbrink rode hard over the summit and kept on rolling. Teammate Jeff Juntti quickly bridged up and the pair worked together to catch and work with a Brazen Dropout rider who had been riding on his own for nearly two laps. In the end, Juntti took the win and the time bonus to move into second in the G.C. Tenbrink finished third and had mopped up enough KOM points to move into second in the mountain standings. Derek Anderson of Ace Hardware crossed the line sixth with Andy Langolis finishing 10th. Red Jacket - Blue Sky Health rider Chris Schmidt, 11th on the day, picked up a few more KOM points to push him into third in the race for the polka dot jersey.

Monday's Cloquet Criterium rounded out the long weekend of racing. The mile-long course, which included a small rise and long grinder on the back stretch, funneled the racers onto the broad downtown promenade with a descent leading into the final corner. Temperatures had dropped since Sunday and rainfall was intermittent throughout the day. Blustery winds would again -- if not discourage solo breaks -- keep them short. In the Cat III race, Ace Hardware rider Ben LaForce finished 11th in the largest field of the day. Teammate Wes Pernsteiner continued his roll with a solid third place finish in the Cat IV race, moving him up to 4th for the weekend. The Masters 35+ III/IV race was again full of team tactics as seconds separated the leaders on the G.C. Attempts by Juntti to go clear of the field were kept at bay by the watchful peloton, despite the efforts of his U.P. colleagues. In the end, it came down to a field sprint, with Derek Anderson edging teammate Blu Tenbrink for fifth. Jeff Juntti held on for 2nd overall for the weekend and Tenbrink finished an ecstatic 8th. In the race for KOM points, Tenbrink finished second and Schmidt held on for third.

Start of the Masters 35+ III/IV crit.
Photo: Matt Williams

Full results available at: www.duluthclassic.com. The Ace Hardware, KMK and Red Jacket - BlueSky Health riders are now looking forward to Superior Bike Fest, to be held in Marquette June 20-22.