Three area riders headed south early Sunday morning to represent the Keweenaw at Nine Mile’s Big Ring Classic. The temperatures were high, mosquitoes out in droves and wood ticks looking for fresh blood, but the RedJacket – BlueSky Health Cycling team was successful.

Brett Hamlin was first to race and looking for revenge after a less than stellar experience at his first WORS race in Iola. If it was revenge he sought, it was revenge he found. The average class time improvement from Iola to Wausau of 8 minuets, Hamlin’s time improve four fold, over 32 minuets faster, placing him soundly with an 18th in class, and 82nd out of 264 sport class racers.

C4 rider Andrew Ignasiak digging deep
Photo: Brett Hamlin

The remaining Keweenaw riders, RedJacket – BlueSky Health’s Ryan LaBar, and 4C’s Andrew Ignasiak were off next. LaBar, racing elite/pro, had his hands full as some of the countries’ top racers were competing in elite/pro. LaBar had a fast start and was able to hammer the single track. His bike handling skills were well above many of his fellow riders and helped to finish the thirty two mile event in just over two hours and twenty five minuets, placing 11th in class. Ignasiak, of 4Cs, did and excellent job as well. Like Hamlin, Ignasiak was on a mission following Iola, and like Hamlin he too was successful. Ignasiak place 8th in class at the comp level.

Success of these riders would not have been as high without the team. Bottle hand-outs were key to the riders’ success in the long events. “It was really awesome to get fresh bottles every lap.” LaBar said following the race. It was also noted by many bystanders that the RedJacket – BlueSky Health Cycling Team had some of the cleanest, quickest, and most professional bottle hand-off of any team at the event. All of these riders look to continue their success at the Chain Drive