The next race in the SCHEELS Central Iowa Cyclocross Series is The Dirty Wooden Shoe this SATURDAY in Pella. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and racing starts at 10:30 a.m. A UNIQUE and MEMORABLE prize will await the fastest in each category.

The course is in great condition considering the rain we have had, and we will be racing rain or shine.

Schedule:

Category/Entry Fee/Start Time
CX3/$25/10:30 a.m.
Masters 35+/45+/$25/10:30 a.m.
CX4/$25/Noon
Juniors/$20/Noon
Women 1/2/3/$25/1:30 p.m.
Women 4/$25/1:30 p.m.
CX 1/2/3/$25/3 p.m.

Complete details and door-to-door directions to the race venue are available on the Pella Bike Racing Web site: www.pellabikeracing.com/dirtyWoodenShoe/. Complete details and series standings for the SCHEELS Central Iowa Cyclocross Series are posted at www.bikeiowa.com/cross.

WOODSTOCK, ILL.—Kyle Fleener led the category four cyclocross race from wire-to-wire at the ninth race of the Chicago cyclocross cup series.

A strong start helped Fleener to his second cyclocross victory of the year. The relatively dry course and challenging terrain made for exciting racing all day.

“I knew I had to put in a solid start since there are so many strong riders. Once I got into a rhythm, I just kept the hammer down. ” Fleener said.

His first place finish puts him fifth in the series points out of 96 competitors. Fleener plans to attend Jingle Cross in Iowa City and then will wrap up his season at the Illinois state championship on the shores of Lake Michigan.

PELLA—Doug Klahsen and Jacob Oyen received their Category 3 upgrade approval from USA cycling after a full season of races.

The upgrade tops off a successful 2008 campaign for the two racers. Klahsen had a second place finish at the Green Days race in Johnston and a third place finish at the Bicycle Blues and BBQ Criterium in Clear Lake this year. With multiple seasons of racing under his belt, Klahsen also racked up numerous top 10 finishes.

Oyen had a second place finish at the Northfield Criterium in Northfield, Minn. and a fourth place finish in the Kansas City Kansas Criterium. He also had numerous top 10 finishes over the course of the season.

The teammates will continue to prepare tirelessly for their 2009 campaign.

PELLA—Steve Reynolds led his teammates through a challenging state championship event hosted by the Pella Bike Racing team.

The racing started late in the day for the team. The first half of the category four race was uneventful with nobody getting away. With 15 laps to go Jacob Oyen turned on the gas and had a small, but unorganized group off the front for a lap and half before it was reeled in.

With three laps remaining in the race, Doug Klahsen went to the front and strung the field out in a leadout attempt. With Reynolds and Oyen in tow, the team was positioned well for the finish. As the final lap began, Klahsen peeled off and let the team go to work. When the peloton entered the third turn, a DMOS rider crashed. Reynolds squeaked through and avoided disaster placing seventh.

Oyen wasn’t so lucky as he ran out of road and took a tumble into the grass. After picking himself up, he limped up to the finish line where he finished 17th. Lee Current finished just behind him in 18th.

The team now starts to look towards the off-season as the road season in Iowa is mostly complete. Some racers are headed south for the Gateway cup over Labor Day weekend, and others have already started their off-season training plans.