Swanson takes short track men's victory

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After feasting on a meal of fresh homemade bread and chicken noodle soup, racers headed to the popular spectating short track event for late afternoon competition. Temperatures had climbed in to the middle 60s (degrees Fahrenheit) with a light breeze and a beautiful fall sun with deep blue skies making for perfect racing and spectating conditions. With established road pros Adam Bergman and Pat Lemieux (Texas Roadhouse) signing in at registration, the mountain bikers knew to expect a fast and furious race.

The short track was designated by USA Cycling as the official state championship for short track.

Exciting racing was delivered in all the classes. Gaps opened up quickly in the elite class as Bergman, Lemieux, Doug Swanson (Grandstay), Jason Sager (Jamis) and Brendan Moore broke free from the chase groups to establish themselves as the main group on the day.

Each rider exchanged attacks at the front except for Moore, as he was content, and doing everything he could, to just keep the Swanson, Bergman, Sager and Lemieux group in check. Having won previous short tracks at Maplelag, spectators were putting their money on the savvy Swanson who holds state titles in cyclo-cross, road and numerous top 10 short track placings back in the day on the NORBA National circuit. Swanson delivered as he made his move the start of the final lap, attacking the group and moving to the front, holding off the group companions to take his fourth short track title at Maplelag and Minnesota State Champion title.

The elite women lined up with the Comp (Cat 2) men. Jenna Rinehart (Specialized) and Sara Kylander-Johnson (Trek Co-op) were animators at the front among the men as a large group stayed together from the field making for one of the most exciting races on the day.

Kylander-Johnson's last move with two laps to go setting pace at the front was hard and fast enough to hold off all the men as well as Rinehart as SKJ went home with the state title. Rounding out the top five were Rebecca Sauber (LCR Ergon), Anna Schappert (Bikes Beyond-Winnipeg) and Jennifer Fisher (Rochester Velo)

Full Results