Cyclocross season is here and in full force. The first six WCA races have gone smoothly for Team Wisconsin who produced results across all categories. Dave Eckel, Mike Hulen, and Brien Christopherson have made their mark in the Master’s category, with Doug Bailey, Chris Newlin, and John Reynder’s holding their own in the 3’s.

Over the past wet and muddy weekend at Kletzsch Park and Camrock Tim Racette put together two first place finishes in the 4’s entitling him to an upgrade to CAT 3. Chris Newlin pumped out a 3^rd place finish on a treacherous Carmrock course in the CAT 3’s. And Mark Norton, battling in a talent filled Pro 1/2 field, put up highly respectable finishes of 9th place finish at Badger Prairie and 6^th place at Kletzsch Park.

Jeff with his wife Kelly – Aug 2010

This past Tues, the Midwest cycling community lost one of it’s most recognizable riders and wonderful people in Jeff Littman.  Tragically he was hit by a car while out doing the sport he loved the most and died from the injury’s he suffered.

With many ties to health and fitness, Jeff became involved with cycling quite a number of years ago when Vic Tanny was a cycling team sponsor. Many of the senior guys from Vic Tanny still racing in Wisconsin today recall the days back in the early 90’s when Jeff was slowly making the transition from Mr Wisconsin (fitness and strength title) to Jeff the bike racer. Back in 1994 Jeff started a new business called Wisconsin Health and Fitness Centers. It was then, the cycling club “Team Wisconsin” was officially born. The guys on the original team were some of the fastest masters riders from Wisconsin and quickly established themselves as one of the top teams in the region.

Jeff was a major sponsor and member of the Team from 1994 through the 2006 season. During this time the roster had several changes and after joining the team in late 2002, I was appointed to Team President in late 2004. I didn’t realize Jeff’s passion for skin suits back at the time but when we worked together on the clothing orders I was always entertained by the fact he never ordered any items “but skin suits” and shoe covers. It was all about style and he always made it happen no matter what the weather or conditions were. Rumor has it his skin suit collection consists of well over 100 different types from teams all over the world.

Since 1994, the “Red Team” as it was so commonly called, has grown and evolved with a focus on rider development, supporting charity rides, and the Wisconsin Cycling Association by way of running two premier events in the annual Whitnal Park Spring Classic and the Wis State Time Trial. With pride, we have and will continue to share the legacy that the Red Team has enjoyed all these years.

Thank you Jeff for sharing your smile, your leadership, and your love of cycling with all of us on this team and in the sport.

We all miss you dearly!

Dave Eckel

*Please view the WCA site for details on Jeff’s Memorial service: http://www.wicycling.org

With the road season coming to a close, the team’s presence on the mountain bike has gown. WORS #9: Suamico brought back the Marathon format to WORS and had a very big turnout. Three team members left the race with podium finishes.

WORS #9 Suamico Results
Jason Kayzar…3rd in single speed – Sport
Nick Frye…3rd in age group – Sport
Tim Racette…3rd in age group – Comp

…Next WORS event, Sept 12, at Lake Geneva

The event will take place in Kansasville, WI and will feature 40k (2 loops) of the famous Bong TT course. The event flyer can be viewed here.

All riders that wish to race who did not pre-reg are welcome to register on Sat a.m. We recommend you arrive no later than 8am to register!

• Start List as of 8-6-10.

All riders welcome!

Team Wisconsin will be flashing some new threads as we roll into a new season with new sponsors. Keeping with the roots of the team, red will be a primary color. Check the site for upcoming events and come catch the new kits in action. See you there.

Team Wisconsin-MC2 is thrilled to announce some great new sponsoring partners,

One Communications, a communications management company with offices throughout the midwest and northeast states, has joined the team with sponsorship and new team member Andrew Ohlsson. One Communications is a proven leader in managing, monitoring, and maintaining telecommunications equipment. We are very pleased with their contribution and strong hand of support.

Horny Goat Brewing Co., based in the nation’s kingdom of brew, Milwaukee, WI, is king among jesters. A hard working crew that produces the best and knows how to have fun meshes perfectly with our team’s philosophy. We are excited to have the support of Horny Goat Brewing Co.

The team is fired up about the support from Fi’zi:k saddles. The literal support and riding comfort that Fi’zi:k provides with their saddle range is unequalled and it’s great to have them aboard.

Making the transition and continuing with Team Wisconsin are supporters Ben’s Cycles and Clifbar. Ben’s Cycles, located near the heart of Milwaukee, WI by Kosciuszko Park, has the experience, staff, and equipment that our team relies upon. Clifbar keeps our energy levels sustained and high. We love the food and even more so, we love the philosophy.

Team Wisconsin-MC2 thanks all its generous sponsors for their contributions to our team.

For more about each sponsor, click the a logo in the sidebar to link to their website.

Team Wisconsin enjoyed tremendous success in 2009 with 14 race wins, 37 podium finishes (top 3), 7 State Champion titles in 4 states, and overall champions at the Tour of America’s Dairyland and International Cycling Classic. We want to thank all our sponsors for their support during our 2009 success and throughout the past 3 years. The growth of our team, in structure and level of competition, would not have been possible without the generosity and partnership of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare All Saints, Ben’s Cycles, Clifbar, Specialized, Defeet, and ThyssenKrup Safway. Thank you.

As we strive toward larger goals and enter into higher levels of competition for 2010, Team Wisconsin will be proudly representing MC2. Milwaukee based communications company MC2 began support for Team Wisconsin early in the 2009 season and helped propel results from this young development team. We are extremely pleased with MC2’s partnership, and with MC2’s continued support, we look forward to an even better season in 2010 as Team Wisconsin-MC2.

Now starting its 3rd year of sponsorship, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare will again sponsor the southeast Wisconsin cycling club, Team Wisconsin.  In addition, the team will have a new, major sponsors in MC2 and Verizon Wireless joining long-time sponsor ThyssenKrupp-Safway.  The team is also supported by Clif Bar, Ben’s Cycles, DeFeet and Specialized.

For 2009, the team has started a category 3 development team, directed and coached by team president and USAC coach, Dave Eckel.  The club will support this group of riders with coaching, clothing and assistance with entry fees and travel expenses.  The development team’s goals will revolve around the Wisconsin Cycling Association races, the Midwest Cycling Series and other major events on the regional calendar.  “It will be exciting to watch these young men ride as a unit and progress in their skills, racing with success in higher categories in the coming years.  This is an extraordinary group of guys and the club is ready to support their goals of reaching their potential in the sport of cycling,” Eckel said.

Thanks to the addition of MC2/Verizon, the team now as openings on its roster for elite masters and category 1 and 2 riders.  If you are interested, please fill submit a race resume and complete the expression of interest form.

Riders and their significant others sipped pints of Irish ale, sampled horsdorves and were treated to a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the team’s successes during the past season and its future plans. Afterward, the team enjoyed a nice dinner and social time with the highlight being able to celebrate Dr Rudy’s birthday. Everyone belted out a Happy Bday tune and enjoyed some cake.
Team president Dave Eckel and member Rudy Byron began the meeting with a repeat performance of the presentation they made to our Wheaton Franciscan sponsors. After detailing the make-up of the team with its emphasis on developing young, promising riders and fielding a competitive Masters team in local and regional events, Dave and Rudy went on to describe the successes of the team’s three main events, the Whitnall Park Road Race, Wisconsin State Time Trial Championships and the Trek 100.
The Whitnall event ranked third in attendance among all 2008 WCA events and credit was given to race director Andy Reiland and all of the Team Wheaton riders/volunteers and the great support we received from our Wheaton Franciscan sponsors, who even had medical staff on site for race support. This year’s edition of the State Time Trial Champs had a terrific turnout and further improvements in the start position and marshalling should make the 2009 edition even better. The team also takes great pride in our fund-raising for the Trek 100, organized by Ben Bartoszuk, which this year brought in more than $3000 for the MACC Fund and its fight against childhood cancer.

Leadership for 2009
Team President Dave Eckel, Vice President Andy Reiland, and Treasurer Ben Bartoszuk will continue serving the team in 2009. Chris Sauer will join the leadership team as Webmaster, taking the place of outgoing member Scott Peterson.
New Riders Welcomed and Cat 3 development Program
Looking forward to the 2009 season, the team has committed significant resources towards a core group of young guys who will be competing in the Elite 3 races for 2009. Among the support the team provides all its members, this group will benefit additionally further in terms of a coaching program, clothing and additional racing expenses. Joining returning riders Nick Frye, Garrett McAllister and Addison Faul will be Jon Heile, David Paquette, Mark Horstmeyer and Mike Martinsen. USAC Licensed coach Dave Eckel will be coaching and directing this program.
The team has also added to great guys to the Masters 4 / 5 and 3 / 4 groups in Tyson Beck and John Svanda. The team is also looking to add a few more Elite Masters riders to its ranks in the coming months.

Adios Amigo
Sadly, the team is also saying good-bye to one if its most active members, Scott Peterson. Scott served as the team’s web guy, setting up the current website and also as the team’s treasurer. Scott’s attacking personality on the road, and his friendly demeanor off will be missed. The team signed an original photo of Scott at this year’s Chequamegon Fat Tire race in Hayward as a parting gift and also presented Scott with a statuette and a pound of coffee to revive him after those late night outings to the local watering holes in Littleton.

Good luck, Scott and bonne route!

On October 9th team president, Dave Eckel, and member Rudy Byron shared highlights of the 2008 season with department heads managing Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare.

Dave and Rudy shared a PowerPoint presentation that covered touching on the team’s accomplished during the past season: races hosted by the team, charity rides and donations, the addition of younger members, racing results, website improvements, and budgetary details. One of the main themes throughout the conversation emphasized the team’s pride in representing Wheaton as a title sponsor. Dave and Rudy ended the presentation by handing out official “Team Wheaton” water bottles to each attendee and announcing the team’s donation to Wheaton’s current United Way campaign “Mission Impossible”.

On behalf of all the riders, we thank Wheaton for the support in 2008 and look forward to representing them again for the 2009 season.