USFE MTB Race #5 at Ansbach

Every year we look forward to the Ansbach race. Seeing the other racers and riding a great course always makes for an enjoyable weekend. As soon as we could we packed up our cars and made the 5 hour trip to Ansbach to check out some new trails built by the great Outdoor Rec Crew there. The forecast called for rain and rain is what we got--lots of it. Most of us made it there around 4 p.m. which gave us plenty of time to do some course recon.
The Ansbach Outdoor Rec Crew was busy marking the trail and setting everything up for the race. The course was marked really well by the time we started and we could tell it was going to be a muddy one. In the past we've been pretty lucky and this was always a pretty fast and dry course. Knowing the course helped a bit, but the rain made all but a few of the previously fast rolling sections and corners into mud pits.

The women's race was first with a 1000 start for 2 laps. Franci missed this one due to an injured wrist from a ride at Rodalben, so Trisha was the lone Saber on the start line. The course went right onto some fresh cut bumpy single trail then right up a muddy climb that soon turned into a muddy hike. This part of the course was pretty much the same as previous years. Then back onto the road for a bit for another muddy hike up a hill. The rest of the climbs on the course were pretty dry and there was a grassy hill and some fire roads that made for nice passing areas. Trisha nailed it and had a really great race. She finished second overall and first in the Women's Open Category.

Six Saber Racers lined up for the Men's race: Chris V., Chris M., John, Brian, Dan, myself. The gun went off at 1200 under a slight drizzle. The start was fast (as usual) as racers took off to avoid getting stuck in traffic on the first muddy climb. By the second lap it was even harder to get up the two muddy climbs so most just rode to the bottom, jumped off and ran up the hills. As soon as they could the first 3 finishers took off and disappeared until the end of the race leaving the rest of us to chase or defend positions. Andrew rolled in at Second overall and 1st in the Men's Senior Category. I somehow managed to pass a rider before the finish to come in 4th overall and Second in Men's Open. Jake got a flat as still chased me down for a 5th place overall and 3rd in Men's Open. Chris and Brian fought it out for a few laps with Brian coming in for a Second place in Men's Senior with Chris right behind him. In the Masters Category our newest team member, Dan, rolled through the finish in 2nd place. A huge thanks to Ansbach Outdoor Rec for putting together a top notch event (if you agree, go to ICE and let them know!).
Saber Cycling would also like to thank our sponsors for their continued support:
Kenda Tubes and Tires
Volvo Military Sales
Service Credit Union
See you all next week at Rodenbach!