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July 8, 2007

Malenkovich, Hanson win Bluff Riders Charge

More than 230 riders compete in high temps at Mount Kato

By Jim Rueda

MANKATO — When it comes to mountain bike racing, training and preparation are everything.

On Sunday, during the annual Bluff Riders Charge at Mount Kato, St. Cloud’s Kyia Malenkovich prepared just a little big better than North Mankato’s Jenna Zander, and the result was a championship in the women’s expert class for Malenkovich.

“I was prepared for the heat today,” said Malenkovich, shortly after completing the four-lap race amid temperatures in mid-90s. “I came out yesterday and did a pre-ride and then I took it easy last night and this morning. I just hydrated and stayed in the air conditioning until race time.

“Don’t get me wrong, on that fourth lap my legs were telling me they were tired, but I just kept forcing down the water. I thought I had a pretty good race today.”

Malenkovich, who has been racing since 1991 and turned pro in 1999, completed the race in 1:34:04.0. Zander finished second in 1:43:42.1. Going in, Malenkovich said Zander was the rider to beat.

“Oh yeah, she’s rocket fuel,” Malenkovich said of Zander. “Near the start of the third lap I could see she was having trouble and it looked like she tipped over. I just stepped on the pedal a little harder and tried to open up a gap. I never let up because I know she’s good enough to come back from a fall like that.”

Zander admitted afterward that the heat got to her.

“I just started feeling dizzy all of a sudden,” she said. “When I fell over I just laid there for a while. Then I went back down the hill where my family was, drank a lot of water and took about a five-minute break.

“I started feeling better and got back on and finished. I guess I should have hydrated more before the race, but Kyia is a very good racer; she’s probably my top competitor in the Midwest.”

St. Peter’s Paul Hanson won the men’s expert division, completing the five laps in 1:39.21.6. He bested rival Brendan Moore of Shakopee who finished second in 1:41.36.4.

“I knew I had to be aware of Brendan so I just got out to the fastest start and I could and kept pushing,” Hanson said. “I beat Brendan in the first race of the year and then he beat me the last two races. I guess the fast-start strategy worked today.”

The experts race capped nearly nine hours of riding at Mount Kato, which started early Saturday morning with a kids race. In the Kids Comp Class race, Rosemount’s Joshua Foster was the winner in 28:09.56 and Amanda Broman of Mankato was second (29:07.59).

In the Citizen Class, Cody Scott of Mahtomedi (39:46.37) was the men’s winner and Elizabeth Shedd (47:45.90) of Minneapolis was the women’s champion. In the men’s Comp Class, Mark Lewis (1:31:28.3) of Menomonie, Wis., was first and Bruce Martens (1:32:44.8) was second.

The Sport Class field was the largest of the day and was won on the men’s side by Devin Curran (1:04:50.91) of Onalaska, Wis. Mike Busch (1:10.12) won the Clydesdale division and St. Peter’s Darwin Reicks (1:10:52.54) captured the men’s 40-49 age group. Mankato’s Tom Rinehart (1:12:03.63) was second in the 40-49 bracket and North Mankato’s John Romberg (1:14:30.55) was third.

More than 230 riders competed in the six races and coordinator Mike Busch said the day went off without any major glitches. For complete Bluff Riders Charge results, go to www.mnscs.com and click on race results.

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