Back on top! After last weekends embarasing display, I'm glad to have confirmation that race was just a fluke caused by the dehydration and allergies. Saturdays first round of the Nebraska Cyclocross Series at Swanson Park in Bellevue Nebraska (just south of Omaha) was bone dry and super technical. I got a good start out front with KCCX's Chris Wallace and Trek Store co-owner Kent McNeil. After a couple laps I got into the lead but my chain came off the front ring thanks to a mis-adjusted Third Eye. Had to get off and put it back on and dropped to 3rd. It took a full lap at full gas to get back past Kent and then bridge across to Chris Wallace. Once I got back, I sat in a little then started using some of the tight turns and power climbs to distance myself from Chris. Then chain kept coming off since I couldn't adjust the Third Eye so I jumped on the Pit bike for the last few laps and fortunately that bike worked perfectly. Took a few turns to get used to the pit bikes tires and brakes but then it was smooth sailing and I cruised in for the win.
Day 2 had the course reversed which worked to my advantage. The previous days long gravel downhill was now a perfect power climb for me. I used this same climb to help win last years race. Off the start Kevin Limpack (Midwest Cycling Community) took an early lead coming out of turn 1 and I jumped on his wheel. Behind me was the Monkey Wrench pain train consisting of Jesse Petersen, Darrin Shlake, Nate woodman, and Kevin Wilkins. Coming into the Maze Section I popped by Kevin so that I had a clear shot to launch up the long gravel climb. I hit the climb and punched it hard and it definately thinned the race out. Kevin Wilkins stayed with me with Nate and Jesse not too far back. Kevin stayed close most of the next lap but after a few hard trips up the long climb I started getting the gap I needed. I kept the laps consistent and only punched it on the sections I know would give me time. Behind the race for 2nd was changing hands. Kevin fell away as did Nate as Petersen was moving up. With the courses many twists and sections that doubled back, it was easy to guage the gap so I just made sure I was a little faster each lap. I kept the power on even in the final laps to get some good training for the bigger races coming up. Getting the 2 wins was great, but I was more stoked to have full power again and perfect form after last weeks race. I was hydrated perfectly this time and the allergy-related crap was gone. Aside from Saturdays mechanical glitchs that were quickly fixed before Sunday race, I had a perfect 2 days and the legs feel great. Both pics came from Mark Savery's MTB Omaha blog and The Mod Spot
Mens 123 Day 1
| Place | Name | Club | Hometown |
| 1 | Mark Studnicki | Local Cycling.Com | |
| 2 | Chris Wallace | KCCX/Verge | |
| 3 | Kent McNeil | | |
| 4 | Jesse Peterson | Monkey Wrench | |
| 5 | Kevin Wilkins | Monkey Wrench | |
| 6 | Kevin Limpach | High Gear | |
| 7 | Nate Woodman | Monkey Wrench | |
| 8 | Jim Winklepleck | WHW | |
| 9 | Chris Locke | Cow Town Cycling | KS, MO |
| 10 | Mark Savery | 29er Crew/MCC | |
| DNF | Ryan Legg | | |
| DNF | Alex Edwards | | |
| DNF | Garrick Valverde | | |
Men 123 Day 2
| Place | Name | Team | Hometown |
| 1 | Mark Studnicki | Localcycling.com | |
| 2 | Jesse Peterson | Monkey Wrench | |
| 3 | Darin Schlake | Monkey Wrench | |
| 4 | Nate Woodman | Monkey Wrench | |
| 5 | Kevin Limpach | | |
| 6 | Mark Savery | 29er Crew/MCC | |
| 7 | Jay Chesterman | Powerade | |
| 8 | John Vondracek | Team Kaos | |
| 9 | Chris Locke | Cow Town Cycling | |
| 10 | Kevin Wilkins | Monkey Wrench | |
