By Luke Seemann

Congrats to everyone who showed up to Sunday's season opener in Kenosha, weather and time change be damned. Fields were smaller than usual for the series, but it sounds like the racing was spirited with plenty of successful breaks, perhaps in an attempt to stay warm if nothing else.

One can count on WDT to come through with at least one win at this series as they hunt for Rider of the Year points. This year it was Dennis Sandquist's turn to win the 4's race. Other teammates of his to hit the podium were Richard Adamcyzk getting 2nd in the 50+ and Tomasz Boba getting 2nd out of a break in the 3's. Met Cycling brought a formidable 1-2 punch to the masters racing. Endurance strongman Mike Jones stayed off in both the 30's and 40's races, good enough for 4th and 3rd, respectively, and in both races it was Ansgar Graw winning the field sprints for 5th and 7th. A break of four got off in the 3's race with junior Chris Hurst (Baraboo Sharks), a USCF Cat 5 as of last August, taking the win. Chicagoans Jason Meshberg (Flatlandia) and Ted Burger (Flatlandia) took the remaining scraps for 5th and 6th. New Chicago teams Spider Monkey and Half Acre both made their competitive debuts, and new superteam ABD/Geargrinder came in 1-2 in the 1/2's behind Ryan White and Rob White, but where was Vitaminwater-Trek? Organizers and officials deserve big props for clearing the course as well as they did. Let's hope it's a warm-up this weekend (high of 40! mostly sunny!) brings the rest of our racers out of hibernation. Full results.

Race reports Jonathan Dugas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+): "I was just about to sit up and admit defeat, but when I checked over my shoulder again everyone had sat up! The break was on again, and I turned up the heat."

Jonathan Dugas (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): "One of the guys took a drink. I gave it horns and hit it."

Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire; 40+): "It wasn't a hateful wind but I made sure to keep my nose out of it."

Ed Hernandez (North Branch; 30+): "Several riders were on the verge of pulling themselves from the race because they couldn’t even feel their fingers ‘nuff to shift."

Tim Keeley (ABD; 30+, 3): "The wind was strong and the packs seemed willing to let anyone that could turn out over 20 watts for five pedal strokes go. "

Ken Mitchell (Spider Monkey Cycling; 4): "So here is my race report summary for Sunday's Kenosha crit: F'ing cold!"

Mike Seguin (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 40+, 4): "I was feeling good. Confident. I am going to finish with the pack. "