cycling utah April 1999
CABLE, Wis. (September 19, 1998) It was a shoot out between the big guns from the west in this year's Chequamegon 40, the nation's most popular mountain bike race with 2500 riders.
Defending champion, Marty Jemison of Park City, riding for the U.S. Postal Service, became only the second rider to repeat as men's Chequamegon 40 Champion. He broke his own course record set last year by 10 seconds with a time of 2:10:33.
Jemison spent most of the day dueling with NORBA pro rider Rishi Grewal of Carbondale, Colorado.
"The race was more difficult than last year," Jemison said, "I had Rishi Grewal as my shadow for 35 to 40 miles. Just the two of us. I did all of the pulling. (When) he would pull, the pace would drop. I attacked many times, the problem is that he is a tenacious, badger-like creature. So I attacked on every little hill."
With 3- miles to go Jemison went for broke and attacked on the final, 3-tier climb.
"I gave it everything, going as deep as I could and really extending myself," Jemison said. "I took a lot of risk in the next few turns. He was out of my draft finally and I rode a stiff pace to the victory."
Grewal finished a close second at 2:10:50. Rounding out the top three men was Dewey Dickey of Wayzata, Minn. with a time of 2:12:56.
Unseasonably warm and dry conditions made for fast and dusty trails.
"I like the heat" said Jemison, "so it was just right for me." Jemison vowed he would return next year to try to become the first three-time Chequamegon 40 Champion. Brett Schulze of Minnetonka, MN earned her place at the top of the women's winners' podium by defeating 1997 women's champion, Catherine Walberg of Topeka, Kansas.
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