Iron Cross race draws bikers

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NEGAUNEE - The people involved with the local mountain-bike promotion company Blindstoker Productions have one goal in mind: to provide joy to area mountain bikers.

In fact, the company's name comes directly from the title given to the seeing-impaired people who ride in the back of tandem bicycles.

"They just want to ride for the joy of riding, for pedaling and feeling the wind in their face," Blindstoker's Jon Becker explained. "And we try to recreate that. Just ride for the joy of riding."

In Negaunee on Sunday, Blindstoker, along with Classic Auto Collision and the City of Negaunee, hosted the Iron Cross Cyclocross Race in Negaunee's Old Town Park. And if the smiles and sincere congratulations after the race were any indication, the company brought joy to more than a few of the nearly 50 racers on hand.

And the fun all started with the course.

The 1.11 mile course wound through the park, including stairs that needed to be climbed and rode down, a swing set that had to be circled and snow from the Negaunee Ice Arena that riders had to plow through. For race participants, it was a ride through the history of Negaunee.

"I was so excited about the course," said women's division winner Christina Bennett. "I've been thinking for months that this would be a great place to have a race. You have all these staircases and sidewalks in the middle of nowhere.

"I think it was really really a great idea to have it here," the 28-year-old Negaunee-native added. "And it's Negaunee. Come on."

But the race wasn't without its difficulties. As Blindstoker's Greg Potvin said, "You'll be smiling and swearing at the same time on the course."

But, according to Potvin, the challenge is half the fun, and this race was all about having a good time.

"We always try to make it so it's competitive, so its safety oriented, and stuff like that," he said. "But as far as the fun, I think people are going to walk away today and say, 'Oh, could you believe that?'

"It really makes it (the race) noteworthy," he added. "This is a nice location in that it's unique, and I think people are going to go away with a real appreciation for it."

Ishpeming's Ben Honkala, 11, was competitive from the start of the youth division race, and bolted out to a lead that he never let up, en route to a first-place finish. For Honkala, there was certainly one part of the race that left him saying "wow"

"My favorite part was the snow," Honkala said with a smile.

Danny Hill, who helped with race construction - Hill came up with the idea of snow for the course -said he took part in the big cycling events in the area, but what he really enjoyed were grass roots events like Sunday's Iron Cross.

"It's all a bunch of friends," Hill said. "Sure, when we get to our race, we're going to be racing hard, and there's certain people you try to stay with and you try to beat, but at the end, everybody's friends, and that's what I like about it."

Top Finishers:

Youth

1. Ben Honkala

2. Chase Juntti

3. Lexi Rich

Women

1. Christina Bennett

2. Deanna Koscielny

3. Sarah Anderson

Bee Men

1. Matt Belic

2. Robbie Riutta

3. Jason Wayre

Eh Men

1. Jeff Juntti

2. Evan Simula

3. Colby Lash