Doug Swanson, a Trek Volkswagen rider, won his second Chequamegon Fat Tire festival win in three years. As he crossed the finish line, he saluted the sky with a victory salute. He was two bike lengths ahead of three-time champion Steve Tilford from Verge/Shimano. E.J. E.J.
Swanson, from Plymouth, Minnesota, won the Chequamegon, the most contested in the race’s 23-year history. He finished the 40-mile race off-road in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Four past champions finished within seven seconds. Tilford was 6th and Jeff Hall (Salsa), 7th respectively. Last year’s winner, Brian Matter (PCW), finished 7th.
Swanson won the race in 2003 by attacking early and establishing an invincible lead. He won the race in record time, more than eight minutes faster than second. In 2004, he was far from the finish line, finishing in the top 40.
Swanson acknowledged that 2005 was a disappointing season, but that he was still building for Chequamegon. It’s my favorite. He said it, showing the crowd that he was capable of winning with either a fast sprint or a long breakaway.
Trek rider Megan Monroe, PCW, dropped Trek Volkswagen Sara Kylander Johnson on the final climb. This gave her a 17 second lead at the finish. Monroe completed the race in 2 hours, 27 minutes. Monroe won the race in two hours and 27 minutes. Kylander-Johnson of Duluth (Minn.) was the first to take the lead, but Monroe caught her 23 miles later. They fought back and forth for the remainder of the race.
Monroe took the lead during the final climb up Mount Telemark. « I heard her grab her chain, so I attacked, » Monroe said. said Monroe. Monroe lost precious seconds to Kylander-Johnson in the final mile, but she clawed her own way back, only to see her bike slip on the last downhill corner. I went into the bushes. Kylander-Johnson said. In two hours and forty minutes, Diana Hill, a Trek Volkswagen rider from Coon Rapids in Minnesota, finished third.
