Mountain Biking: It finally happened!

 

Dan Nigon-Kirgis, David Nigon, and Gustave Sexauer at Cycling V

Olympians, 

After a grueling eleven year wait, Greg Nigon finally got his wish: a mountain bike Olympic event. It  was indeed overdue, as it's our fifth cycling event, but the first since 2013. With a stacked field of six determined bikers and 2.5 mountain bikes, today's event was turning heads at Upper Hixon in La Crosse, WI.

Just finished: CYCLING V: CROSS-COUNTRY MOUNTAIN BIKING

The best weren't saved for last, as we sent them out in the first wave of our 1.5mi time trial course. Wave one saw Dan Nigon-Kirgis on a borrowed Specialized, David Nigon on his own mountain bike, and Renee Nigon on a "mountain bike" with no suspension, standard brakes, and a ripped up seat. Offset by a minute at the start, Dan led the way and avoided being passed as he projected himself across the finish line and his breakfast into a trash can. David sped past turn one, blaming the course setters' signage, but somehow reversed and made up the time on the uphill short two of his lowest gears. At the line, he bested Dan by just over four seconds on the eight minute course, crushing Dan's undefeated cycling record. Renee pulled up to the finish with a greater appreciation for how far bike technology has come.

In wave two, Gustave Sexauer set the pace, but after spooking some spectating deer, heard Matt Wiebe breathing down on him after sending the downhill section like a semi down a mountain pass. When it came to the uphill, Gustave creeped back up at a quicker rate and into the 3rd place spot.

The final wave contained just one rider, the man of the hour, Greg Nigon. Greg took off with a fervor, but surprisingly chose David's out-of-tune bike. This, along with his previous effort expended setting the course, may have cost him valuable time on the Moonshine Hill. In the end, he came up short of the medals, and it was David Nigon who took the cycling crown while averaging over 11mph on the rugged course. 

Next Up: CROQUET IV: SINGLES II

After Scott Nigon hit the end stake for gold, it was a mad dash to the cars in pouring rain, lightning, and thunder, forcing the untimely end to Croquet I: Singles. We'll hope for better weather and a deeper field in tomorrow's "Kate and Greg Wedding Croquet Tournament" which will feature a semifinal and championship round, and with any luck, three medalists. July 10th at 1pm Mormon Coulee Park, La Crosse, WI

Ongoing: SURFING I: INDIVUDAL

Schemes of trips to the ocean and following boats with big wakes are being floated, but to date no one has sent in the 1 minute edit to enter our first ever surfing event. Will it be you?

The website: https://sites.google.com/site/gtsolympics/ 

-Gustave

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