First things first – Congrats to Robbie and Rotem for putting in big efforts at the World Championships this past weekend at Mt. Ste. Anne in Canada.

Being in the big show is a career highlight and one that I never was able to achieve. To see them participating, giving their all, and challenging themselves on the world platform is exciting to see and inspirational. Its been awhile since Jamis had 2 riders on their bikes in World’s XC in a long time, too.

Big ups, guys!

(here’s Rotem, #60, in the Elite XC start. Pretty much any guy in this photo could rip your legs off at any given race.)

Robbie in the team relay race

While the real pros were off banging bars with amped up racers from around world, Sager was reaching into his bag of courage and flying into Fargo, North Dakota as part of his travel plan to the Laddies Loppet in Maplelag, Minnesota.

The guys who run the Maplelag resort and camp put on a class act of an event. 3 stages – TT, STXC, and XC make the travel worth it as a stand alone event, but then you combine one of the best family environments I’ve seen at a bike race, ever, amazing food, a tremendously welcoming and warm vibe, with a great course, perfect weather and the best dirt of the year…this is what I’m talking about when it comes to bike racing.

We all aspire to do the “pro” races around the country, and there’s a time and place for the pure business side of competition, but Maplelag, and most leading regional events in general, are where the heart of our sport is. Competition is nothing to sneeze at (fast guys live in every region), the courses are generally so fun you get lost in the pleasure of riding and forget to race sometimes, and most importantly – they fit the life style of today’s passionate cyclist – affordable, family friendly, competitive, and convenient.

You might argue with northern Minnesota being convenient, but I’ll challenge you to find Granby, Sun Valley, or Downieville near too much, either. Today’s modern bike racer, be it a professional or hungry newbie, generally is balancing all that life throws his or her way….and if you can’t juggle/balance life while attending a bike race, well guess what’s going to be the first to get dropped?

That’s right – the bike racing.

Jay Richards at the Maplelag ranch (that’s the Texan in me, sorry) has it figured out and I highly recommend you add this event to your calendar for 2011 – and that’s even if you have to fly to the race. Fargo’s only 50 miles away, Minneapolis maybe 4hrs and some change – bring your whole crew – teammates, wife, kids, brother/sister/neighbor….you’ll not be let down by the experience.

We’ll be back next year, no doubt.

Kids’ racing summed up the weekend. Every time you walked near the course, the little rippers were busy rippin’.

Perfect dirt.

The Willy Wonka cabin. Somehow inside there was a double bed, a single bed, and a wood-fire stove.

Only about 15% of the lodge’s lunchbox collection.

Kids bikes were 1:1 with adult bikes, if not out numbering the older folks’ machines!

I gave one of the weakest podium bubbly sprays of the year…but I don’t think anyone would have appreciated getting hosed down with champaign.

Anyone who’s been to Mapelag knows this station. Endless cookies and coffee, and lot of downtime are the devil’s handy work.