{"id":14,"date":"2016-11-03T22:49:47","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T04:49:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iceman.saffire.com\/blog\/?p=14"},"modified":"2016-11-03T22:49:47","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T04:49:47","slug":"welcome-2016-pro-men-racers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/03\/welcome-2016-pro-men-racers\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome 2016 Pro Men Racers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Welcome<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once again, we have tons of horse power about to push each other to the limits of their bodies and bikes.    Race starts at 2:30 in Kalkaska. Don\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Troy Wells<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Troy, 32, is returning to defend is 2015 Pro Men\u2019s win.  Hailing from Durango, Co., and races for Team Clif Bar Cycling. He finished 3rd<\/sup> at the October 16th<\/sup> US Open of Cyclocross. Apparently he is one of the riders on the Team Clif Bar with the most nicknames. “The Bear” and Trois Biscotti” are two of our favorites. We\u2019re quite sure he enjoyed the 2015 Bell\u2019s Sunset After Party since he pretty much closed it down.  We couldn\u2019t stay awake that late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

@tdub255<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russell Finsterwald<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finsty, 25,  finished 4th in 2014 & 2015. He comes from Boulder, Colorado and races for SRAM | Troy Lee Designs Race Team.   He recently finished 3rd<\/sup> at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals STXC race.  He\u2019s been racing Iceman since the time when he\u2019d try to get a fake i.d. to get into the After Party and now he practically owns it.   @finsty  http:\/\/finsterwald.bike<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Todd Wells<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd Wells, 40, of Durango, Co., races for SRAM\/Troy Lee Designs, and is just killing it this year.  Although we know he has a history of winning including fourteen National Championship titles across four disciplines. This year he\u2019s finished first in the following races: 1st<\/sup> Sea Otter Classic XC, 1st<\/sup> at Whiskey 50 Off Road Crit, 1st<\/sup> Grand Junction Off Road 1st<\/sup>, Leadville 100 and 1st<\/sup> in the USA Cycling Marathon National Championships!  Be afraid other pro racers.  Be very afraid. Last year he finished 6th<\/sup> overall.  @yotwells<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian Matter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian, 37, finished 7th in 2015.  In 2016, he’s won the Midwest MTB Classic Day 2, New Glarus Road Race and the Sun Prarie Cup.   After his win in 2014, Brian holds the record for the most wins at 4!  Will 2016 make it a 5th?  We can\u2019t wait to find out.  Brian is sponsored by Trek \/ Bontrager \/ Shimano \/ Pro Gold \/ JTree \/ Rock Shox.  He also rocks the Bell\u2019s After Party.  Don\u2019t miss it.  Find him at b-matter.com\/ and on Twitter  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

@TheWiscoDisco<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travis (TJ) Woodruff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TJ , 33, races for his own coaching company Momentum Endurance, and Pivot Cycles, his best finish is 7th<\/sup> Always a solid rider, he\u2019s not going to let any one take a break on Saturday.  His wife Chloe will be ripping it up with the Pro Ladies and was last year\u2019s Champ.@tjwoodruff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Ben Sonntag<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ben, 36, from Durango, Co finished 8th<\/sup> in the 2015 Bell\u2019s Iceman and 5th in the 2012.  He rides for 9niner bikes\/ Team Clif Bar Cycling.  He finished 4th<\/sup> in the US Cup\/Bonlli Park XC #2. Welcome back Ben!@ZeGermanCyclist<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tristan Schouten<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schouten, 34, won the 2003 Bell\u2019s Iceman Cometh Challenge.  He finished 11th<\/sup> last year. He hails Plymouth, WI and rides for Rolf Prima\/Atitude Sports.@SchoutenTristan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Brad White<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brad, 34,  resides in Holland, Michigan and races for UnitedHealthCare. He\u2019s a former All-American collegiate swimmer and his renown sprinting skills have earned him the nickname \u201cCaptain America\u201d. He won the Wilmington Grand Prix this year and has been spotted doing course recon.  @bwcycling<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Cole House<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cole, 28, placed 10th<\/sup> last year. He hails from Oneida, WI. This year he came in 1st<\/sup> in the Reforestation Ramble, 2nd<\/sup> at Treadfest, and 4th<\/sup> at Celtic Cross CX.  He\u2019s raced every year since 2011, with his best result being 5th<\/sup> in 2014.  @Cole_House<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Ettinger<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen, 27, finished 5th<\/sup> in 2013.  He is also a member of Team USA.  He comes from Cashmere, WA. He\u2019s certainly looking for the top step this year.  He\u2019s been spotted this week in the woods of Northern MI with the crew from Einstein Cycles. @settinger_<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spencer Paxson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spencer (Bellingham, Wash.\/Kona Bicycles Factory Team) is new to Iceman but definitely not new to racing. He\u2019s a 6x US National Team Member and 2x Olympic Long Team Member<\/a>.  Welcome Spencer! @slaxsonMTB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Howard Grotts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Howard, 23, was the only member of the 2016 USA Men\u2019s Olympic Mountain Bike team. He is a newbie to Iceman. He races for Specialized and was 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships U23. Welcome Howard!  @HowardGrotts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaac Neff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isacc, 30, rides for Neff Cycle Service.  He was 18th<\/sup> 2015 and 6th<\/sup> in 2014. In 2016, he finished 1st<\/sup> in the Midwest MTB Championships day 1. He says his bike and his body are dialed and ready for this year! @neff_Isaac<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rob Squires<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rob, 26, races for Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team<\/a>.  He won the Fat Bike World\u2019s this year.  It\u2019s his first Iceman, but we think he\u2019s gonna love it!  Welcome! @robthesquire<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Payson McElveen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Payson, 23, of Durango, Co. races for  RideBiker p\/b Sho-Air <\/a>.  He finished 8th<\/sup> at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Nationals, XC.  Welcome Payson!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t forget our top local racers who know the course and plan on giving the pro\u2019s a run for their money: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jorden Wakeley<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jorden is racing a new bike from Cannondale, for a new sponsor M22 and has a new hunger that he didn\u2019t have last year.  He\u2019s in this race to win it and we can\u2019t wait to watch him try.  He finished 9th<\/sup> last year, has podiumed at many Michigan races this year including winning Ore2Shore and is the 2015 Arrowhead Ultra winner. @JordenWakeley<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Vanias<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex, (Team OAM Now), placed 12th<\/sup> last year and just won Peak2Peak.  He\u2019s fast on skis and bike, don\u2019t let his quiet personality fool you\u2026he\u2019s an animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Owens<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeff will be racing for Keen Technical.  It\u2019s his first time at the big dance but that doesn\u2019t make him a wall flower.  Jeff is humble, but has a stamina and speed that is the envy of Traverse City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sean Kickbush<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sean, (M22 racing) is part cyclist, triathlete, business owner, barista, and bartender but he is 100% a competitor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cody Sovis<\/strong>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cody (Einstein Racing), won the Men\u2019s Fat Bike division last year.  He\u2019s no stranger to the Pro Race, but this year he\u2019s rebuilt himself.  He\u2019s faster. Stronger.  And quite possibly the funniest blogging cyclist we know.  Kolotc.wordpress.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s gonna be good folks.  So, so good.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Once again, we have tons of horse power about to push each other to the limits of their bodies and bikes.    Race starts at 2:30 in Kalkaska. Don\u2019t miss it. Troy Wells Troy, 32, is returning to defend is 2015 Pro Men\u2019s win.  Hailing from Durango, Co., and races for Team Clif Bar Cycling. … Continue reading “Welcome 2016 Pro Men Racers”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[24,10,26],"tags":[103,105,114],"class_list":["post-14","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-men","category-pro","category-pro-update","tag-pro-men","tag-pro-racers","tag-registration"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}