The snow that had, earlier in the week, threatened to blanket the Fit Strip with white for Race #3 on the UPCROSS calendar stayed to the west, instead covering the Keweenaw - perhaps foreshadowing the weather of the upcoming Keweenaw Cup.

The Fit Strip race, hosted by the Marquette General Hospital ER doctors, was built for speed. Wide-open pavement and dirt gave way to a brief section of tight maples, followed by a soft, pine-needle corridor. Following a well-irrigated mud hole, a pair of barriers opened the door to a damp and fast, sometimes hilly, sometimes sandy, stretch of trail before dumping out on a straightaway of pavement back to the start/finish line.

Questionable weather may have kept numbers low in the kids race, which saw only two competitors: Ella and Finn Whalen, with first place going to Ella.

A pattern began to emerge in the women's race, with Andrea Pernsteiner taking her second win in as many weeks. Nicole Alexander was able to match Persteiner's every move until the finishing stretch, where Andrea pulled away. Amy Michaels, notched her third, third-place finish of the season. UPCROSS series standings changed this week, with Persteiner taking the UPCROSS bell from Alexander as the season nears its midway point.

Marquette rider Kenny Peterson took his second victory of the season in the B race. Red Jacket-BlueSky Health rider Steve Webber of Houghton turned in an outstanding performance, finishing a strong second. Nevin Brownell was third, managing to keep the air in his tires this week. In the overall standings, Colby Lash held onto the bell for another week. Kenny Peterson is moving up quickly though, and, if the trend continues, is likely to displace Lash when the two meet again. Steve Webber's strong finish propelled him to third in the points standings.

The A race was tight from start to finish: midway through the 50-minute (8-lap) race, an octet established a healthy lead: Tyler Gauthier (Sisu Cycles), David Grant (Chocolay Ace), Tyler Jenema (Priority Health), Ron Williams, Dan Dehlin, Evan Simula, Jesse Bell (Sisu Cycles) and Joey Graci (Farmer Q's). As the race wore on and fatigue set in, the size of the lead pack slowly deteriorated. In the end, an elite group rode the final quarter mile of pavement neck and neck in what was to be a 4-up sprint. Sisu rider Tyler Gauthier took his first UPCROSS win just ahead of an ecstatic David Grant, who also marked his best UPCROSS finish ever. Tyler Jenema, able to take over the lead in the UPCROSS standings, finished third, just a tenth of a second behind Grant. Ron Williams missed his chance at a podium finish by a second (see photos below).

Full results from the Fit-Strip race are in.

The UPCROSS series takes a break this coming weekend. But if you're looking to get your 'cross fix this weekend, consider the Erwin-Vervecken-endorsed BayCross race in Ashland, WI - 2 days of racing Oct. 17&18.