By Mike Ivancic

This race report is unofficially brought to you by the letter “C”—for Crash. Because every rider knows: it’s not if, it’s when. And my when came hard in Columbia, Missouri, during the Froze Toes Road Race, held July 15—the Missouri State Championship Road Race. It was my worst wreck since I first clipped in back in 2010, and let me tell you: Missouri pavement does not forgive.

Ironically, despite its name, the Froze Toes race felt more like Inferno Heels. With temps pushing past 90°F, the 31-mile road course offered a fast, flat profile—except for the kicker in the final 500 meters. And if you’re carrying 20–30 pounds more than the featherweights in the peloton, you feel every inch of that uphill finish.

Unfortunately, my day ended early—taken out at mile 11. I still managed to finish, albeit 25th out of 27. Not ideal, but part of the game.

KCBC Shows Up

Despite my misfortune, KCBC represented well.

• Dan Shaffer took on the Masters field and earned a solid 12th out of 20. Steady and dependable.
• Kurt Wilson raced in the Cat 3 field and landed 26th out of 30.
• Lynn Wilson powered to a brilliant 2nd place, narrowly missing first by inches—and picked up some podium cash for the ride home. (Note to self: get a picture of Lynn on the podium next time!)
• Shelly Milner, racing for the first time since surgery, rode a strong race, finishing 5th despite missing a turn. Without the detour, we may have seen her on the podium.

Special thanks to race director Aaro Froese, whose passion for cycling is evident in every detail of this well-run event. Froze Toes may leave some skin behind, but it’s a race built with heart.

The Truman Cup: KCBC Women Steal the Show

The following weekend, the Truman Cup took over the racing calendar—a 3-day omnium with a Friday time trial, Saturday circuit race, and Sunday criterium. I was sidelined with injuries, but the KCBC squad rolled deep in orange.

Highlights from the women’s field:

• Michelle Lingenfelser took 3rd in the TT and 1st overall in Women’s Cat 4.
• Lynn Wilson doubled up on Sunday, snagging 1st place in both 40+ and Cat 1/2/3. Incredible performance from a true workhorse.

In the men’s events:

• Kurt Wilson grabbed 1st in the circuit race.
• Shawn Knight locked in a 2nd place finish in the Sunday crit (40+).
• Kyle Guinn clocked a strong 3rd in the Friday TT.

Even from the sidelines, I enjoyed seeing so much KCBC success. I spent Sunday at the crit, not quite 100% yet, but lucky enough to hang out with Michelle’s son, Nash—a future cyclocross or BMX racer if I’ve ever seen one. Smart, enthusiastic, and already soaking up the racing world

Gratitude, Crashes, and Kenny’s Redemption

A big shoutout to Shelly Milner, who came out all weekend to support the team. Whether it was setting up, passing out water, or cheering like hell at the finish line—Shelly reminded us what real teammates look like.

And while I was bandaging up my crash wounds, Kenny Carlson was in the woods racing MTB—and hitting trees. Literally. Despite splitting his chin open mid-race, Kenny shook it off and won the Cat 3 race. Guts, grit, and a podium finish to prove it.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Pikos decided to make a little side trip up to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, where she snagged 3rd in her category at the RockNrail 1850 Crit. Well done, Piko—and we know your Facebook’s got the photo evidence!

In cycling, there’s pain, yes. But there’s also perseverance, support, and family. Every race isn’t just about podiums—sometimes it’s about who showed up, who helped out, and who refused to quit.

As I always say: Every friend you have today was once a stranger. So go out this weekend, meet someone new, and maybe even hand them a water bottle at the finish line.

Thank you for reading.