Freewheelers test the turns in Auke Rec Circuit Race

Klas Stolpe
11 minutes ago
2 min read

Bursell tops men’s race, Sheufelt leads women’s circuit

Riders do a rolling start to begin the Juneau Freewheelers Bicycle Club's Auke Rec Circuit Race, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe

Juneau Independent

The Juneau Freewheelers Bicycle Club held their annual Auke Rec Circuit Race on Saturday, the second race of the season.

The Auke Rec circuit course was run over six laps of a three-mile loop.

“One mile gently uphill, followed by one mile gently down, and a final flat mile to the finish,” Freewheelers board member Rob Welton said. “Wash, rinse, repeat.”

The first lap was run at a moderate pace. Both the men's and women's fields stayed together.

With each passing lap the intensity ratcheted up. One by one, riders lost contact with the front group.

At the start of lap four, John Bursell threw down the gauntlet on the uphill section. At the end of the lap, riders were strung out in his wake, 30 seconds to a minute behind.

John Bursell leads the Juneau Freewheelers Bicycle Club's Auke Rec Circuit Race on Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

The gaps held pretty consistent for the last two laps.

John Bursell won the men's race in 59 minutes and 17 seconds. Tom Faust narrowly edged out Charlie Waters in a spring for second. Faust hit 1:00:15 with Waters given the same time. Liam Thier finished in 1:01:02, Clay Robidoux 1:03:34 and Tim Mikulski 1:05:22.

In the women’s race, Janice Sheufelt finished first with a time of 1:10:02 with Jamie Bursell second in 1:12:40.

Janice Sheufelt and Jamie Bursell ride in the Juneau Freewheelers Bicycle Club's Auke Rec Circuit Race on Saturday, July 11, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

“Everyone had a great ride, pushing all the way to the finishing line,” Welton said. “Chocolate cookies and conversation ended a find days racing on the Auke Rec course.”

Race director was Brandon Ivanowicz.

The Freewheelers season is underway. Racers need to be a 2026 Juneau Freewheelers Bicycle Club member. Family memberships cost $40 and individual memberships $25. Contact rob.rose.welton@gmail.com for membership information.

Riders of all abilities on all brands of bicycles are encouraged to attend a race. Next on the calendar is the Donut time trail, Sunday, July 26 at Thane Road. Also scheduled is the Tour of Juneau, August 21-23, featuring a prologue near Montana Creek, the Eaglecrest Road Race, the North Douglas Time Trial and the End of Road Race. Contact rob.rose.welton@gmail.com for racing information.