Corey Stelljes recently won his sixth title at the 2025 Fat Bike Birkie event in Cable, Wisconsin. After getting hooked on the event 10 years ago, Corey spends every December through March training for this moment and has reached a level of impressive consistent dominance. Here we share his story from Fat Bike Birkie newbie to Northwoods legend.
To learn more about the event, visit the Fat Bike Birkie.
Ten years ago when the old Telemark Lodge was still standing, Corey Stelljes, now 44, was a relative newcomer to fat biking when he entered his first Fat Bike Birkie. Despite already holding a professional cycling license, Stelljes found himself starting at the back of the field on his newly acquired Salsa Mukluk.
"I was still new to the fat bike world at that point," Stelljes recalls. "Just looking to find a way to ride more during the winter. I'm not a real big indoor cycling enthusiast, so I'll ride outside when it's zero degrees rather than ride in the basement."
That first race became a formative experience. While Stelljes quickly made his way to the front group, he took a "high-speed digger" with about 20 minutes left in the race, losing contact with the leaders.
Mountain biking legend Ned Overend went on to win that day.
"I just remember thinking how cool it was that he had come to the race and won," Stelljes says. "I think when he won that race, he was like 59 years old, so I just remember being in awe of that."
Evolution of a Champion
What began as a casual entry into winter cycling has evolved into a dynasty, with Stelljes capturing his sixth Fat Bike Birkie title this year. His journey to dominance wasn't immediate, it took a strategic shift in his approach.
"My prep changed the year of my first win," Stelljes explains. "For a while, I would cross-train all winter and ride my fat bike a few times per week. But at one point, I decided I wanted to focus on this race and committed to doing a proper training cycle December through March just for this race. I've pretty much stuck with that plan every year since."
That dedication has paid off with six victories, including his most recent back-to-back wins after losing to Jordan Wakely in 2023 in a sprint finish. The wins haven't come easily, especially as Stelljes acknowledges the passing years.
"I'm not getting any younger," he says with a laugh. "And Jordan's still really very much in his prime and a very strong rider. He's a tough guy to beat."
A Family Affair
Cycling runs in the Stelljes household. His wife claimed third place in the women's division this year and is currently training for Half Ironman Wisconsin. The couple is also raising a soon-to-be three-year-old, who's already getting started on a Strider bike.
Stelljes also rides in the Neff Cycle Service jersey, a shop owned by his brother-in-law, Isaac Neff. This family connection provides him with the equipment and backing needed to compete at the highest level.
Winter Training Rituals
For Stelljes, the Fat Bike Birkie serves as his north star through the dark winter months. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, where he works as a civil engineer for Madison Parks, he has developed a training regimen that maximizes his limited daylight hours.
"The results are made in the months of January and February," he explains. "Those are the big months of training and putting in the work. If I didn't have a goal to really shoot for, I don't know what I would do all winter."
His typical winter routine includes commuting to work (a 20-minute ride) and then taking a longer route home after work, often riding in the dark with lights. Madison's extensive network of paved paths allows him to ride for up to three hours without hitting roads, providing a safe winter training environment.
"A lot of my riding is still on a fat bike all winter, regardless of conditions," Stelljes says. "I'll pick the worst weather day of the week for indoor cycling and then kind of try to hit a really intense interval session that day, just to be indoors and get the quality work in."
Beyond Fat Bike Birkie
While the Fat Bike Birkie may be Stelljes' winter crown jewel, his competitive calendar extends throughout the year. This season, he also claimed victory at the Polar Roll in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, another premier fat bike event he describes as "the kind of backcountry, singletrack, hike-a-bike wonderland."
Looking ahead, Stelljes has his sights set on the gravel national championship event in the La Crosse area later this year. He's also a serious cyclocross competitor, having won his age group at the national championships for the past couple of years.
In his professional life, Stelljes applies his passion for cycling to his work. "One of the long-term projects I'm working on here in Madison is developing, planning, and building an urban singletrack network for mountain bikes," he explains. "This year we'll build our fifth trail system."
The Birkie Magic
What keeps bringing Stelljes back year after year to the Cable-Hayward area isn't just the competition, it's the entire experience and atmosphere.
"The Cable-Hayward area, the Birkie trail association, the preparation and trail conditions that they put into the race are really special," Stelljes says. "Being able to ride on the Birkebeiner Trail, that is so cool. Every time we go up there, I step out of the car, get on the trail, and you just start to appreciate how unique of an experience this is."
For Stelljes, the area holds deeper meaning beyond the race itself. "I've been going up to the Cable-Hayward area since I was a little kid vacationing. I go camping in the area with my parents, so I have a historical connection to the area. I've developed a deeper appreciation for the area as an adult through mountain biking. It's just a can't-miss event and venue for me."
As the race continues to evolve, with the new Telemark Village taking shape and the trail system expanding, Stelljes' connection to the event only grows stronger. When asked if he plans to continue focusing his winters on this race, his answer is clear: "Absolutely."
"It is such an iconic event and the timing is so great that it's really a great motivator in January and February," he says. "It's nice to have that motivation and a reason to get out the door and ride every day and stay fit and engaged all winter."
Six championships later, Corey Stelljes remains just as captivated by the Fat Bike Birkie as he was during his first race, only now, he's the one everyone else is chasing.
