MTB News & Racing Round-up, August 8, 2009

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Date published:

August 11, 2009, 21:53

Edited by Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

Welcome to our regular roundup of what's happening in mountain biking. Feel free to send feedback, news, & releases to mtb@cyclingnews.com and results, reports & photos to cyclingnews@cyclingnews.com.

• Armstrong wins in Snowmass

  

  Article published:

  August 8, 2009, 21:44

  By:

  Cycling News

  Texan takes Colorado cross country race

  Lance Armstrong showed his versatility by taking the victory in the professional men's cross country race at Colorado's "Blast the Mass" mountain bike race in Snowmass, Colorado on Saturday. He won by more than three minutes over local mountain bike pro Joe Henry.

  Armstrong is no stranger to the dirt, having made his comeback to competitive cycling last summer in the Leadville Trail 100. The regional off-road pros hoped to have advantage on the technical 23-mile course that featured 4700 feet of climbing, but were no match for the seven-time Tour de France champion.

  "Believe it or not, Lance is actually great on his mountain bike, even on a technical course," said Henry, the Mountain States Cup series leader, before the event.

  "Assuming he has good fitness after coming off of the Tour, he's do just fine. I think, however, being the State Championships, the Colorado guys have got to pick it up a bit and certainly not let a Texan beat them."

  Armstrong's attendance at the regional mountain bike events have given them a big boost in importance.

  "It's great when he comes out and attends these races. It brings attentions and a lot more respect. He doesn't walk away with victory, he is battling for it. It proves the legitamacy of mountain biking," said Henry.

• TransRockies goes long over seven days

  

  Article published:

  August 8, 2009, 19:31

  By:

  Cycling News

  Short option gives solo racers a challenge

  On Sunday, August 9, 450 riders from 22 countries were set to kick off racing the 2009 TransRockies at the start line in Panorama Mountain Resort high in the mountains of British Columbia. The eighth edition of the mountain bike stage race features seven stages including six point-to-point rides along the spine of the Rockies and a time trial.

  When they roll across the finish line in Fernie the following Saturday, they will have earned their finishers' medals with 532km of riding and over 14,000 metres of climbing.

  This year's route is similar to last year with a number of modifications to improve the riding and to keep the route fresh for repeat competitors. Long stages, unpredictable mountain weather, deep rivers to be forded and majestic mountain vistas are the mainstays of the TransRockies, which crosses the Continental Divide.

  It will be the second year for a time trial stage, but the first year that organizers offer a three day solo TR3 category to the event. The new, shorter event is in response to popular demand from riders who've been asking for a solo category for years. It takes place simultaneously with the first three days of the TransRockies and is intended to be both a stepping stone for riders building toward the full seven-day race and as an epic alternative for vets and elite riders.

  By maintaining the integrity of the team format for the seven-day race, the TransRockies stays true to the original vision of a race.

  Despite the world economy and the difficulties which have caused the cancellation or modification of many events, the TransRockies is moving forward with 450 riders from over 20 countries scheduled to participate. They'll spend each night in a travelling village of tents and RVs set up by the organizers, where they are fed and supported by dozens of staff and volunteers who do everything from cooking, to setting up tents, to fixing bikes.

  Most of the riders who roll up to the start line of the TransRockies have the simple goals of completing the event and enjoying their epic ride through the Rockies. Every year, though, there's a group of elite athletes who arrive at the TransRockies with clear competitive goals and a desire to go for a share of the CAN$20,000 final prize purse, daily medals and leaders' jerseys.

  In the Open Men's category, Stefan Widmer and Marty Lazarsky of the Rocky Mountain Bicycles Factory Team are back and looking to step a little further up the podium after a third place overall finish last year. Lazarsky is a past champion from 2005 and is hungry for another win at the TransRockies.

  In the Open Mixed category, Mical Dyck and her partner Jeff Nielson are looking for redemption after illness cut their 2008 TransRockies short. Since then, they have gone on to win the Mixed category at the BC Bike Race and Dyck finished on the podium at the Canadian National Championships.

  The inaugural TR3 is set for some strong competition as past TransRockies Champion and National Team rider Rodi Lega has come out of retirement to take on the TR3. He'll be challenged by Colin Kerr, solo champion at the BC Bike Race and Cal Zaryski who is a medalist at the Xterra World Championships.

  At a very young age, Ryan Correy has already established a track record of amazing success and accomplishments in endurance cycling as the youngest-ever Canadian finisher at the Race Across America (RAAM) and as the World record holder for riding from Alaska to Argentina. After these rides, the TR might seem like a quick warm-up but the Rockies have a way of those who don't respect the challenge. One amazing athlete who is coming to take on the TR for the first time is "The Ultramarathonman" Dean Karnazes, who is adding a bike epic to the incredible list of running marathons and ultras in which he has excelled.
   

• World Cup winners head to Mount Snow

  

  Article published:

  August 6, 2009, 06:39

  By:

  Dave McElwaine

  Big stars head to US from Canada

  One of America’s most storied mountain biking venues, Mount Snow, will host the fifth US Cup ProXCT Series round this weekend. This year a strong mix of international riders, particularly from Canada, will bump the level of competition up a few notches.

  Racers will compete this weekend in five disciplines: cross country, short track, super D, dual slalom and downhill. All of the best North American cross country riders are expected to attend, but some of the gravity riders will be competing in the Crankworx races at Whistler Mountain in British Columbia.

  Mount Snow is classic east coast racing, and also the host of the past two US National Championships. The trails feature lots of roots, rocks and generally mud is a major factor. While at a much lower elevation than the Rocky Mountain races that the riders have attended this year, the trails can be steeper and the cumulative climbing just as high.

  Women’s cross country

  The women’s cross country race is going to be an absolute throw-down. Seven women who finished in the top 12 last weekend at the Bromont World Cup in Quebec, Canada will be on the front row. Realistically any of them can pull off a win this weekend but a lot will depend on the race conditions and who is having the best day on the bike.

  Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven-No Tubes) has won here three years in a row, including two national championships. She excels on steep climbs in sloppy conditions and is currently the top United States of America rider on the International Cycling Union’s ranking.

  Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women’s MTB Team) won the World Cup race at Mont-Sainte Anne and is ranked second on the women’s international standings. If Pendrel can bring her World Cup form and skills to Mount Snow, there is nobody in the field who can beat her. She currently leads teammate Georgia Gould in the ProXCT series by only five points. Gould lost last year’s race to McConneloug by only five feet, proving that she is highly competitive on this course.

  Willow Koerber (Gary Fisher/Subaru) won at Mount Snow in 2004 and she, too, excels in nasty conditions and can descend like a bobsled. Koerber has been on fire lately with two high finishes on similar courses at the Quebec World Cups. Last weekend she led the entire women’s field and would have certainly made the podium had it not been for an untimely puncture.

  Newly crowned US Champion Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) has been a revelation this season and is perhaps the most well rounded rider in the group, as well as being very strong on long climbs. In 2004 she won the downhill time trial at Big Bear Mountain, showing she was no slouch when the going gets steep and fast. She will ride a 29 inch Superfly bike this weekend which should roll well over the plentiful rocks on the Mount Snow course.

  Finally Katerina Nash (Luna Womens MTB) is on a roll having won the B.C. Bike Race with teammate Pendrel, then taking top honors at the two-day Downieville Classic and topping that off with third place at the Mont-Sainte Anne World Cup. Nash is one of the best tactical riders in the group and capable shifting gears at the end of a race. If she can maintain contact with the leaders until the last lap, she is capable of motoring away when everyone else is suffering most.

  Men’s cross country

  Adam Craig grew up riding trails just like at Mount Snow, in fact it is basically the Maine resident’s home course. Craig can probably ride technical trails better than anyone in the field, but he is also is the best descender. His upright, freestyle position allows him to make better use of his upper body, enabling him to ride what others might walk. A somewhat erratic starter, Craig came from a long way back in the past two World Cup races to take top 10 finishes.

  Geoff Kabush, fresh off his World Cup victory in Bromont, is certainly back on form after early season problems. Racing while ill at the Canadian National Championship a few weeks ago, he won against one of the event’s strongest fields. We have not seen Kabush race at Mount Snow for several years, but it certainly is his kind of course and bears a lot of similarity to the World Cup courses of the past two weeks.

  Series leader Max Plaxton (Team Sho-Air/Specialized) did not have a very successful Canadian World Cup experience, partly due to some bad luck. He will have his hands full holding on to the lead with newly crowned American champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski only 10 points behind. JHK has had a magical summer winning the Teva games, the U.S. Marathon Championsihps, and two top 20 World Cup finishes. He is likely to be the best climber at Mount Snow, but will have to smoke the downhills to stay ahead of Craig.

  Anyone who has raced against Todd Wells (Specialized) knows he can win any race. He always seems to be within striking distance of the leader and his fitness level is always good. Were it not for an untimely mechanical at the national championships, he might have come to the line with JHK in the cross country race. Wells is extremely likely to be on the final podium.

  Nobody has won more Pro XCT cross country races than Aussie Sid Taberlay. He has beaten all of the above riders on at least two occasions this season. Given that he didn’t contest the North American championship races or the two Canadian World Cups Taberlay has had a long to time to specifically prepare for the Mount Snow race.

  Short track

  The short track at Mount Snow has been the site of some epic battles over the years. It features a short, loose climb, a traverse across off-camber grass, a fire road descent, and a long stretch of pavement that is usually into the wind.

  American champion Craig will be attempting to do the stars and stripes jersey proud on the men’s side. However Wells is undefeated in the short track series this season. JHK certainly has a shot as does former Mt. Snow winner Ryan Trebon, and former short track champion Barry Wicks.

  Cyclingnews has learned that road and cyclo-cross star Jeremy Powers will be competing this weekend at Mount Snow. His cyclo-cross skills may help him be competitive in the short track discipline. It will be interesting to see how he fares against fellow crossers, and good friends, Trebon and Wicks. The bragging rights associated with that battle may actually be more important to him than winning the race.

  On the women’s side, Nash returns to Mount Snow for the first time in years. She is unquestionably the most accomplished short track racer on the planet, having won countless races. Unlike her previous outings this year, Nash now appears to be on very top form and as such she is the woman to beat.

  American Champion Gould has won her share of short track races as well. The Mount snow course should suit her style of power riding well. Defending champion Katie Compton will be absent, possibly opening the door for Irmiger, winner of the short track race in Colorado Springs.

  Lea Davison will again be the dark horse in the race. Third two years in a row at the national championships, she will be racing in front of her hometown crowd at Mount Snow. There is no doubt she is thinking she can win.

  Super D

  The Super D course at Mount Snow has typically favored the cross country riders as opposed to the gravity racers. While the course has a significant vertical drop, the trails are not so steep or lumpy that a downhill bike is much faster. There is a climb where the fastest of the cross country riders usually get away from their group.

  Look for the Team Giant riders Craig and Carl Decker to post some victories this weekend. Other contenders include Koerber and Kabush, should he decide to race.  Kelli Emmett will not be racing due to a broken finger.

  Gravity events

  The gravity crowd will be treated to one of the best like downhill courses in America. It is technical and occasionally steep. The Dual Slalom course is a bit short but very spectator friendly. Both events are part of the Mount Snow Mountain Bike Festival rather than the U.S. Cup Series.

  It is unclear how strong the professional field of gravity riders will be at Mount Snow due to competing races.

• Brentjens to contest Australia’s Crocodile Trophy

  

  Article published:

  August 6, 2009, 05:47

  By:

  Cycling News

  World, Olympic champion to tackle tough Aussie race

  Former World and Olympic mountain biking champion Bart Brentjens will return to Australia’s far north in 2009 to contest one of the discipline’s most grueling stage races – the Crocodile Trophy. The October event will start in Cairns, where Brentjens first broke through for a World Cup Series victory in 1994.

  “In the sport of mountain biking, I can think of no greater ambassador and we will be truly honoured to welcome Bart Brentjens to the Crocodile Trophy,” said race director Gerhard Schoenbacher. “Having watched Bart race recently, I expect he will be among the leading contenders for the general classification.

  “He continues to be a dominant force at Marathon World Cup level and, based upon our discussions, he is taking the Crocodile Trophy very seriously,” added Schoenbacher.

  Brentjens went on to win the World Cup series in 1994, adding a World Championship in 1995 and a Olympic Games gold medal in Atlanta the following year.

  The opening stage from Cairns to Lake Tinaroo will feature more than 2000 metres of climbing and the super-steep rainforest trails are sure to bring back memories of Cairns infamous ‘Red Ringer’, where Brentjens and then Australian teenager Cadel Evans both shot to fame in 1994.

  “To host a mountain biker of Bart Brentjens’ stature is a significant boost for the event,” said race media manager John Flynn. “We’re talking about a guy who learned his trade racing against the greats ... Thomas, Tomac, Tinker and Ned.”

  The 2009 Crocodile Trophy will commence in Cairns on October 20 and run through to its traditional finish destination at Cape Tribulation on October 29.