MTB & Cyclo-cross News & racing round-up for August
11, 2006
Edited by Steve Medcroft
All about the doubles at Brian Head NORBA
By Steve Medcroft
Irmiger and JHK
Photo ©: Susan Candee
|
There were doubles everywhere at the NORBA stop in Brian Head, Utah last
weekend. Melissa Buhl (KHS) went two-for-two in Downhill and Dual Slalom,
Sue Haywood (Trek/VW) doubled up in Super D and Short Track and Jeremy
Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) took cross-country and short track.
But the most newsworthy double of the weekend was Horgan-Kobelski and
wife Heather Irmiger's victories in cross-country. Horgan-Kobelski scored
first, finishing more than three minutes ahead of chasers Geoff Kabush
(Team Maxxis), Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW) and Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai).
Irmiger came in next, with a pat on the back from her husband as she crossed
the finish line, in front of Luna Chix teammates Katerina Nash and Shonny
Vanlandingham.
It was the couple's second double-victory. The pair claimed double first-place
finishes at the
2005 Brian Head NORBA when Irmiger picked up her first career NMBS
win.
For complete results, race report and photos, check out each day's coverage:
2006 NORBA Finals set for Snowmass Village
NZ Worlds team member Liam Panozzo
in '05 Snowmass NORBA DH action
Photo ©: Robbie George
|
The 2006 National Mountain Bike Series culminates a year of big ups and
screaming descents August 10-13 in the beautiful alpine mecca of Snowmass
Village, Colorado. Coming off a weekend of similar high-altitude racing
in Brian Head, Utah, the world's top mountain bike racers will again compete
in Cross-Country, Short Track, Downhill, Super D, and Dual Slalom with
Mountain Cross replacing the Marathon event to round out the six competitive
disciplines.
"Snowmass Village welcomes the National Mountain Bike Series, participants,
fans, and spectators for the third year. Between the village staff and
the crews building the courses, it's been a real team effort to support
and enhance this world-class event," says Susan Hamley of Snowmass
Village."
Colorado-based husband and wife pair (and Subaru/Gary Fisher teammates)
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Heather Irmiger are expected to be the favorites
for the top podium spots in the men's and women's Cross-country races
on the 12-mile loop course that advertises 2300 feet of climbing -- per
lap."
Horgan-Kobelski (current men's series point leader) and Irmiger (currently
with the second most points among women) took top XC honors in the thin
air of Brian Head, Utah.
"The Fox Racing Shox Banzai DH is full-throttle wide-open rough
ski run madness dropping over 2500 feet in 2.6 miles of Rocky Mountain
nastiness," reads the Snowmass National Web site regarding the gnarly
downhill course. The DH description also touts that another 500 feet of
vertical have been added along with some new features "just for fun".
'Fast and furious' will be the theme for most of the events, not the
least of which will be the conclusion to the always-exciting Short Track
series in which riders attack and counter attack around a one-mile course
at a lung-busting pace right in the middle of the Snowmass venue.
Check back on Cyclingnew.com for full coverage of the NORBA Finals
at Snowmass Village.
Jeep KOM round Saturday
While there's clearly no substitute for first place, elite American mountain
bike racers, Brian Lopes and Melissa Buhl, have to like their current
position heading into the second stage of the Jeep® King of the Mountain
(www.jeepsports.com)
2006 Mountain Biking World Professional Championships, set for Aug. 12
at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Though Lopes, 34, from San Clemente, Calif., and Buhl, 24, from Chandler,
Ariz., are 10 years apart in age, both have distinguished themselves with
national and international championships and are savvy enough to know
that one great day of racing separates them from first place in the overall
standings. Claiming first place will be no easy task, however, with the
world's two top racers, Michal Prokop of the Czech Republic, and Jill
Kintner of Seattle, Wash., currently holding onto first place and vying
to defend their Jeep King of the Mountain 2005 World Professional Champion
titles. With a first or second place finish by Lopes and Buhl in Elkhart
Lake, the title of World Professional Champion would be completely up
for grabs when the series' grand finale takes place on Sept. 3 at Beaver
Creek, Colo.
"I am healthy and I have been around the block for some time now,
which is a great advantage," said Lopes, a three-time World Champion,
five-time World Cup Champion and nine-time National Champion. "I
know what it takes to put together a good race run, and now I just need
to go out and make it happen."
The 2006 Mountain Biking World Professional Championships from Elkhart
Lake will air on CBS Sports on Sept. 24, from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. EST.
Kiwi relay team for Worlds
The New Zealand team to compete in the opening event of the 2006 UCI
Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships on August 22 in Rotorua has
been announced. The team relay competition is the first event of the world
championships. The team must consist of one rider from each of four categories
- elite men, elite women, under 23 men, junior men.
New Zealand MTB Worlds cross-country relay team:
- Kashi Leuchs (Dunedin)
- Rosara Joseph (Christchurch)
- Clinton Avery (Rotorua)
- Carl Jones (Whakatane)
Strathspey Shenanigan returns for 2006
Once an annual fixture on the Scottish calendar, the Strathspey Shenanigan,
a sponsored mountain bike cycle throughout the beautiful 'Monarch of the
Glen' Speyside area of the Scottish Highlands is returning September 23rd,
2006. 38 or 17 mile routes, for cycling enthusiasts as well as for families,
casual and tourist riders ara available starting in Kingussie and finishing
by Loch Morlich nr. Aviemore. The routes are mostly gravel forest road
but also includes grassy and occasional rough tracks and a river crossing.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Highland Hospice caring for adults
coping with the trauma of terminal illness. To take part, email b.harder@highlandhospice.org.uk.
A change to the AUS Worlds team
Cycling Australia today confirmed two changes to the Australian team
to contest the 2006 Mountain Bike World Championships being staged in
Rotorua, New Zealand from August 22 to 27.
Jared Graves and Michael Robinson have withdrawn from the team and will
be replaced by Liam Panozzo (Elite Men Downhill) and Alex Lloyd (Elite
Men 4X). Graves is injured but will attend as a spectator while Robinson
has BMX commitments which have prevented him from racing in New Zealand.
Off Road to Athens wins Vail Film Festival
Off Road to Athens surprised many critics and film makers by winning
the prestigious Vail Film Festival this Spring. Sam Chafos, the director
of the festival said, We had over one thousand films submitted to
the this years festival... I am proud to announce that the winner
of Best Documentary was my personal favorite and what I believe is the
best of the best, Off Road To Athens! The honor represents the first
time an indie cycling film has gone head-to-head with Hollywood budgeted
films and emerged victorious.
Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclo-cross series back for another season
The 2006 Verge Mid Atlantic Cyclo-cross Series announced its 2006 campaign
this week. Verge MAC, the Easts largest cyclocross series, will
once again span some of the worlds largest media markets, including
New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, including a new venue in New
Hope, Pennsylvania, where races will be held on two consecutive days on
a private estate. The series also returns to the Amphitheater of
Pain in Bridgeton, NJ -- where last year the sports pages of the
Press of Atlantic City gave the race top billing over NASCAR and Michelle
Kwans attempt at another National Figure Skating Championship at
the nearby Atlantic City Conventions Center.
The series also introduces a new category; the Elite Masters
class, one of 14 amateur and professional individual championships (and
one team championship) on the line for this years campaign. According
to Verge MAC Series Director Mike Hebe, With the inception of the
new Elite Masters class, Verge MAC is recognizing the depth of talent
that toes the line for our races. At any race last year, there were nine
different riders in the Masters field who had won at least one event in
the greater Mid-Atlantic region in the previous year. With that high level
of talent, we wanted to recognize and highlight what is a very deep and
fast field and hopefully the addition of a deeper prize list for the fastest
35+ racers will meet that end.
With Verge MACs Elite, International orientation, its only
fitting that the series starts with an international classic -- the UCI
C1 Cyclocross @ Granouge on October 21. All told, six of this
years Verge MAC races are on the UCIs International Calendar.
Every Verge MAC races will start at 10:00am with the combined race for
C-Men, B-Women, -Masters 35+, Masters 55+ and U19 Juniors. 11:00 am will
see the Killer Bs take center stage followed by the
exciting new Elite Triple-Header -- Elite Masters at 12:15,
Elite Women at 1:30 and Elite Men at 2:30
For more information, see Verge MACs new Web site, www.midatlanticcross.com.
MABRA 'cross series raises the bar for 2006
the Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association (MABRAcross) released its
2006/07 schedule this week.
A recognized Local Association under the umbrella of USA Cycling, MABRA
begins its series with the traditional east-coast curtain raiser, the
Charm City Cyclocross, in Baltimore on September 24. New this year is
the early scheduling of races - four of the six races take place before
the end of daylight savings time - which should make for beautiful weather.
But isnt the classic vision of cyclocross a cold and rainy day
with mud-up-to-your-knees, rather than beautiful weather? MABRAcross series
director Chip Sovek, says it doesnt have to be. Classic cyclocross
weather sucks, he laughed, Absolutely, bad weather is part
of bike racing, and cross especially - but so are crashes and injuries,
and we dont go looking for those, do we? Being soaked to the bone
in 35 degree weather is only romantic when youre reading about it.
Besides the better weather, the early schedule has other benefits as well,
Only two of our races have any conflict with local NFL football
teams, and there is only one partial conflict with the NFL during daylight
savings time when we are trying to establish a spectator base.
For more information on the MABRAcross series, see their Web site http://mabra.org
or contact MABRAcross Media Director Ken Getchell at kenmacpr@yahoo.com.
2006 MABRAcross Schedule
- Sep 24, Baltimore, MD: Charm City Cyclocross
- October 1, Buckeystown, MD, (Baltimore and Washington DC Media Markets):
Ed Sander Cross at Lillypons
- October 7, Hagerstown, MD: AVC Cyclocross
- October 14, Carlisle, PA (Harrisburg Media Market): Iron Cross
Lite
- November 4, Leesburg, VA (Washington DC Media Market): Squadra
Coppi Cross
- Novemer 5, Eldersburg, MD (Baltimore Media Market): Race Pace
Cross
Alan Factory 'cross team for 2006/07 season
Bjorn Selander at '06 Worlds
Photo ©: Luc Claessen
|
The Alan Factory Team, presented by EMG (Euromedia Group) announced its
final rosters and sponsor lineup for the 2006/07 Cyclocross Season this
week.
Based out of Minneapolis, MN but covering 14 regions around the U.S.,
the team will be lead by elite team riders with grassroots programs in
each of the regions. Look for the Alan Factory Team at all the USGP CX
races, National Championships and in your local race scene.
Grassroots sponsorships are still available nationwide and some regions
are still open for elite team leaders. Contact EMG at: euromedia@comcast.net
for more information.
Full roster:
- Matt Kelly - Madison WI Elite Racer (Former Jr. World Champ)
- Jed Schneider - Columbia, SC Elite Racer (Former National Champ)
- Samantha Williams - Columbia, SC Team Leader (GA State Champ)
- Nick Weighall Seattle, WA Elite U23 Racer (TX State
Champ, National Off-Road Du Champ)
- Kevin Hankens - Portland, Maine Team Leader (Iowa State Champ)
- Renee Callaway - Madison WI - Team Leader
- Kristopher Auer - Baltimore, MD Team Leader
- Matt Kraus - Boston, MA Team Leader/Elite Racer
- Troy Barry - Santa Rosa, CA Team Leader
- Paul Schoening - Minneapolis, MN Team Leader/National Team
Director
- Bjorn Selander - Hudson, WI Elite U23 Racer (Former National
Champ)
- Dag Selander - Hudson, WI Elite Masters Racer
- Logan Loader San Francisco, CA Elite Jr. Racer
- Marc Swart - Durango, CO Elite U23 Racer
- Ryan Rish Cincinatti, OH - Team Leader
- Shawn Adams Cleveland, OH Team Leader
- Ali Goulet Park City, UT - Team Leader
- Kirk Olson Denver, CO - Team Leader
- Scot Van Asten Philadelphia, PA - Team Leader
- Patrick Morrissey Albuquerque, NM - Team Leader
- Morgan Gerlak Baltimore, MD Elite Jr. Racer
California Giant Berry Farms 'cross team for 2006/07
Justin Robinson at '05 Nats
Photo ©: Ed Collier
|
California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville California and Specialized
of Morgan Hill California are teaming up for the 2006-2007 U.S. Cyclocross
season and expanding cyclo-cross sponsorship program from last year. Two
elite women riders and one under 23 athlete will be joining 2005/2006
Master Men 30-34 National Champion Justin Robinson and Specialized R&D
Engineer Andy Jacques-Maynes. The new Women riders are two-time Collegiate
National Champion Melodie Metzger and 2005 U.S. National silver medalist
Josie Beggs. Also new to the team is 2006 U.S. Worlds team member and
winner of the San Francisco Grand Prix of Cyclocross Chance Noble, who
will be racing the under 23 category.
Full 2006/07 Roster
- Andy Jacques-Maynes Capitola, CA
- Justin Robinson Santa Cruz, CA
- Josie Beggs Capitola ,CA
- Melodie Metzger Berkeley, CA
- Chance Noble Camarillo, CA
- Henry Kramer Menlo Park, CA
- Todd Hoefer Watsonville, CA
- Gannon Myall Lafayette, CA
Bikes Belong awards $40k in grants
Bikes Belong will award $40,000 in grants this month to five great bicycling
projects. The funding support for these paths, trails, and programs is
intended to enhance communities across the country, effectively putting
more people on bicycles more often. The following programs recieving grants
are:
The B & O Trail Association will receive $10,000 to help purchase
a 13-acre stretch of abandoned rail corridor in Hendricks County, Indiana.
This path will be the first bike/ped connection between downtown Indianapolis
and three nearby state parks, providing a recreation and transportation
route for active Hoosiers.
Venice Area Beautification, Inc. will receive $5,000 to help build the
final segment of the Venetian Waterway Park, a multi-use path on the west
coast of Florida.
The Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association will receive $5,000 to
help construct the first singletrack in the Hayward Cluster. The new 8-mile
trailthe first of three planned singletrack trails in the clusterwill
provide exciting routes for mountain bikers and help boost bicycle tourism.
The Adventure Cycling Association $10,000 to help establish the corridor
plan for a U.S. National Bicycle Route Network. This system of bike routes,
modeled after successful networks in Europe and Canada, will make bicycling
a more visible and viable means of transportation and recreation on U.S.
roads.
Columbia, Missouri's PedNet will receive $10,000 to launch the pilot
of their bicycle safety and education program, "From Proficiency
to Practice." This three-stage program will begin this fall by teaching
bicycling basics to 600 fourth graders, training children in safe bike
handling through an after-school program, and establishing a Bike Train
for kids who want to ride to school.
Previous
News Next News
(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2006)
| |