NMBS Round #2 heads to Santa Barbara

Round #2 of the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) continues this weekend, April 27-29, at the Ted Chamberlin Cattle Ranch and the Firestone Vineyard in Santa Barbara County, California.

It will be the eighth annual Firestone Santa Ynez Valley Mountain Bike Classic, but the first time the event is part of the NMBS. History buffs may recall that the first-ever NMBS race was held in Santa Barbara, in 1983, when the series was known as the NORBA National Championship Series.

NMBS points are offered for the cross country, the short track, and the Super D, but not for the downhill, although that event will still be contested.

Pros including Krista Park (Team Colavita/Sutter Home) and Barry Wicks (Kona Factory Team) will make their way to the event. Wicks won last year's pro men's cross country event and he scored an eighth place at NMBS #1 in Arizona one month ago. The NMBS points will draw a larger and more competitive field than in previous years.