Canadian tops Sonntag, Wells wraps up the Epic Rides series title
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Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox Racing) rides in alone to take the win at Carson CityXC(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Kerry Werner (Raleigh Clement) on the front row(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Kerry Werner (Raleigh Clement) riding in the top twenty mid-race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
A rider makes his way around one of the uphill switchbacks(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ian Stow (Giro-Santa Cruz) makes his way through one of the many aspen groves(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Nick Thomas (AZ Devo) racing on some of the best singletrack of the day(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
A rider crests one of the many climbs overlooking Lake Tahoe(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Riders circling Spooner Lake after one solid hour of climbing(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jonathan Lee (Yeti) riding in one of the densest aspen forests on the course(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jamey Driscoll (Raleigh Clement) edged out Kyle Trudeau (CZ Racing) for 12th place, with Justine Lindine not far behind.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox Racing) being congratulated by fans after the race(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ben Sonntag (Cliff Bar) gapped Todd Wells briefly during the final miles but Wells regained contact and went on to win the series.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD-Scott), Russell Finsterwald (SRAM-TLD-Scott), and Geoff Kabush (Scott 3 Rox Racing) at the finish(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Troy Wells (Cliff Bar) as usual looked totally cooked at the finish(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Adam Craig (Team Giant) had enough energy after climbing several thousand feet to pop a few wheelies.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Brian Matter (Team Wisconsin) winding his way around one of the lakes(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Riders were treated to several sandy singletrack climbs on the Rim Trail.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Geoff Kabush- Center (Scott 3Rox Racing) was a late entry and won the Fat Tire Criterium on Friday night(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Russell Finsterwald (SRAM-TLD-Scott) proved has upped his game and was expected to be with the leaders today.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The Pro Men did a slow roll out of downtown Carson CityXC, knowing that twenty miles of climbing awaited them.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD-Scott) led the race at Spooner Lake(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jeremy Martin (Focus Bikes) was riding with the leaders at the ten-mile point(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Riders pass by Marlott Lake on the Tahoe Rim Trail(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ben Sonntag (Cliff Bar) was trailing Todd Wells by less than a minute in the Epic Rides series.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox Racing) was never far from the lead rider during the entire climb.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Payson Mcelveen (Ridebiker) riding to another top ten ten finish.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Riders battled dust on parts of the course(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Riders passed by many snowfields on the Tahoe Rim Trail and had to pass over a couple long patches of snow.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Spencer Paxson (Kona) riding in the top ten at Spooner Lake(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Jamey Driscoll (Raleigh Clement), better known for his cyclocross prowess, was riding in the top ten at Spooner Lake(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Kona racers Barry Wicks, Kris Sneddon, and Spencer Paxson relaxing with their dogs on Friday evening.(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
In one of the best endurance battles on US soil this year, veteran World Cup racer Geoff Kabush won the 50-mile Carson City Off-Road by 1:09 over Ben Sonntag (Clfff Bar), who finished second in a sprint with Todd Wells (SRAM-TLD-Scott) and Russell Finsterwald (SRAM-TLD-Scott).
Wells finished third, while his younger team-mate, Finsterwald, finished fourth. Jeremy Martin (Focus Bikes) finished fifth in what was perhaps his best mountain biking performance to date.
The course, which included an initial climb of up to 20 miles and total climbing of 7,225 feet, was brutally difficult. However, racers were treated to spectacular trails such as the Tahoe Rim Trail and The Flume. The oxygen was a bit thin at times as the course reached 9,000 feet elevation. Kabush raced to the top of the mountains in a select group that included Wells, Sonntag, Martin and Finsterwald.
Kabush recounted the racing: "I knew I had a chance if I got over the top of that climb, but man I was doubting myself...it was an hour and forty-five (minutes) to the top. I was feeling my legs twinge. I had ridden the Secret Trail and I knew it was super loose and super dusty, so my plan was to lead into there."
However, Finsterwald obviously had the same plan and attacked the group there. Only Kabush was able to go with him, and then pass Finsterwald on the final four-mile climb.
Kabush added: "I knew the last climb was not as steep of a gradient...but man it went on forever. I had to dig deep and keep focusing on pushing those pedals."
Wells added his view: "Today’s race was awesome. Ben Sonntag, 'The German', and Jeremy Martin were definitely the strongest guys on the hills. They were pushing the pace and blowing the group apart. Then on the second-to-last descent, Finsty took off and Kabush went with him. The German and I were chasing, and he passed me and got a small gap. I was able to bring him back by the top (of last climb), then Finsty came back to us...and we all rode together until the finish."
The Epic Ride Series is now the richest mountain biking series in the country. The pro men and women equally spilt $90,000 in the three-race series, which also includes the Whisky Off-Road and the Grand Junction Off-Road. The winners take home $5,000 checks for each event.
Results
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#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Geoff Kabush (SCOTT-3Rox Racing)
3:18:15
2
Benjamin Sonntag (Clif Bar)
0:01:09
3
Todd Wells (SRAM TLD Scott)
0:01:10
4
Russell Finsterwald (SRAM | TLD Racing Team)
Row 3 - Cell 2
5
Jeremy Martin (Focus Bikes - Smith MTB - iWill Pro Cycling)
0:03:57
6
Payson Mcelveen (Team RideBiker p/b Sho-Air)
0:04:26
7
Spencer Paxson
0:05:13
8
Troy Wells (Team CLIF Bar)
0:07:02
9
Bryan Dillon (Topeak-Ergon)
0:07:11
10
Carl Decker (Giant Bicycles)
0:08:25
11
Adam Bucklin (Team Rwanda)
0:08:27
12
Jamey Driscoll (Raleigh)
0:09:39
13
Kyle Trudeau (CZ Racing)
0:09:40
14
Justin Lindine (Apex / Hyperthreads / Vittoria)
0:09:41
15
Nic Beechan (Trek Test Team)
0:11:52
16
Brian Matter (Team Wisconsin)
0:15:47
17
Pablo Fernandez (Jarritos)
0:16:05
18
Menso De Jong (Clif Bar)
0:18:36
19
Kerry Werner
0:18:37
20
Adam Craig (Giant Factory Off-Road)
0:19:07
21
Justin Thomas (TCI Wealth Advisors / Great Basin Bike Shop / Yeti)
0:19:59
22
Jorge Munoz Jr.
0:20:06
23
Eric Bostrom (Ridebiker/Specialized)
0:22:31
24
Tim Racette (McDowell Mountain Cycles)
0:23:27
25
Barry Wicks (Kona)
0:24:16
26
Kris Sneddon
0:24:35
27
Stephan Davoust (Giant Bicycles/SRAM/Schwalbe Tires)
0:24:41
28
Mark Flis (Squadra)
0:25:32
29
Weston Rassmussen (CZ Racing)
0:28:59
30
Ricky Creel (CZ Racing)
0:29:02
31
Cody Kaiser (LangeTwins Winery)
0:29:46
32
Tyler Jones (parents)
0:30:14
33
Ian Wilkey (Az Devo)
0:36:05
34
Bryan Little (Giant Co-Factory)
0:36:06
35
Scott Chapin (Santa Cruz Bicycles / FOX SHOX / GIRO)
0:38:55
36
Kurt Wolfgang
0:39:07
37
Nick Thomas (AZ Devo)
0:39:08
38
Cody Schwartz (Folsom Bike)
0:39:25
39
Daniel Sturm (MTBPHD)
0:41:28
40
Nathan Miller (Roca Roja)
0:43:33
41
Ian Stowe (Giro)
0:48:35
42
Joseph Williams (Giant)
0:57:20
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