Plaxton "ices" the Mellow Johnny's Classsic at Armstrong's ranch

Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized) came from behind to win the USA Cycling US Pro XCT race today in brutally hot and humid conditions at Lance Armstrong's ranch near Austin, Texas. Plaxton gave some of the credit to the double ice vest worn before the start.

Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis/Rocky Mountain) started slowly but moved up dramatically on the last lap to nail down second place. Todd Wells (Specialized) finished third, followed Subaru/Gary Fisher teammates Sam Schultz and US Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski.

Early in the race, various riders set the pace including Wells. But Wells made a small mistake that determined the outcome.

"Max was riding strong today. I bobbled a little bit and Max was gone," said Wells. "(Sam) Schultz and I couldn't close the gap."

Kabush did not seem himself on the first lap. "It felt dangerous the first lap. I could hardly ride my bike. The heat was oppressive. I was trying not to accelerate," he said after the race.

"I didn't pay attention to anyone else and just rode my own race." While he didn't win the race, Kabush's steadiness allowed him to eventually pass Schultz and Wells, who had gone harder early in the race.

On the other hand, Plaxton didn't seem to have any trouble. "I felt good right from the start. I wasn't overheating. I can't say enough about the ice vest."

"I was just following wheels for the first few laps. This week, I came down from Victoria where it was pouring rain and cold, so I was a little shocked at the heat," said the winner. "Today is my birthday so I had a little extra motivation."

Most of the riders looked shattered at the finished. Seventeen of the 48 starters did not finish. "Sometimes with the heat you can't push yourself that hard," said Wells. "Well, you're pushing but you're not going anywhere."

Riders gave the course high marks, and many said they hoped to come back next year, perhaps earlier in the race season.

The US Pro XCT series heads next to the Subaru Cup in Wisconsin on June 26.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Max Plaxton (Can) Team Sho-Air2:01:31
2Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis0:02:11
3Todd Wells (USA) Specialized0:02:31
4Sam Schultz (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher0:02:39
5Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher0:02:49
6Carl Decker (USA) Giant Factory Team0:04:38
7Ignacio Torres (Mex) Turbo0:08:57
8Ryan Woodall (USA) Brick City Bicycles0:09:36
9Troy Wells (USA) Team CLIF0:10:22
10dana weber (USA) Trek0:11:03
11Lucas Brusseau (USA) Bicycles Plus0:11:34
12Tristan Uhl (USA) Southern Elite/Sun & Ski0:16:53
13Spencer Paxson (USA) Team S&M0:18:17
14Aaron Elwell (USA) High Gear/0:19:01
15Bryan Alders (USA) Sponsor Me0:19:42
16Sid Taberlay (Aus) Team Sho-Air0:20:37
17Will Black (USA) Inland/Back To Dirt0:20:59
18Nate Whitman (USA) Cynergy0:24:18
19David Hanes (USA) Ride Away Bicycles0:24:37
20Blake Zumbrunner (USA) Revolution0:24:51
21Robert Marion (USA) American0:24:54
22Kalan Beisel (USA) ProCycling0:26:26
23Wesley Lamberson (USA) Kenda/Hayes0:26:54
24Bryan Fawley (USA) Hudz-Subaru0:27:12
25Rich Weis (USA) Taser/Kenda0:28:39
26Rick Wetherald (USA) Lake Travis Cyclery0:30:20
27Adam Craig (USA) Giant Factory Team0:30:33
28Len Zanni (USA) Honey Stinger / Trek0:30:39
29Jason Young (USA) Feedback0:30:40
30Matt Gordon (USA) Team Bicycle Sport Shop0:32:05
31Craig Wohlschlae (USA) The Hub Bicycle Shop0:33:34
32Craig Kunz (USA) Team Bicycle Sport Shop0:34:58
33Dan Kotwicki (USA) 29ercrew.com0:37:43
34Matt Miller (USA) Giant Mid-0:38:12
35Michael Mooradian (USA) K. Bedford/0:38:20
36Justin Raynes (USA) Bikes Unlimited0:38:36
37Ryan Dorsey (USA) Honeystinger/Trek0:39:31
38Mitchell Peterson (USA) Giantlapped
39Kent McNeill (USA) Midwest Cyclinglapped
40Osias Lozano (Col) Everedy Enlapped
41Joshua Rosby (USA) Delta Racinglapped
42Sem Gallegos (USA) Crazy Cat Cyclerylapped
DNFJuan Carlos Hernandez (Mex) TurboRow 42 - Cell 2
DNFNicholas Stevens (GBr) WaltworksRow 43 - Cell 2
DNFEmmanuel Valencia (Mex) TurboRow 44 - Cell 2
DNFScott Frederick (USA) Inland ConsRow 45 - Cell 2
DNFBrian Jones (USA) Austin BikesRow 46 - Cell 2
DNFKeith Hargis (USA) RBM/MatrixRow 47 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Trebon (USA) KonaRow 48 - Cell 2
DNFBarry Wicks (USA) KonaRow 49 - Cell 2
DNFErik Tonkin (USA) KonaRow 50 - Cell 2
DNFKris Sneddon (Can) KonaRow 51 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Fernandez (Mex) Crazy Cat CycleryRow 52 - Cell 2
DNFJesse Rients (USA) Nature ValleyRow 53 - Cell 2
DNFAndy Schultz (USA) Kenda-FeltRow 54 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Portilla (USA) Honey StingerRow 55 - Cell 2
DNFScott Henry (USA) Team Hammerhead/TitusRow 56 - Cell 2
DNFColin Cares (USA) Kenda/FeltRow 57 - Cell 2
DNFMason Quintana (USA) Austin BikesRow 58 - Cell 2
DNFCory Rimmer (USA) CY-HayesKendaRow 59 - Cell 2
DNFWiley Mosley (USA) Specialized / JERK RacingRow 60 - Cell 2
DNFJason Sager (USA) Team JamisRow 61 - Cell 2
DNFJorge Munoz (Mex) Gold's Gym Laredo/Team Sage CyclesRow 62 - Cell 2
DNFAaron Snyder (USA) ScottRCRow 63 - Cell 2
DNFChris Drummond (USA) 918xc.comRow 64 - Cell 2

 

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