Bec Henderson (Trek Factory Racing), Australian XC Champion, seemed to enjoy her short track win today. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Nina Baum (NoTubes) had quite a battle going with Libby White (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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USA Champion Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) was clearly riding for the win. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Total Luna domination at the front of the race on lap two (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Chloe Woodruff (NoTubes/Niner) leading near the end of lap one (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Rose Grant (NoTubes) riding mid-pack at the start (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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USA Champion Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) took the hole-shot (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Trek Factory Racing women Emily Batty (R) and Bec Henderson. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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The Luna Pro Team has been the top mountain biking team in the world for years (L to R) Maghalie Rochette, Georgia Gould, Catharine Pendrel, Katerina Nash, and Andrea Waldis (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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The Stans NoTubes Elite Women’s Team (L to R) Nina Baum, Emily Shields, Rose Grant. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Nina Baum (L) and Emily Shields (R) sign a jersey prior to the race (Stans NoTubes) (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Caroline Mani (Raleigh Clement) hammering up the only hill on the course (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Chloe Woodruff (NoTubes) leading Bec Henderson on lap three (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Bec Henderson (Trek Factory Racing) finishing ahead of the Luna women to take the win. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro Team) taking a turn at the front of the race. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Nina Baum (NoTubes) riding through a field of yellow flowers. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) clipped her pedal on an obstacle and lost contact with the leaders (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Maghalie Rochette (Luna Pro Team) did not make the initial selection today and found herself riding a time trial (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Bec Henderson (Trek Factory Racing) won a prime lap and then found herself with a gap (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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The lead pack maker their way through the tall grasses on the backside of the course (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Emily Shield (NoTubes) found herself alone in clean air halfway through the contest. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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The Elite Women were still together halfway through the race. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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The riders were still tightly grouped during the fire road climb on lap four (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) has won more short track races than anyone else in the sport. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Troy Wells (Cliff Bar) riding through the only shaded section of the course. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Dan McConnell (Trek Factory Racing) won with an attack that nobody could respond to. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Barry Wicks (Kona) makes his way up the inside of the fire road. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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A Trek rider leads through the tall grasses (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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A split took place in the peloton on lap four. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Sergio Mentecon (Trek Factory Racing) setting the pace on the fire road climb. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Raphael Gagne (Rocky Mountain) and Dan McConnell (Trek Factory Racing) (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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The pace of the Elite Men was blistering fast on lap one. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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The Trek Factory Team men lined up together on the front row. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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The Trek Factory Team men lined up together on the front row. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Todd Wells (Specialized) won the last Pro-XCT short track race at Fontana, CA. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Russell Finsterwald (SRAM) on the front row (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Riders tackle the only climb on the course. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Spenser Paxson (Kona) climbing out of the saddle on lap four (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Dan McConnell (Trek Factory Racing) takes the victory at Bonelli Park (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Dan McConnell (Trek Factory Racing) corners with less than a lap remaining (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Bec Henderson watches as her husband Dan McConnell rides to victory. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Dan McConnell (Trek Factory Racing) with a large lead with 1 ½ laps remaining in the race. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Fernando Paez (Raleigh Clement) leading a large group on the pavement. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Kerry Werner (Raleigh Clement) with two laps to go (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Former USA Short Track Champion Barry Wicks (Kona) (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Jeremy Martin (Rocky Mountain) riding the pavement with two laps to go. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Stephen Ettinger (Sho-Air Cannondale) riding the pavement with two laps to go (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Ryan Geiger (FRM) leading a group on the pavement (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
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Stephen Ettinger (Sho-Air Cannondale) is the current USA Short Track Champion (Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Rebecca Henderson and Dan McConnell made it a Sunday to remember for Trek Factory Racing by winning the women’s and men’s short track races, wrapping up the weekend's action at Bonelli Park.
The Luna Pro Team took over affairs on the third lap, with Georgia Gould and Katerina Nash taking the lead before Chloe Woodruff (Stans NoTubes/Niner) launched a serious attack. By the end of the next lap, the group had reformed to about fifteen, with two more joining by the end of lap five. It was here that Nash was seen off the back of the lead group, evidently having chain troubles, but determined to make contact with the leaders and chasing desperately to do so. The seventh lap was also a prime lap, which Henderson won thanks to a strong charge that saw her build up a large lead and at the same time blew the front group to bits. This move saw Luna down to just Gould and Pendrel in the front group, with Connors and Andrea Waldis (Luna Pro Team) chasing back on at the end of lap seven.
With just three to go, the front group sat up just long enough for Nash to rejoin. Connors put in one more dig on the pavement with two to go and the chasing group down to just ten. On the last time around, the lead group passed the grassy descent in tatters, the result of a crash by Rissveds. On the final lip just before the pavement, it was Henderson who took the inside line leading to the pavement and taking the win from Gould and Waldis.
By the end of the fourth lap, cross country winner Nino Schurter (Scott/ODLO) moved his way to the front along with Sergio Mantecon (Trek Factory Racing) right before McConnell made his presence known with a hard charge on the pavement section after the start/finish. After lap five there was a general regrouping at the front as reigning US Short Track Champion Stephen Ettinger (Sho-Air/Cannondale) made his presence known in the front. Just before the prime lap, Estonian Martin Loo (Hawaii Express) put in a huge effort and built up a lead that took him through the prime lap and lasted for another two laps until he was pulled back by the efforts of the chase group being led by Wells.
On the final timed lap, McConnell put in his decisive attack, quickly building up a lead that hovered at five seconds for two laps, then extended again on the grassy descent to the midfleld for the last time. Weaving his way through the grassy midfield, McConnell had enough time in hand to take it easy and ease into the finish. Wells crossed the line in second just a few seconds later ahead of Kohei Yamamoto (Trek Factory Racing) and Junior XC World Champion Simon Andreassen (Team Webike-DMK). US CUP XC overall leader Raphael Gagne rounded out the podium in fifth.
Follow all the race action from the start of Opening Weekend
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