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Binggeli puts in faultless run to take out championship

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Gwin and Ropelato complete podium

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The elite men's podium with Logan Binggeli centre donning the stars and stripes as the new national champion.

The elite men's podium with Logan Binggeli centre donning the stars and stripes as the new national champion. (Image credit: Eddie Clark)
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Aaron Gwin showed some blazing speed on Saturday with a nearly 12-second margin over the field in his qualifying run.

Aaron Gwin showed some blazing speed on Saturday with a nearly 12-second margin over the field in his qualifying run. (Image credit: Eddie Clark)
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Logan Binggeli put in some extra practice runs on race day due to the torrential downpour that soaked the course over night.

Logan Binggeli put in some extra practice runs on race day due to the torrential downpour that soaked the course over night. (Image credit: Eddie Clark)
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Mitch Ropelato won his second medal with a quick third place ride.

Mitch Ropelato won his second medal with a quick third place ride. (Image credit: Eddie Clark)
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Logan Binggeli uses his moto skills to pull a tear-off over the hip jump.

Logan Binggeli uses his moto skills to pull a tear-off over the hip jump. (Image credit: Eddie Clark)
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Even after a crash in his race run, Aaron Gwinn was fast enough to finish in second.

Even after a crash in his race run, Aaron Gwinn was fast enough to finish in second. (Image credit: Eddie Clark)
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The new US downhill national champion, Logan Binggeli.

The new US downhill national champion, Logan Binggeli. (Image credit: Eddie Clark)

The 2011 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships concluded Sunday in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, with the downhill national championships. An overnight downpour was slow to clear, leaving the course muddy. The dampened course didn't affect the spirit of the fans as an outstanding crowd, including an estimated 300 spectators in the rock garden, energized the riders.

Logan Binggeli (KHS Bicycles) descended into a stars-and-stripes jersey, beating Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) by nearly four seconds in the men's pro downhill. Mitch Ropelato (SPS North America), who topped the men's pro dual slalom podium Saturday, earned the bronze medal.

"It means everything. Everything has now paid off since I've gotten on a bicycle." Binggeli said of winning his first national title. "It's a dream come true. Titles are what you train for and to finally have one, I'm super pumped."

Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Logan Binggeli (KHS)0:02:44.73
2Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing)0:00:03.54
3Mitch Ropelato (SPS North America)0:00:03.90
4Duncan Riffle (Giant)0:00:05.62
5Phillip Kmetz0:00:06.06
6Cody Warren0:00:07.18
7Adam Morse0:00:08.50
8Curtis Keene0:00:09.16
9Jason Memmelaar0:00:10.76
10Michael Haderer0:00:11.42
11Kevin Aiello (KHS)0:00:15.80
12Leif Lorenzen0:00:16.22
13Timothy Price0:00:17.27
14Sam Benedict (Specialized)0:00:17.65
15Kyle Thomas0:00:20.69
16kyle warner0:00:21.32
17Max Morgan0:00:21.73
18Greg Nelson (East Coast Gravity Pros)0:00:24.74
19Lear Miller0:00:25.01
20Jason Scheiding0:00:25.07
21Hugh Taylor0:00:25.28
22Harrison Reynolds (Spin)0:00:25.53
23Dante Harmony0:00:29.88
24Kenneth (Chuck) Pitts0:00:33.04
25Brian Yannuzzi0:00:36.04
26Benjamin Hulse0:00:37.42
27Chris Higgerson0:00:38.19
28Daniel Godard0:00:42.69
29Tyler Gilsdorf0:00:42.71
30Evan Gilsdorf0:00:45.93
31Philip Noto (Lees-McRae College)0:00:46.71
32Fredrick Cecil Linder0:00:50.96
33Eric Bercume0:00:51.44
34Craig Carlson (Terminal Velocity Racing)0:00:58.02
35Oliver Levick (Drummer Racing)0:00:59.21
DNSEthan Quehl
DNSJess Pedersen
DNSCraig Harvey
DNFBradley Benedict (Specialized)

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