Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) wins the US Pro XCT women’s race in Bonelli Park by over a two minute margin(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Elite Women’s start (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Elite Women hitting the first turn on the pavement(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Chloe Forsman (BMC) got off to a great start(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Emily Batty (Trek Subaru) descending through some tall grass(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Judy Freeman (Kenda Felt) on a steep pitch(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Erica Zaveta (BMC) on a long descent(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) climbing up to the ridge(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Lea Davison (Specialized) could see Gould at times but could not reel her in(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Lydia Tanner (Tokyo Joe’s) reaching the summit(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) streaking down a descent(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Daniela Campuzano (Mexico NationalTeam) riding to a 7th place finish(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Chloe Forsman (BMC) winding her way uphill(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Krista Park (Incycle-Cannondale) descending through the grass(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Judy Freeman (Kenda Felt) on a fast descent(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
The new NoTubes Elite Women’s Team (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Elite Women’s Podium (L to R) Chloe Forsman (BMC) 5th, Lea Davison (Specialized) 2nd, Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) 1st, Krist Park (Incycle Cannondale) 3rd, Emily Batty (Trek Subaru) 4th(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Trek-Subaru team-mates Emily Batty (L) and Heather Irmiger(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Judy Freeman (Kenda-Felt)(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Chloe Forsman (BMC)(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Elite Women’s front row(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Shannon Gibson (No Tubes) descending(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) riding a ridge above the lake(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Lea Davision (Specialized) making a brilliant comeback from a year off the bike(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Sarah Kaufman riding in the top ten(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) climbing the winding course(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Krista Park (Incycle Cannondale) showing good form she brought back from Cyprus(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Erica Zaveta (BMC) on a steep descent(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Heather Irmiger (Trek-Subaru) knew there would be better days(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Lea Davison (Specialized) chasing Gould(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Amanda Carey (Kenda Felt) coming through the start-finish(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/ www.trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) descends singletrack on the Bonelli Park course(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Georgia Gould (Luna) picked off 2011 right were she left off in 2010 - dominating the women's US national cross country series. Gould made it look easy - riding solo early in the race until she crossed the line as the winner of the first round of the US Pro XCT in Bonelli Park, California. She finished two minutes and 13 seconds ahead of Lea Davison (Specialized) and Krista Park (Cannondale/NoTubes).
Runner-up Davison proved she's back racing with the best after a year off due to hip injury and subsequent surgery and rehab. Park, in third, was freshly returned to the US after some training and racing in Cyprus.
When the gun went off, 18 elite women all stomped on the pedals and hammered off the start, as they jockeyed for position on the asphalt section that leads into the first climb of the day. Midway up the climb, a lead group of five women formed, among them Gould, Davidson, Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek), Heather Irmiger (Subaru-Trek) and Park.
Once she got to the front, US cross country national champion Gould dropped the hammer and rode everyone off her wheel for the next five laps. Following Gould's attack, racers settled into their own rhythm and the gaps grew as racers spread out.
Even with Gould's predictable dominance, the race offered a few surprises.
For Davidson, her second place marked the end of a long road back after missing the entire 2010 season. Given a life-line by her new Specialized Factory domestic team this year, Davidson didn't disappoint her brand new sponsors and rode to a solid second place in her first race in over a year. She was the only rider to keep Gould in sight for the early laps, but sucumbed to Gould's brutal pace.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Probably the biggest surprise on the day was the performance of privateer Krista Park, who scored her first national series career podium. Podium regulars Heather Irmiger and Emily Batty showed some signs of rust from the long winter break. Park on the other hand, she proved she's off to a great start in the early season.
Batty, who is new to the Subaru/Trek team for 2011, ended up fourth after running up front early in the race. The amicable Canadian looked good on her new 29er, but just didn't have the staying power of the top three.
Chloe Forsman (BMC MTB Development Team) placed a solid fifth on the day for her new team.
Judy Freeman (Kenda/Felt), Daniela Campuzano (Mexico National Team), Amanda Carey (Kenda/Felt), Zephanie Blasi(No Tubes Elite Women) and Lydia Tanner (Tokyo Joes) filled out the top ten.
Next up in the Triple Crown event is the super D is next up today while the short track will happen on Sunday.
What started as a challenge to see if I could complete gravel's biggest race with a training plan based almost completely indoors turned into a battle for survival as the mud piled up and storm clouds rolled in
