McConnell sprints to Fontana cross country victory

Dan McConnell (Trek Factory Racing) won round 3 of the USA Cycling US Cup Pro Series presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group in Fontana, California, on Saturday afternoon. With three rounds done and one to go, Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) leads the USA Cycling US Cup Pro Series.

Later in the afternoon, Australian national champion McConnell won a three-up final sprint ahead of Manuel Fumic of Germany and Marco Aurelio Fontana of Italy (both Cannondale Factory Racing).

Emil Lindgren (Giant Pro XC), Fontana and Fumic set the pace on the first two laps of the six-lap race as they strung out the field and established a group of favorites that included McConnell, US cross country national champion Stephen Ettinger (BMC), Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Trek Factory Racing). US short track national champion Todd Wells (Specialized Racing) was among the top riders leading the chase.

Mantecon made a move near the end of lap three that only Fontana could follow at first. They were chased by Lindgren and Ettinger with Wells, Fumic and McConnell not far behind.

Going into the second half of the race, all the top riders came back together for a seven-man lead group including Mantecon, Fontana, Lindgren, Ettinger, Wells, McConnell and Fumic. It looked like the winner would come from this group.

Mantecon attacked again on lap four and Fontana went with him. Ettinger seemed to be riding well, too, but suddenly disappeared from the leaders on the downhill.

"We were off the front - Fontana, Gutierrez and me - at the top of the descent on the fourth lap when I blew a valve stem off my wheel. I didn't have anyone in the back tech zone since I'm here by myself. It was a tough call, but I had to walk it in." Ettinger abandoned the race.

Wells drove the chase to bring Mantecon and Fontana back while Lindgren seemed to hang on for dear life at times. McConnell rode steady and sat in.

On the penultimate lap, it was Fontana's turn to surge, and he took Mantecon along with him for a bit of a gap. Wells chased in third ahead of McConnell, Fumic and Lindgren.

Unfortunately for Mantecon, he sprinted with one lap to go, thinking it was the end of the race, and then upon realizing his mistake, he had no choice but suffer through the last lap.

"Today I felt very good. The race was like a little World Cup. I tried to save my energy for the last lap, but I made a big mistake and with two to go, I thought it was the final lap and I sprinted," said Mantecon. "Then I heard the bell, so in the last lap, I was in crisis. But I'm excited to be here with my new team and new teammate [eventual winner McConnell]."

Going into the final lap, Fontana led with a slight advantage. McConnell moved up a few spots to head the chase on the climb, just ahead of Fumic. Fontana started to look visibly tired near the top of the climb although it had at first seemed like he might hold off the chasers, but on an exciting final descent, McConnell and Fumic bridged up to him.

McConnell smartly took over the lead heading toward the last part of the lap, when passing was difficult, and he led out the sprint, holding off Fumic and a tired Fontana. It would not be Fontana's day to win in Fontana.

Wells came across the line as the top American in fourth place, a performance that was good enough to bump him up one place in the series standings, into second overall.

Lindgren completed the podium for fifth while Mantecon limped home for sixth.

Second-year elite rider Anton Cooper (Cannondale Factory Racing), a former junior world champion, finished an impressive seventh.

Defending USA Cycling US Cup series leader Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) could not hold the pace of the top riders on the day, but as other favorites dropped out or fell further back, he rode consistently enough to finish ninth and keep his lead with 94 points to Wells' 79 points.

Previous series runner-up Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing) did not finish the race.

USA Cycling US Cup presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group series standings

After round three of four in the USA Cycling US Cup presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group series, Kabush leads the series ahead of Wells and Plaxton while Nash continues to lead the series ahead of Pendrel and Batty.

The USA Cycling US Cup presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group series will continue with the final round, a UCI Category 1 race in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Saturday, June 28.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Daniel McConnell (Aus) Trek Factory Racing Team1:30:25
2Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing0:00:00
3Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing0:00:03
4Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing0:00:39
5Emil Lindgren (Swe) Giant Pro XC Team0:00:53
6Sergio Mantecon Gutierre (Spa) Trek Factory Racing Team0:01:36
7Anton Cooper (NZl) Cannondale Factory Racing0:02:05
8Raphael Gagne (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory0:02:30
9Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott 3 Rox Racing0:03:00
10Keegan Swenson (USA) Cannondale Facotry Team0:03:20
11Hector Fernando Riveros (USA)0:03:23
12Russell Finsterwald (USA) Sram/Troy Lee Designs Race0:04:00
13Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott 3 Rox Racing0:04:22
14James Reid (RSA) Trek Racing South Africa0:05:04
15Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3 Rox Racing0:05:20
16Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona0:05:24
16Connor Barrett (USA) Team Baghouse0:05:24
17Benjamin Sonntag (Ger) Stans No Tubes Elite Racing0:05:32
18Alex Grant (USA) Sho-Air/Cannondale0:05:33
19Kerry Werner (USA) Bmc Project Dirt0:05:52
20Adam Morka (Can) Wfp Coaching/Trek Bikes0:06:07
21Jeremy Martin (Can)0:06:48
22Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Sho-Air/Cannondale0:07:04
23Evan Guthrie (Can) Norco Factory Team0:07:10
24Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar0:07:27
25Carl Decker (USA) Giant Factory Team0:07:58
26Barry Wicks (USA)0:07:59
27Patrick Chartrand (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory Team0:08:21
28Casey Williams (USA) Whole Athlete/Specialized0:08:39
29Tom Sampson (USA)0:08:46
30William Melone (USA) Riverside Racing0:09:04
31Sepp Kuss (USA) Bmc Project Dirt0:09:09
32Jason Sager (USA) Backcountry.Com0:09:18
33Marc-Antoine Nadon (Can) Scott 3 Rox Racing0:09:23
34Menso De Jong (USA) Team Clif Bar Cylcing0:09:25
35Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona0:09:29
36Mitchell Hoke (USA) The Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes0:09:58
37Julien Bourdevaire (Fra) Team Blackstar0:10:05
38Chris Baddick (GBr) The Gear Movement/Epic0:10:06
39Miguel Valadez Ortiz (Mex) Bear Valley Bikes0:10:28
40Peter Glassford (Can) Trek Canada0:10:31
41Mitch Bailey (Can)0:11:30
42Cole Oberman (USA) Rare Disease Cycling.Org0:11:40
43Ryan Woodall (USA) The Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes0:11:48
44Evan Mcneely (Can) Norco Factory Team0:12:03
45Tj Woodruff (USA) Backcountry.Com0:12:20
46Tristan Uhl (USA) 787 Racing0:12:55
47Kalan Beisel (USA) Giant-Tuff Shed0:13:25
48David (Tinker) Juarez (USA) Sho-Air/Cannondale0:13:45
49Michael Hosey (USA) Marin Factory0:14:11
50Alexandre Vialle (Can) Espresso Sport0:14:28
51Bryson Perry (USA) Dna Cycling0:14:43
52Joseph Maloney (USA) Ks Energy Services0:14:52
53Ryan Standish (USA)0:14:55
54Christopher Hamlin (USA)0:15:19
55Drew Edsall (USA) Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes0:15:38
56Bryan Alders (USA) Marin Bikes Factory Team0:16:16
57Elliot Reinecke (USA) Velo Hangar/Focus Bikes0:16:28
58Quinn Moberg (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory Team0:16:30
59Colin Osborn (USA) Honey Stinger/Bontrager0:16:53
60Bryan Horsley (USA)0:17:28
61Braden Kappius (USA) Team Clif Bar0:18:16
62Ryan Geiger (USA) Topix-Frm Factory Race Team0:18:32
-2lapsJoel Titius (USA) Socal EnduranceRow 63 - Cell 2
-2lapsGustavo Pedroza (Mex) Niner/Spy/LakeRow 64 - Cell 2
-2lapsGareth Feldstein (USA) Muscle MilkRow 65 - Cell 2
-2lapsCody Kaiser (USA) Muscle Milk/SpecializedRow 66 - Cell 2
-2lapsSean Donovan (USA)Row 67 - Cell 2
-2lapsJakub Valigura (USA) 92Fifty' CycleryRow 68 - Cell 2
-2lapsJett Chandler (USA) Doug Chandler PerformanceRow 69 - Cell 2
-2lapsWilliam Curtis (USA) Team Santa Cruz-X FusionRow 70 - Cell 2
-2lapsMason Shea (USA)Row 71 - Cell 2
-2lapsBrodie Stringer (USA) Team BaghouseRow 72 - Cell 2
-2lapsCharles Jenkins (USA) Khs/Cytomax/EsiRow 73 - Cell 2
-2lapsAlex Wild (USA) Trail Head RacingRow 74 - Cell 2
-2lapsEliel Anttila (USA) Uc BerkeleyRow 75 - Cell 2
-2lapsErnest Watenpaugh (USA)Row 76 - Cell 2
-2lapsChristopher Kelly (USA) Evergreen CyclingRow 77 - Cell 2
-3lapsJoseph Clemenzi (USA) Sports Garage CyclingRow 78 - Cell 2
-3lapsStuart Gonzalez (USA) Bear Valley BikesRow 79 - Cell 2
-3lapsLevi Kurlander (USA) Fort Lewis CollegeRow 80 - Cell 2
-3lapsNoah Tautfest (USA) Bicycle Express/KonaRow 81 - Cell 2
-3lapsStephane Roch (USA) Swami's/SklizRow 82 - Cell 2
-3lapsDan Wolf (USA) Old Line VeloRow 83 - Cell 2
-3lapsMatthew Turner (USA) Summit Utah DevoRow 84 - Cell 2
-3lapsChristopher Wieczorek (USA) Total CyclistRow 85 - Cell 2
-3lapsConnor Bell (USA) Rocktown RacingRow 86 - Cell 2
-3lapsDavid Flaten (USA) Giant Factory North East ProRow 87 - Cell 2
-3lapsRotem Ishay (Isr) Team Jamis BikesRow 88 - Cell 2
-3lapsCody Cupp (USA)Row 89 - Cell 2
-3lapsGarnet Vertican (USA) Bear Valley BikesRow 90 - Cell 2
-3lapsRyan Cook (USA)Row 91 - Cell 2
-3lapsPete Macleod (USA) BarflyRow 92 - Cell 2
-3lapsRocky Gingg (USA) Momentum EnduranceRow 93 - Cell 2
-3lapsAnibal Valadez (Mex) Ellin Cycling TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
-3lapsMiguel Ramos (USA) Bh/Smith OpticsRow 95 - Cell 2
-3lapsCody Lacosta (USA) High Gear/CannondaleRow 96 - Cell 2
-3lapsAnthony Stein (USA)Row 97 - Cell 2
-3lapsHal Helbock (USA)Row 98 - Cell 2
-4lapsTrey Jarno (USA) Bear Valley BikesRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFSam Schultz (USA) Sho-Air/CannondaleRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFMax Plaxton (Can) Cannodale Factory TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFAntoine Caron (Can) Specialized Racing CanadaRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFPayson Mcelveen (USA) USA U23Row 103 - Cell 2
DNFStephen Ettinger (USA) BMC Mountain Bike Racing TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFJason Siegle (USA) Sdg/FeltRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFJohn Nobil (USA) Bear Valley BikesRow 106 - Cell 2
DNSRyan Trebon (USA) Sho-Air/CannondaleRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFCraig Wohlschlaeger (USA) Giant BicycleRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFStephan Davoust (USA) San Juan Cycles/SteamworksRow 109 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Elite men US Cup standings after three rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Geoff Kabush (Scott 3 Rox Racing)94pts
2Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing)79Row 1 - Cell 3
3Max Plaxton (Cannodale Factory Team)69Row 2 - Cell 3
4Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Trek Factory Racing Team)57Row 3 - Cell 3
5Marco Aurelio Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing)53Row 4 - Cell 3
6Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing)53Row 5 - Cell 3
7Jeremiah Bishop (Sho-Air/Cannondale)50Row 6 - Cell 3
8Derek Zandstra (Scott 3 Rox Racing)50Row 7 - Cell 3
9Alex Grant (Sho-Air/Cannondale)45Row 8 - Cell 3
10Benjamin Sonntag (Stans No Tubes Elite Racing)42Row 9 - Cell 3
11Spencer Paxson (Kona)38Row 10 - Cell 3
12Raphael Gagne (Rocky Mountain Factory)36Row 11 - Cell 3
13Hector Fernando River35Row 12 - Cell 3
14Russell Finsterwald (Sram/Troy Lee Designs Race Tea)35Row 13 - Cell 3
15Adam Morka (Wfp Coaching/Trek Bikes)31Row 14 - Cell 3
16Payson Mcelveen (USA U23)30Row 15 - Cell 3
17Daniel Mcconnell (Trek Factory Racing Team)30Row 16 - Cell 3
18Stephen Ettinger (BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team)29Row 17 - Cell 3
19Cameron Jette (Scott-3 Rox Racing)28Row 18 - Cell 3
20Emil Lindgren (Giant Pro Xc Team)26Row 19 - Cell 3
21Keegan Swenson (Cannondale Facotry Team)26Row 20 - Cell 3
22Kris Sneddon (Kona)25Row 21 - Cell 3
23Troy Wells (Team Clif Bar)23Row 22 - Cell 3
24Sam Schultz (Sho-Air/Cannondale)21Row 23 - Cell 3
25Kerry Werner (BMC Project Dirt)20Row 24 - Cell 3
26Carl Decker (Giant Factory Team)20Row 25 - Cell 3
27Anton Cooper (Cannondale Factory Racing)19Row 26 - Cell 3
28Jason Sager (Backcountry.Com)19Row 27 - Cell 3
29Mitchell Hoke (The Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes)18Row 28 - Cell 3
30Casey Williams (Whole Athlete/Specialized)18Row 29 - Cell 3
31Rotem Ishay (Team Jamis Bikes)17Row 30 - Cell 3
32James Reid (Trek Racing South Africa)17Row 31 - Cell 3
33David Flaten (Giant Factory North East Pro T)15Row 32 - Cell 3
34Menso De Jong (Team Clif Bar Cylcing)15Row 33 - Cell 3
35Miguel Valadez Ortiz (Bear Valley Bikes)15Row 34 - Cell 3
36Sepp Kuss (BMC Project Dirt)15Row 35 - Cell 3
37Tj Woodruff (Backcountry.Com)15Row 36 - Cell 3
38Ryan Woodall (The Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes)15Row 37 - Cell 3
39Chris Baddick (The Gear Movement/Epic Pro Cyc)15Row 38 - Cell 3
40Bryan Alders (Marin Bikes Factory Team)15Row 39 - Cell 3
41Dan Wolf (Old Line Velo)15Row 40 - Cell 3
42Kalan Beisel (Giant-Tuff Shed)15Row 41 - Cell 3
43Braden Kappius (Team Clif Bar)15Row 42 - Cell 3
44Tom Sampson15Row 43 - Cell 3
45Alex Wild (Trail Head Racing)15Row 44 - Cell 3
46Tristan Uhl (787 Racing)15Row 45 - Cell 3
47Rocky Gingg (Momentum Endurance)15Row 46 - Cell 3
48Elliot Reinecke (Velo Hangar/Focus Bikes)15Row 47 - Cell 3
49Craig Wohlschlaeger (Giant Bicycle)15Row 48 - Cell 3
50Cole Oberman (Rare Disease Cycling.Org)15Row 49 - Cell 3
51Gareth Feldstein (Muscle Milk)15Row 50 - Cell 3
52William Melone (Riverside Racing)15Row 51 - Cell 3
53Joseph Maloney (Ks Energy Services/Team Wisco)15Row 52 - Cell 3
54Michael Hosey (Marin Factory)15Row 53 - Cell 3
55Ernest Watenpaugh15Row 54 - Cell 3
56Ryan Geiger (Topix-Frm Factory Race Team)15Row 55 - Cell 3
57Ryan Trebon (Sho-Air/Cannondale)14Row 56 - Cell 3
58Jeremy Martin11Row 57 - Cell 3
59Peter Glassford (Trek Canada)10Row 58 - Cell 3
60Anthony Stein10Row 59 - Cell 3
61Hal Helbock10Row 60 - Cell 3
62Sean Donovan10Row 61 - Cell 3
63Brodie Stringer (Team Baghouse)10Row 62 - Cell 3
64Joel Titius (Socal Endurance)10Row 63 - Cell 3
65Christopher Hamlin10Row 64 - Cell 3
66Antoine Caron (Specialized Racing Canada)10Row 65 - Cell 3
67Trey Jarno (Bear Valley Bikes)10Row 66 - Cell 3
68Evan Guthrie (Norco Factory Team)10Row 67 - Cell 3
69Eliel Anttila (Uc Berkeley)10Row 68 - Cell 3
70Noah Tautfest (Bicycle Express/Kona)10Row 69 - Cell 3
71Gustavo Pedroza (Niner/Spy/Lake)10Row 70 - Cell 3
72Alexandre Vialle (Espresso Sport)10Row 71 - Cell 3
73Skyler Taylor (Bear Development Team)10Row 72 - Cell 3
74Jett Chandler (Doug Chandler Performance)10Row 73 - Cell 3
75Matthew Turner (Summit Utah Devo)10Row 74 - Cell 3
76Jakub Valigura (92Fifty' Cyclery)10Row 75 - Cell 3
77Barry Wicks10Row 76 - Cell 3
78Christopher Wieczore (Total Cyclist)10Row 77 - Cell 3
79Patrick Chartrand (Rocky Mountain Factory Team)10Row 78 - Cell 3
80Madison Matthews (Toasted Head Racing/Gu Energy)10Row 79 - Cell 3
81Marc-Antoine Nadon (Scott 3 Rox Racing)10Row 80 - Cell 3
82Charles Jenkins (Khs/Cytomax/Esi)10Row 81 - Cell 3
83Jason Siegle (Sdg/Felt)10Row 82 - Cell 3
84Stephane Roch (Swami's/Skliz)10Row 83 - Cell 3
85Colin Osborn (Honey Stinger/Bontrager)10Row 84 - Cell 3
86Julien Bourdevaire (Team Blackstar)10Row 85 - Cell 3
87John Nobil (Bear Valley Bikes)10Row 86 - Cell 3
88Quinn Moberg (Rocky Mountain Factory Team)10Row 87 - Cell 3
89David (Tinker) Juarez (Sho-Air/Cannondale)10Row 88 - Cell 3
90Pete Macleod (Barfly)10Row 89 - Cell 3
91Drew Edsall (Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes)10Row 90 - Cell 3
92Marco Antonio Escarc (Alu Bike-Krbo Cycling Team)5Row 91 - Cell 3
93Jose Escarcega (Alu Bike-Krbo Cycling Team)5Row 92 - Cell 3
94Miguel Ramos (Bh/Smith Optics)5Row 93 - Cell 3
95Jarred Jordan5Row 94 - Cell 3
96Michael Broderick (Kenda/Stans No Tubes)5Row 95 - Cell 3
97Juan Carlos Nunez Gal5Row 96 - Cell 3
98David Pinedo (Ellin Cycling Team)5Row 97 - Cell 3
99Sergio Hernandez (Incyle-Predator Components)5Row 98 - Cell 3
100Lucas Newcomb (Bear Development Team)5Row 99 - Cell 3
101Aaron Oakes (Bicycle Express)5Row 100 - Cell 3
102Andrew Dahlheim5Row 101 - Cell 3
103Joseph Clemenzi (Sports Garage Cycling)5Row 102 - Cell 3
104Cody Cupp5Row 103 - Cell 3
105Brian Barrow5Row 104 - Cell 3
106Alex Muecci5Row 105 - Cell 3
107Evan Mcneely (Norco Factory Team)5Row 106 - Cell 3
108Jordan Kahlenberg (Giant Mid-Atlantic)5Row 107 - Cell 3
109Levi Kurlander (Fort Lewis College)5Row 108 - Cell 3
110Ryan Standish5Row 109 - Cell 3
111Steve Tilford5Row 110 - Cell 3
112Bryan Horsley5Row 111 - Cell 3
113Stephan Davoust (San Juan Cycles/Steamworks/Gi)5Row 112 - Cell 3
114Garet Steinmetz5Row 113 - Cell 3
115Cody Lacosta (High Gear/Cannondale)5Row 114 - Cell 3
116Jack Hinkens (BMC Mtb Development Team Us)5Row 115 - Cell 3
117Stuart Gonzalez (Bear Valley Bikes)5Row 116 - Cell 3
118Connor Bell (Rocktown Racing)5Row 117 - Cell 3
119Ignacio Torres (Turbo Bicycles)5Row 118 - Cell 3
120Garnet Vertican (Bear Valley Bikes)5Row 119 - Cell 3
121William Curtis (Team Santa Cruz-X Fusion P/B Fro)5Row 120 - Cell 3
122Martin Cox (Endurancefac)5Row 121 - Cell 3
123Christopher Kelly (Evergreen Cycling)5Row 122 - Cell 3
124Keck Baker5Row 123 - Cell 3
125Cody Kaiser (Muscle Milk/Specialized)5Row 124 - Cell 3
126Timothy Rugg5Row 125 - Cell 3
127Bryson Perry (Dna Cycling)5Row 126 - Cell 3
128David Vaughn5Row 127 - Cell 3
129Carson Lange5Row 128 - Cell 3
130Mitch Bailey5Row 129 - Cell 3
131Anibal Valadez (Ellin Cycling Team)5Row 130 - Cell 3
132Ryan Cook5Row 131 - Cell 3
133Brady Stewart5Row 132 - Cell 3
134Mason Shea5Row 133 - Cell 3

 

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