Image 1 of 38

Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing) wins over Geoff Kabush to make it four wins at the Mellow Johnny's Classic (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 2 of 38

Elite men's podium at the Mellow Johnny's Classic (Image credit: Sho-Air Cycling Group)

Image 3 of 38

Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing) wins the Mellow Johnny's Classic for the fourth time (Image credit: Sho-Air Cycling Group)

Image 4 of 38

The amateur races today had massive fields (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 5 of 38

Rotem Ishay (Team Jamis) putting in a top-20 ride (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 6 of 38

Steve Tilford (Tradewind Energy) was beating guys half his age as usual. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 7 of 38

Todd Wells (Specialized) taking a turn at the front on lap two (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 8 of 38

Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox Racing) seemed to be keeping his powder dry through the first couple laps (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 9 of 38

Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing) was well aware of the team tactics in play today by the Scott Team (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 10 of 38

Derek Zanstra (Scott 3Rox Racing) seems always to ride well at Mellow Johnny's (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 11 of 38

Big Ryan Trebon (Sho-Air/Cannondale) could not keep the pace of the leaders today (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 12 of 38

Sam Schultz (Sho-Air/Cannondale) found himself in a chase group with teammate Ryan Trebon (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 13 of 38

Todd Wells (Specialized) leading as they head out for the last lap (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 14 of 38

Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing) was totally spent at the finish (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 15 of 38

The elite men's start at the Mellow Johnny's Classic (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 16 of 38

A Team Clif Bar rider on twisty limestone singletrack (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 17 of 38

Ryan Trebon (Sho-Air/Cannondale) keeps pace with one of his teammates in the thick forest (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 18 of 38

Russell Finsterwald (SRAM-Troy Lee) leads a group through the trees (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 19 of 38

Russell Finsterwald (SRAM-Troy Lee) was up against three Sho-Air/Cannondale riders with one lap to go (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 20 of 38

Jason Sager (Backcountry.com) leading out a group with one lap to go (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 21 of 38

Veteran Jason Sager (Backcountry.com) can ride just about anything (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 22 of 38

Troy Wells (Team Clif Bar) getting a foot down to make this climb (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 23 of 38

Sam Schultz (Sho-Air/Cannondale) making his return to national racing (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 24 of 38

Brothers Troy and Todd Wells hanging out before the race (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 25 of 38

Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox Racing) is always competitive at Mellow Johnny's (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 26 of 38

Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing) icing his hands at the warm start (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 27 of 38

Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox Racing) taking the hole-shot (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 28 of 38

The elite men head out onto the course at the Mellow Johnny's Classic (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 29 of 38

Jeremiah Bishop (Sho-Air/Cannondale) riding near the front after the start loop (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 30 of 38

A Giant rider at the end of the start loop (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 31 of 38

Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing) making easy work of this rocky climb (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 32 of 38

Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox Racing) took the longer go-around at one of the technical climbs (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 33 of 38

Canadian Champion Derek Zanstra (Scott 3Rox Racing) keeping pace with his teammate Geoff Kabush (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 34 of 38

Jeremiah Bishop (Sho-Air/Cannondale) had this technical climb dialed in (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 35 of 38

Jeremiah Bishop (Sho-Air/Cannondale) riding in the top five (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 36 of 38

Spencer Paxson (Kona) riding to an 8th place finish (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 37 of 38

Ryan Trebon (Sho-Air/Cannondale) riding to a 12th place finish today (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Image 38 of 38

Ben Sonntag (NoTubes) having a superb ride (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing) opened the USA Cycling US Cup Pro Series at the Mellow Johnny's Classic with victory in the elite men's cross country mountain bike race on Saturday in Dripping Springs, Texas.

The young Keegan Swenson (Cannondale Factory Racing) surprised his elders by leading out the first lap at a blazing pace. Swenson's efforts created a lead group of about a half dozen riders; a chase group pursued the leaders but never could close down the gap.

Unfortunately, Swenson's luck ran out when he flatted on the far side of lap 2 of the six-lap race. That left Plaxton, Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox), Todd Wells (Specialized), Jeremiah Bishop (Sho-Air/Cannondale) and Derek Zandstra (Scott-3Rox) as the leaders.

Freshly back to elite racing, Sam Schultz (Sho-Air/Cannondale) was putting in a strong ride and had worked his way up to sixth place when he also flatted three and a half laps into the race.

The fireworks began on the last lap, and Plaxton launched his winning attack on the final main climb, then held off fellow Canadian Kabush by two seconds at the finish. Wells followed in third another eight seconds later.

It was Plaxton's fourth-ever victory at the Mellow Johnny's Classic.

"Texas is good for me! It’s great to start off this season, my first with Cannondale Factory Racing, and this great new series with a win!" said Plaxton, post-race.

Bishop and Zandstra could not match the pace of the top three on the last lap and fell back a bit, blown by their first big national-level race effort of the season. Bishop rolled in alone to claim fourth place while Zandstra held onto fifth place.

Payson McElveen (Richard's Rainwater MTB Racing) put in the break out performance of the day. The young privateer finished an impressive sixth place.

After round one of four of the USA Cycling US Cup, the series standings match the results of the initial race. Plaxton leads the series ahead of Kabush and Wells.

The USA Cycling US Cup presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group series will continue with round 2, a UCI Category HC race at Bonelli Park in California on Saturday, March 15.

Full Results

Elite men
#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Max Plaxton (Can) Cannondale Factory Team	1:28:00
2	Geoffrey Kabush (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing	0:00:02
3	Todd Wells (USA) Specialized	0:00:10
4	Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Team Sho-Air/Cannondale	0:00:25
5	Derek Zanstra (Can) Scott-3ROXRacing	0:01:07
6	Payson McElveen (USA) Richard's Rainwater MTB Racing	0:01:45
7	Benjamin Sonntag (Ger) NoTubes Elite Racing	0:02:35
8	Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona Bicycles	0:02:41
9	Alex Grant (USA) Team Sho-Air/Cannondale	0:03:05
10	Russell Finsterwald (USA) SRAM- Troy Lee Designs Race Team	0:03:30
11	Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona	0:04:05
12	Ryan Trebon (USA) Team Sho-Air/Cannondale	0:04:12
13	Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar	0:04:23
14	Adam Morka (Can) WFP Coaching / Trek Bikes	0:04:28
15	Hector fernando Riveros (Col) Scott-RotorUsa KOM marketing	0:04:43
16	Carl Decker (USA) Giant	0:05:07
17	Jason Sager (USA) Backcountry.com	0:05:20
18	Casey Williams (USA) Whole Athlete/Specialized	0:05:38
19	Rotem Ishay (Isr) Team Jamis Bikes	0:05:44
20	Mitchell. Hoke (USA) The Pro's Closet - Stan's NoTubes MTB	0:05:59
21	Tristan Uhl (USA) 787 Racing	0:07:38
22	Ryan Woodall (USA) The Pro's Closet - Stan's Notubes Mtb Team	0:07:41
23	Chris Baddick (GBr) Red Ace Organics	0:08:05
24	Billy Melone (USA) Riverside Racing	0:08:18
25	Antoine Caron (Can) Specialized Racing Canada	0:09:10
26	Bryan Alders (USA) Marin Bikes Factory Team	0:09:32
27	Menso De Jong (USA) Team Clif Bar Cycling	0:10:15
28	Jack Hinkens (USA) Penn Cycle Trek	0:10:26
29	Keck Baker (USA) Champ Sys/Cannondale/C.B.C/Battley Harley	0:10:30
30	Cole Oberman (USA) RareDiseaseCycling.org	0:11:09
31	Elliot Reinecke (USA) Velo Hangar FOCUS bikes	0:11:30
32	Miguel Valadez Ortiz (Mex) Valle Congelado	0:11:43
33	Michael Hosey (USA) Soulcraft	0:11:46
34	David Vaughn (USA) ZiaVelo	0:12:17
35	Carson Lange (USA) VooDoo Racing	0:13:21
36	Joseph Maloney (USA) KS Energy Services/Team Wisconsin	0:14:14
37	Tom Sampson (USA) adigga racing	0:14:42
38	TJ Woodruff (USA) backcountry.com	0:14:54
39	Drew Edsall (USA) Pro's Closet / Stan's No Tubes	0:15:38
40	Gareth Feldstein (USA) Team Muscle Milk/NP Bikes/Cannondale	0:16:02
41	Skyler Taylor (USA) Bear development team	0:16:36
42	Brady Stewart (USA) Chain Link Racing	0:17:33
43	Jordan Kahlenberg (USA) Giant Northeast Pro Team	0:17:52
44	Keegan Swenson (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing	0:18:11
45	Rocky Gingg (USA) Momentum Endurance/Cycle Progression	0:18:28
46	Braden Kappius (USA) Team Clif Bar	0:19:21
47	Kalan Beisel (USA) Giant-Tuff Shed	0:19:27
48	Wohlschlaegecraig (USA) Giant	0:19:39
-1lap	Timothy Rugg (USA) Battley Harley-Davidson
-1lap	Garet Steinmetz (USA) Ethos
-1lap	Pete Macleod (USA) Bar Fly / Blue Hills
-1lap	Dan Wolf (USA) Pro Tested Gear
-1lap	Brian Barrow (USA) The Peddler Bike Shop
-1lap	David Flaten (USA) Giant North East Off Road
-1lap	Madison Matthews (USA) Toasted Head Racing / GU Energy
DNF	Kerry Werner Jr. (USA) BMC project Dirt presented by KMC
DNF	Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3ROX Racing
DNF	Sam Schultz (USA) Team Sho-Air/Cannondale
DNF	Alex Meucci (USA) Bent's Cycling and Fitness
DNF	Martin Cox (USA) Super Cool Bike Shop
DNF	Sepp Kuss (USA) BMC project Dirt presented by KMC
DNF	Ryan Geiger (USA) Tropix-FRM Factory Race Team
DNF	Ernie Watenpaugh (USA) Jack Daniel's
DNF	Alex Wild (USA) Trail Head Racing - Specialized
DNF	Andrew Dahlheim (USA) Bio Racer Speedwear
DNF	Steve Tilford (USA) TradeWind Energy/Eriksen Cycles
DNF	Ignacio Torres (Mex) Turbo Mexico
DNS	John Nobil (USA) bear valley bikes
DNS	Scott Henry (USA) Cycle Progression

Elite men US Cup brief standings after one round
#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Max Plaxton (Canada) Cannondale Factory Racing	30	pts
2	Geoffrey Kabush (Canada) Scott-3Rox Racing	27
3	Todd Wells (United States) Specialized Racing	25
4	Jeremiah Bishop (United States) Sho-Air/Cannondale	23
5	Derek Zandstra (Canada) Scott-3Rox Racing	21