Geoff Kabush takes the win in Mt. Snow
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Series leaders Catherine Pendrel and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly) returns to his roots and does a rare mountain bike race.
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
U.S.A. Champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) is sporting a new U.S.A. paint job on his Superfly 100
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Adam Craig (Giant) does a wheelie up to the starting line
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Men's start lead by Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru)
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Todd Wells (Specialized) is never far from the front at the start
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) keeping an eye on his rivals
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Elite men head up the mountain
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) leading on the first major descent
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Series leader Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized) descending in 4th place
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) pacing the leaders up the mountain
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Jam Jurekovic (Sho-Air/Specialized) descending through a rock garden
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Michael Broderick (Kenda-Seven-No Tubes) ripping through the rocks
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Peter Glassford (Trek Toronto) descending fast
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) descending through tall grass
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) cornering
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) wins at Mount Snow
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Adam Craig and Tad Elliot sprint to the line together
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Willow and Sam Koerber
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Men's Podium (L to R) Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski 4th, Sid Taberlay 2nd, Geoff Kabush 1st, Todd Wells 3rd, Sam Schultz 5th
(Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Men's winner Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) was unchallenged throughout the race.
(Image credit: Garrett Geer)
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) on his new national champion's Gary Fisher
(Image credit: Garrett Geer)
Geoff Kabush was at home on the rocks and roots of Mt Snow.
(Image credit: Garrett Geer)
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski crests the top of the hardest technical climb .
(Image credit: Garrett Geer)
Mt Snow was unusually dry this year making the roots more manageable.
(Image credit: Garrett Geer)
Todd Wells (Specialized) enters the last technical drop to finish third.
(Image credit: Garrett Geer)
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru)
(Image credit: Garrett Geer)
Canadian Champion Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) used familiar tactics from his playbook to take a convincing win at the Mount Snow Pro XCT. Kabush has been on a roll of late. Last month he earned his fifth successive Canadian national championship and won the Bromont World Cup race last weekend. Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized) gave Kabush very stiff competition to finish second. Todd Wells, who rode with the leaders until the last climb, finished third. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru) was well off the pace in fourth and Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) finished fifth.
Conditions at Mount Snow were the best in years. The sun was shining all day, providing a temperature of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23 Celsius) and the occasional mud on the course was not significant enough to give the "mudders" any advantage. This year’s course did not go quite as high up the mountain as in years past, yet climbing turned out to be the deciding factor in the race.
Within the first lap a select group consisting of Kabush, Taberlay, Wells, Schultz, and Horgan-Kobelski formed with Kabush pushing the pace early. At the beginning of the second lap, young Schultz could be seen pulling these other elite riders, Olympians all, up the mountain.
It was evident early in the race that series leader Max Plaxton (ShoAir/Specialzed was having trouble staying with the leaders. He dropped to seventh place, riding behind strong teammate, Sam Jurekovic. As the race wore on Jurekovic put distance between himself and Plaxton.
On lap three, the Gary Fisher riders were dropped from the lead group. From that point on Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski would ride fourth, while a slightly fading Schultz seemed to be paying for those early efforts. He would hang on for a podium spot, however, making it a good all-around outing for the Gary Fisher Team.
Wells and Kabush appeared to be working together at times, before the Canadian made his move. "I was working with Todd to try to get off the front. Sid was just kind of sitting on our wheels," said Kabush afterwards. "Then, on one really decisive climb, a gap opened up.
"I was just feeling out the other guys and figuring out the course where I could make some time…and save something for a decisive move"
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"Kabush nailed it on that steep climb," said Wells. "Sid was closed to him and I was behind Sid…Sid got a gap on me and we were all at our limit riding into the finish."
With today’s fourth place finish, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski took over the series lead from Max Plaxton. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski was awarded the leaders jersey at a ceremony after the race.
Some of the Elite riders will race Super D on Sunday morning. All of them are expected to line up for Short Track racing in the afternoon. Stay tuned to Cyclingnews.com for full coverage all weekend.
