NORBA National series #2 - E1

McDowell Mountain Park, Arizona, March 17-20, 2005

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Day 2 - March 18: Time trial

Kabush and Haywood land XC TT wins

By Eric Wallace

Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) and Susan Haywood (Trek-VW) took the top podium spots in today's time trial at the second round of the 2005 NORBA series and moved into the lead in the weekend-long stage race that makes up the new format of the series races.

In what has become the normal weather pattern, cloudy skies and chilly weather greeted the athletes as they prepared for their opening time trial. The course itself could have been a cross-country course anywhere else. At a distance of 8.2 miles, the course featured tight and twisty singletrack, hard packed and loose ground and many difficult rock gardens. Punctures were a certain fear for many and tire and bike choices were critical to success.

All eyes turned to the women's event mid-afternoon as the wind died down and the clouds lifted slightly. The previous day's marathon winner Melissa Thomas (Tokyo Joes) set the early fast time that held for most of the event and eventually landed her in eighth place for the day. The on form Luna MTB Team rider Shonny Vanlandingham started in the top ten despite her DNF at the opening NORBA event and rocketed her way towards a podium finish knocking Thomas down a couple rungs and nabbing fifth place for the day. Teammates Alison Dunlap and Katerina Hanusova each bested Vanlandingham's time locking in a very blue right side of the podium claiming fourth and third respectively. With only two riders left on course, podium spots were locked in - it was just a matter of the color of the medal. Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) looked to be on a stage winning time as she slashed across the line claiming the lead and looking back up-course for the sole remaining competitor. Former short track national champ Susan Haywood (Trek-VW) took out her big stick and started swinging from the starting gate. At the line Haywood claimed her first victory of the season and the lead in the stage race. "At the end I was frickin' cross-eyed, I never took it out of the big ring," said the West Virginia native. "I just feel comfortable out here in the desert, all the training in Tucson is really paying off."

The men's race saw starting times for the top ten at a dusky 4:30 pm, definitely late for NORBA racing and difficult to plan for the diet. Barry Wicks (Kona-Clarks-Les Gets) set the early benchmark time and giving the remaining riders time goals to shoot for. This result stood for nearly an hour as riders tried and failed to best the Oregonian's time. The venerable veteran Andreas Hestler (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) soon claimed the top time as the afternoon wore on and the top GC riders took to the course. Chris Sheppard (Haro) was able to wrest control from his fellow Canuck Hestler for a small amount of time until the final ten riders launched themselves from the starting platform. The leading time continued to fall almost in order as each successive rider crossed the line. First Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-VW) then Liam Killeen (Specialized) claimed the fastest time with only four riders left on course. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) crossed the line to claim the tentative lead which only lasted a minute as Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) rocketed across the line, firing the opening salvo to the weekend and claiming the fastest time. With only two riders left to finish, Adam Craig (Giant) and Trent Lowe (Subaru-Gary Fisher) needed to stay upright, out of the cactus and on the gas to beat Kabush. At the line both riders managed to finish in the top three but unable to dethrone the 2004 NORBA champ. "It was definitely hard to get a rhythm on the course, you couldn't get too aggressive or you'd blow through the corners or get off the track," said Kabush. "I think I got a good split but it was just fractions of a second in the many corners where I made up the time difference over Adam."

The course certainly took its toll as top contenders Carl Decker (Giant), Ryan Trebon (Kona-Clarks-Les Gets) and Ricky Federau (Gears Racing) each suffered punctures. Silver medalist on the day Adam Craig (Giant) got up close and personal with a cactus as he leaned into a corner a bit too far and finished the race with a shoulder full of cactus needles.

Racing continues on Saturday with the Short Track Cross Country, the second of the three stage event.

Eric Wallace is manager of Team Maxxis.

Results

Women
 
1 Susan Haywood (USA) Trek-VW                        32.09
2 Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher             0.15
3 Katerina Hanusova (Cze) Luna Women’s MTB Team       0.18
4 Alison Dunlap (USA) Luna Women’s MTB Team           0.21
5 Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) Luna Women’s MTB Team    0.22
 
Men
 
1 Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis                     27.47
2 Adam Craig (USA) Giant                              0.30
3 Trent Lowe (Aus) Subaru-Gary Fisher                 0.35
4 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA)                        0.37
5 Liam Killeen (GBr) Specialized                      0.42