National Mountain Bike Series #5 (NMBS) - NE

East Coast National, Windham, New York, USA, July 11-13, 2008

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Race 15 - July 13: Elite Men Downhill Final

Bennett nips Beytagh at Windham Mountain

By Dave McElwaine at Windham, New York

Kieran Benett stood atop the men's downhill podium
Photo ©: Dave McElwaine

Kieran Bennett (ODI) pulled a victory at Windham Mountain in a close race with Geritt Beytagh (Moorwood). Cameron Cole (Maxxis) was third, followed by Brad Benedict (X-Fusion), then his team-mate Ryan Condrashoff.

Course conditions were changing all morning, particularly on the wet grassy traverses, due to heavy rains about an hour before the race started.

"I knew it was going to be close because there was some pretty good competition here. I knew it was going to be a bit wet...just wanted to keep it together and [see] if worked out for me," said Bennett.

'The course actually changed between my qualifying run and the race run in a couple of spots," said Bennett. "I came through riding my regular line but had to change last minute...but it wasn't enough to catch me out."

The racers had great things to say about the newly constructed track at Windham Mountain. "It's a really well routed track, super flow-y, all the lines connect really well," said Condrashoff before the race. "Every section is challenging and there are a lot of line choices."

"I think the best thing it has going for it is the terrain here has a lot of natural bumps," said Condrashoff. "Just going through the woods and you are blitzing piles of rocks. Compared to Mount Snow, it is less sheer speed."

Racers now head to the US National Championships starting in a few days in Mount. Snow, Vermont.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Kieran Benett stood atop the men's downhill podium in Windham, New York.

Results

1 Kieran Bennett (NZl) ODI/Southridge     0.02.51.54
2 Geritt Beytagh (USA) Morewoodbi            0.02.44
3 Cameron Cole (NZl) Maxxis                  0.05.18
4 Brad Benedict (USA) X-Fusion               0.07.16
5 Ryan Condrashoff (USA) X-Fusion            0.08.99
6 Brad Oien (USA) ODI/Southridge             0.10.02
7 Waylon Smith (GBr)                         0.11.79
8 Chris Heath (USA)                          0.12.93
9 Sasha Merljak (USA) Solid A Cl             0.14.07
10 Mike Haderer (USA) Fox Shox/Yeti          0.14.95
11 Chris Higgerson (USA) Morewood            0.15.25
12 Adam Morse (USA) Cobra Cons               0.17.04
13 Josh Misevcis (USA) Sobe Canno            0.17.45
14 Ben Furbee (USA) WTB/Arts Cyclery         0.18.53
15 Kyle Hickey (USA) Live Free               0.18.69
16 Ben Hulse (USA) Team Plate                0.21.94
17 Jon Wilson (USA) Northstar                0.23.25
18 Joey Schusler (USA) Yeti/Fox              0.24.97
19 Tommy Tokarczyk (USA) Jamis Bike          0.26.85
20 Derrick Nobman (USA) Ninety Degrees       0.27.34
21 Jason Beckley (USA) Mmr/Marin             0.30.65
22 Jason Memmelaar (USA) Scott               0.35.49
23 Erik Hudson (USA) Brooklyn                0.38.71
24 John Hauer (USA) X-Fusion                 0.40.88
25 Bj Treglia (USA) 9.8/Kenda                0.40.90