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National Mountain Bike Series #3 (NMBS) - 2
Santa Ynez (Los Olivos), California USA, May 16-18, 2008
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Race 5 - May 17: Elite Women Cross Country
Emmett claims first cross country win
By Dave McElwaine in Santa Ynez, California
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With 103 degree temperatures at the Chamberlain Ranch in the California's Santa Ynez Valley, the heat was a bigger obstacle for the women to overcome than the race course itself. Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) rode a smart race, picking off riders one at a time, and notched her first cross country win in a national race.
Georgia Gould (Luna MTB) led for three quarters of the race but succumbed to heat exhaustion and had to be taken to the hospital. Catherine Pendrel (Luna MTB) battled Emmett for the lead but could only manage second place while the Trek/VW women rounded out the podium with Lea Davison, Jenny Smith, and Mical Dyck filling the remaining sports.
The race started like so many other NMBS races, with Gould quickly going to the front, followed by team-mate Katerina Nash. Nash seemed to uncharacteristically falter and fell back a few positions, leaving fellow Luna MTB rider Catherine Pendrel to chase Gould.
"I definitely was feeling the heat out there," said Catherine. "Then Kelli caught me at the beginning of the second lap and that actually saved my race, because before that all I could focus on was suffering, and after she passed me I had a rabbit."
Emmett slowly but surely pulled herself up from eighth position towards the leading riders. She could be seen high above the race venue descending like the Super D star that she is, but it was her climbing ability that finally allowed her to pass Pendrel.
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"I knew is was a matter of survival out there today," said Emmett. "Heat generally doesn't bother me too much so I knew that if I rode steady I would work my way up. I've been riding a dirt bike so it has been helping me with the descending skills."
"I've been riding with Katie Compton [US National Cyclo-cross Champion] back home and she has been putting the screws to me every day so it's paid off nicely," explained Emmett of the improvement in her skills.
For most of the race Gould seemed to be riding another solo time trial. She had put a two minute gap on the other racers when she was forced off her bike on the last lap due to nausea and heat exhaustion. While Gould is leading the competition to qualify for one of two United States Olympic Team positions, the heat exhaustion brought an end to her streak of NMBS wins that dates back to 2006.
Trek/VW's women had their best day in recent history with the trio of Smith, Davison, and Dyck holding fourth through sixth up until Gould's retirement, when they all moved up a spot. The trio were never really able to work together as a team as each had different strengths on the hot, hilly course.
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Smith compared the heat during the race to her experience in Africa's Cape Epic mountain bike event which she race earlier this season. "Honestly it was hotter today and faster," she said. "I started at the back and I tried to be really patient. Once I got to fourth or fifth position around the first feed zone I tried to ride conservatively."
"It was like riding in a frying pan," added Davison. "I know heat is not my strength but then my legs came around and I started picking them off."
Four of the women on the podium, with the exception of Smith, enjoyed their best ever NMBS finish today. Absent from the competition today was United States National Champion Mary McConneloug, Wendy Simms (Kona), Willow Koerber (Subaru/Gary Fisher), and Shonny Vanlandingha (Luna MTB).
The elite women will compete on Sunday in short track cross country event. With Gould unlikely to start, Nash will be difficult to beat. In Sunday's Super D race, United States National Champion Rachael Lloyd will be on hand to give Emmett a serious challenge.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net
- The hilly singletrack on the Chamberlain Ranch in Santa Ynez (Los Olivos), California.
- Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) leading a long train of riders on the first lap, but later succumbed to heat exhaustion.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) was ecstatic with her first NMBS cross country victory.
- Trek/VW women has a fantastic day (L-R) Lea Davision (third), Mical Dyck (fifth) and Jenny Smith (fourth).
- Beautiful vineyards surrounded the 8,000 acre Chamberlain Ranch where the race was held.
- The top ranked Luna Women's Team: (L-R) Georgia Gould, Katerina Nash, Catherine Pendrel.
- Racers at the start faced a 100 degree temperatures.
- Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) wins the start as usual.
- Mical Dyck (Trek/VW) went on to her best NMBS finish ever.
- Leaders Georgia Gould, Katerina Nash, Lea Davison, Catherine Pendrel and Mical Dyck head out into the hills.
- Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB) descending before she was overcome with heat exhaustion.
- Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) descending in second place.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) riding in sixth place.
- Sue Haywood (Trek/VW) rounding a fast corner.
- Chloe Forsman (Luna Women's MTB) would go on to finish 16th.
- Judy Freeman (Tough Girl) eyeing a tricky downhill corner.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) had moved up to fourth by the back side of the course.
- Katerina Nash (Luna Women's MTB) riding with both knees bandaged.
- Jenny Smith (Trek/VW) rode a strong race and finished on the podium.
- Lea Davison (Trek/VW) trying to stay cool on a fast descent.
- Heather Irmiger (Suburu/Gary Fisher) rode a solid race and finished sixth.
- Rachael Lloyd (Proman) the United States National Super D champion.
- Sue Butler (Mona Vie) moved up rapidly after a crash at the start.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB) wins her first NMBS cross country race.
- Lea Davision (Trek/VW) was very excited with her third place finish.
- Women's podium (L-R): Mical Dyck (Trek/VW), Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB), Kelli Emmett (Giant MTB), Lea Davison (Trek/VW) and Jenny Smith (Trek/VW).
Results
1 Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant MTB Team 1.45.08 2 Catherine Pendrel (Can) Luna Womens MTB Team 0.11 3 Lea Davison (USA) Trek/VW 2.05 4 Jennifer Smith (NZl) Trek/VW 3.04 5 Mical Dyck (Can) Trek/Terrascape Racing 5.30 6 Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 5.53 7 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Womens MTB Team 5.55 8 Rachel Lloyd (USA) Proman/Paradigm 6.54 9 Susan Haywood (USA) Trek/VW 7.21 10 Emily Van Meter (USA) Sobe/Cannondale 8.22 11 Krista Park (USA) Kenda-Titus-Hayes 9.26 12 Nina Baum (USA) Sobe-Cannondale 11.16 13 Annajean Dallaire (USA) Sobe-Cannondale 12.12 14 Sue Butler (USA) Monavie/Cannondale 13.30 15 Heather Holmes (USA) Kenda/Titus/Hayes 14.04 16 Chloe Forsman (USA) Luna Womens MTB Team 14.25 17 Zephanie Blasi (USA) Kenda Titus Hayes 15.00 18 Amanda Riley-Carey (USA) Kenda/Titus/Hayes 16.46 19 Shannon Gibson (USA) Velo-Bella/Kona 18.30 20 Sarah Kerlin (USA) Another Bike Shop/Velo Bella 21.04 21 Maureen Kunz (USA) Lost Coast Brewery 23.54 22 Jennifer Tilley (USA) Velo Bella/Kona 24.46 23 Theresa Richardson (USA) Sobe Cannondale 25.18 24 Joy Duerksen (USA) Cole/Marten Transport 25.43 25 Sarah Kaufmann (USA) Titus/Roaring Mouse Cycles 26.04 26 Carolyn Popovic (USA) Cicle/Bear Valley Bikes 32.00 27 Pua Sawicki (USA) Ellsworth 34.26 28 Heather Ranoa (USA) Intense 34.26 29 Rachel Throop (USA) Devo 35.15 30 Judy Freeman (USA) Tough Girl/Contessa 37.54 DNF Cassandra Perkins (USA) Sobe Cannondale DNF Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Womens MTB Team DNF Jenna Zander (USA) Sobe Cannondale DNF Christie Pleiss (USA) Cicle/Bear Valley Bikes DNF Patricia Buerkle (USA) Tahoe Northstar/Giant DNF Danae York (USA) Velobum.Com/Turner Suspension Bikes
