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Cactus Cup Stage Race - SR
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, September 19-21, 2008
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage
Stage 4 - September 22: Cross country
Sauser, Emmett take Cactus Cup win with finale victory
By Dave McElwaine in Las Vegas
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Christoph Sauser (Specialized) demonstrated why is the World Champion today by winning the 30 mile cross country stage of the Mountain's Edge Cactus Cup. Sam Jurekovic (U-23 National Team) pushed Sauser at times and finished less than two minutes behind. Carl Decker (Giant) took third place in a sprint finish against Sid Taberlay (Team Shoair), who won the previous stage.
The cross country course consisted of two laps, the first being 18 miles, followed by a 12 miles loop. Riders faced two incredibly difficult sections of trail that they had not seen before in this weekend's racing. The Black Velvet trail in the foothills of the mountains was full of rock, sand, washes, and plenty of tight turns where you could barely avoid cactus bites. Most riders who raced on a hard-tail lamented afterwards they had not chosen a dually for the race.
Halfway through the first lap the riders faced the most difficult climb of the week, a trail that locals call 'The Hurl'. The incredibly rocky, switchback-ridden climb rises 600 feet up from the desert floor. On the back is a treacherous descent leading down towards the town of Blue Diamond.
Sauser had a 15 second lead over Sam Jurekovic as the racers approached 'The Hurl'. Generally Sauser's strength is his ability to handle steep climbs, while Jurekovic is more of a power rider who can handle super technical trails.
"My tactic was to stay in second and then before the hill to go ahead and definitely be the first going up that hill," said Sauser. "I would try to make a gap even if it's only 15 seconds because you can then ride your speed and if the other guy is just a little weaker you will gain time.
"The other trail (Black Velvet) was so technical with so many cactus, and I was way ahead so I took it very conservative," he added. "Then I heard a bike noise and said to myself 'Sam is coming' so it put me under pressure again…and then I was full speed ahead."
Behind the front pair, overnight race leader Taberlay and Decker had their own battle going on. The pair came through after one lap together and third place was not decided until they sprinted to the finish.
Jurekovic bested Sauser in both the Time Trial and Super D races, despite spending six weeks off the bike with a serious injury after July's national titles. After four stages Jurekovic finished only 53 seconds behind Sauser on general classification. Taberlay finished only 3:58 behind Sauser.
"Sauser was in sight the whole time but on every climb he would pull away and I would catch him on the downhill, and on that technical section (Black Velvet) I would catch him a bit," Jurekovic said.
Tinker Juarez (Mona Vie) raced with the Elite Men, but suffered a race-ending crash on the first lap. "I was in a good position and riding really well until the point where I crashed," lamented Jaurez. "I got to the point they call 'The Big Rock', but on the other side was a rock with a big hole in it.
"My front wheel went right into it and I just pivoted and landed on my face," he said. "I had a bent rotor and a flat tire. That was kind of the end of the story."
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Emmett had little trouble taking the win in the Elite Women's field over Maureen Kunz. Both women were on course for about three hours after unanimously choosing to complete both laps when asked by officials.
Emmett led Kunz by one minute as they headed up 'The Hurl'. Both could see one another easily as they traversed the many switchbacks. Emmett added another minute to her lead by the time she rounded the back side of the mountain and started the six mile climb back to the start/finish. At the end of lap one she had increased her lead to eight minutes, and just cruised to victory on lap two.
Emmett admitted afterwards the choice to do both laps instead of one wasn't the best decision. "Definitely, I did not really bring enough water with me so it was all about not going too hard," she said.
"It was super fun," Emmett added. "It was really techy so you were so focused on the rocks and steps that you didn't even notice you were climbing."
Many of the professionals will now turn their attention to making appearances for their sponsors at the Interbike Trade Show which takes place in Las Vegas this week. Several racers will also be racing in Cross Vegas, one of the first major cyclo-cross races of the season.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Jonathan Devich/
- Christophe Sauser (Specialized) got out front on the first lap and never looked back.
- Sam Jurekovic (U23 National Team) was the only one to stay within reach of the lead today.
- Riders did better to stay on the trail today and out of all the pointy and prickly bits.
- Sid Taberlay (ShoAir/Niner) came in a strong fourth today after taking last night’s criterium.
- Christophe Sauser (Specialized) tackles one of the many tough little climbs today.
- Carl Decker (Giant) gets up close and personal on a tricky climb.
- Tim Allen (Waste Management) chases down a rider on the climb.
- Andreas Hestler (Rocky Mountain) does his best in the hot Las Vegas sun.
- Fabio Dias (Specialized/Elite Bike) had a hard time with the long dry course.
- John Milne (ShoAir/Niner) does a little running but still won the single speed class.
- Yuri Hauswald (Marin) keeps his single speed rolling to take third place.
- Mark Taylor leads Scott Johnson (All Mountain Cyclery) in the expert category.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant) rounds a corner in the lead.
- Maureen Kunz (Lost Coast Brewery) tries to chase down the leader.
- Benjamin Sonntag (Fort Lewis College) felt right at home in the dry rocky terrain.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant) crests a climb on the way to the finish.
- Manuel Prado (ShoAir/Niner) leads Adam Snyder (3D Racing) half-way through the day.
- Alex Grant (Rocky Mountain Bicycles) maneuvers through a tricky section.
- Cody Peterson (Scott) fights his way through the desert brush.
- Christophe Sauser (Specialized) rolls in for the win.
- Christophe Sauser (Specialized) looked ready to be off his bike by the end of the day.
- Sam Jurekovic (U23 National Team) comes in for second place.
- Christophe Sauser (Specialized) tries to cool off after the long hot race.
- Carl Decker (Giant) crosses the line third just in front of Sid Taberlay (ShoAir/Niner).
- Overall podium (L-R): Sam Jurekovic (U23 National Team), Chistophe Sauser (Specialized) and Sid Taberlay (ShoAir/Niner).
- Christophe Sauser (Specialized) was happy to have won the revived Cactus Cup.
- Women's podium (L-R): Maureen Kunz (Lost Coast Brewery) and Kelli Emmitt (Giant).
Images by Dave McElwaine /www.trailwatch.net
- World Champion Christophe Sauser (Specialized) taking the race win and overall classification at the Cactus Cup.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant) won all four stages and the general classification for the Elite Women's class.
- Sam Jurekovic (U-23 National Team) at the start.
- Tinker Juarez (Mona Vie) ready to roll.
- Sid Taberlay (Team Shoair) was the general classification leader going into Stage 4.
- Manuel Prado (Team Shoair)
- The professional men head out into Cottonwood Valley.
- Maureen Kunz (Lost Coast Brewery)
- Kelli Emmett (Giant) was looking to sweep all four races this weekend.
- Riders near the bottom of 'The Hurl' climb.
- Christophe Sauser (Specialized) riding in first place with a one minute lead.
- Sam Jurekovic (U-23 National Team) chasing Christophe Sauser (Specialized).
- Sid Taberlay (Team Shoair) riding in third place, after winning the previous day's stage.
- Carl Decker (Giant) trying to stay with Sid Taberlay (Team Shoair).
- Andreas Hestler (Rocky Mountain) riding in the top 10.
- Maureen Kunz (Lost Coast Brewery) near the bottom of 'The Hurl'.
- Semi-professional riders climbing uphill switchbacks on the final day.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant) used her body to handle the steep climb.
- Carl Decker (Giant) takes third place in a sprint with Sid Taberlay (Team Shoair).
- Christophe Sauser (Specialized) enjoys the spoils of victory.
Results
Elite men 1 Christoph Sauser (Specialized) 1.59.34 2 Sam Jurekovic (U23 National Team) 1.35 3 Carl Decker (Giant Bicycles) 5.22 4 Sid Taberlay 5.23 5 Benjamin Sonntag (Fort Lewis College) 6.19 6 Rotem Ishai (Kona Super Cc) 8.02 7 Adam Snyder (3-D Racing) 10.16 8 Tim Allen (Waste Management) 10.27 9 Manuel Prado 12.28 10 Sean Donovan 13.04 11 Cody Peterson (Scott Bicycles) 16.01 12 Alex Grant (Rocky Mountain Bicycles) 17.21 13 Andreas Hestler (Rocky Moutnain Bicycles) 17.29 14 Eric Salstrand 17.53 15 Blake Zumbrunnen (Revolution Peak Fasteners) 19.44 16 Nicholas Stevens (Waltworks Fuentesdesign) 21.56 17 Dave Harrison (Reddrox.Com) 28.10 18 Yuki Saito (Waltworks Fuentesdesign) 31.13 19 Fabio Dias (Specialized Elite Bike) 34.29 DNF Tinker Juarez DNF Eric Ransom (Tamarack Resort) Elite women 1 Kelli Emmett (Giant Bicycles) 2.54.11 2 Maureen Kunz (Lost Coast Brewery) 26.54 Semi-Pro men 1 Brandon Firth (Rocky Mountain) 2.23.09 2 Rich Weis (Taser-Kenda) 1.11 3 Andy Rigel (Velo Bike Shop) 9.21 DNF Matt Ohran (Monavie Cannondale) DNF Leonardo Cocholice (Specialized Elite Bike) Expert men 1 Mike Hileman (Eye Gear Sport Optics) 2.37.00 2 Jeremy Thatcher (Allegiant Air) 9.03 3 Mark Taylor 23.33 4 Scott Johnson (All Mountain Cyclery) 23.58 5 Bob Mccall (Allegiant Airlines) 34.20 6 Jacques Hadler (Escape Adventures) 36.48 7 Jared Fischer 42.54 8 Brandon Cunningham (Toshiba Santo Presented By) 48.44 DNF Todd Sims DNF Gary Strabala DNF Gene Ruiter DNF Scott Leland Sport men 1 Chris Kasey 1.29.21 2 Larry Grossman 2.30 3 Robert Stanley 2.42 4 Paul Ferraro 5.35 5 Tony Gonzalez 5.46 6 Louis Baker 6.12 7 Jeffrey Johnson 7.00 8 Marias Dewet 7.53 9 Shawn Tyrone 9.02 10 Jon Horenziak 9.51 11 Rick Watts 10.07 12 Eric Neuhaus 12.15 13 Rodney Ward 12.53 14 Mark Synder 13.51 15 Scott Delgiudice 16.01 16 Mark W. Sherline 17.03 17 Nando Ateho 17.04 18 Jeff Dietrich 21.11 19 Greg Hayes 21.50 20 Chris Christiansen 23.21 21 Rich Urello 25.22 22 Mark Ross 25.41 23 David Lind 25.49 24 Erik Montville 26.43 25 Zane Marshall 29.01 26 Ceasar Contreras 32.59 27 Danny Trudeau 34.14 28 Peter Davidson 34.56 29 Harold Uttke 37.26 30 Lee Szromba 38.59 31 Brad Platt 42.03 32 Mark Colgan 42.50 33 Chad Haynes 44.53 34 Mark Maffey 47.06 35 Victor Sternberg 58.48 DNF Gary Fike DNF Todd Neely DNF John Langton Sport women 1 Julie Conner 1.48.50 2 Michele Bliss 7.24 3 Jennifer Kruleski 8.36 4 Stephanie Vogel 15.06 5 Jeanne Starling 31.43 DNF Heather Fischer Beginner men 1 Tim Moody 59.17 2 Dan Eisenberg 3.58 3 Bill Wolfe 4.36 4 Joshua Javietes 5.11 5 Doug Murphy 5.16 6 Brian Larson 6.47 7 Todd Neely 7.06 8 Reggie Currie 8.22 9 David Herdell 10.07 10 Greg Phelps 10.56 11 Matthew Mitchell 13.15 12 John Haley 14.12 13 Brad Hendricks 15.56 14 Garcia Sherman 16.45 15 Matt Wenske 19.10 16 Jeff Zebarth 22.34 17 Albert Vasquez 27.07 18 Peter Obrien 27.32 19 Thomas Pisillo 36.50 20 Hyde Barton 46.41 DNF Van Dusen Hank Beginner women 1 Tracie Grey 2.29.28 2 Marie Harvey 0.07 Clydesdale 1 Pretner Ryan 58.05 2 Mark Howard 13.58 DNF Rick Watts Singlespeed men 1 1 John Milne (Team Sho-Air) 2.20.23 2 Deay Birtch (Niner Bikes) 10.50 3 Yuri Hauswald (Marin Bikes) 11.17 4 Jeff Mabry (Luv2Bike Racing) 45.22 Singlespeed 2 Men 1 Marshall Evans 1.36.04 2 John Day 4.43 3 Jason Landberg 13.46 4 Randy Singleton 37.52 Final Classification Elite Men 1 Christoph Sauser 2.35.35 2 Sam Jurekovic 0.53 3 Sid Taberlay 3.58 4 Benjamin Sonntag 7.12 5 Rotem Ishai 8.37 6 Carl Decker 9.14 7 Tim Allen 10.37 8 Adam Snyder 11.38 9 Manuel Prado 13.36 10 Sean Donovan 14.40 11 Andreas Hestler 18.09 12 Cody Peterson 18.52 13 Alex Grant 18.57 14 Eric Salstrand 20.15 15 Nicholas Stevens 24.05 16 Blake Zumbrunn 27.12 17 Dave Harrison 35.54 18 Yuki Saito 38.04 19 Fabio Dias 44.52 Elite women 1 Kelli Emmett 3.35.33 2 Maureen Kunz 28.10 Semi-pro men 1 Rich Weis 3.03.21 2 Brandon Firth 1.03 3 Andy Rigel 10.45 Expert men 1 Mike Hileman 264 pts 2 Brandon Cunningha 214 3 Bob Mccall 203 4 Jared Fischer 108 Sport men 1 Jeffrey Johnson 253 pts 2 Tony Gonzalez 222 3 Robert Stanley 162 4 Jon Horenziak 144 5 Shawn Tyrone 130 Sport women 1 Julie Conner 288 pts 2 Michele Bliss 271 3 Jeanne Starling 190 Beginner men 1 Tim Moody 276 pts 2 Thomas Pisillo 170 3 Doug Murphy 150 4 Jeff Zebarth 96 Clydesdale men 1 Ryan Pretner 300 pts Singlespeed 1 men 1 John Mylne 208 pts 2 Deay Birtch 198 3 Hauswal Yuri 174 Singlespeed 2 1 Marshall Evans 220 pts 2 John Day 190 3 Jason Landberg 162
