NORBA NCS #4 - E2

Snowshoe, West Virginia, USA, June 10-13, 2004

Main Page Results

Stage 6 - June 13: Downhill

World champ descends to Snowshoe win

Minnaar, Lazo score downhill victories

By Andy lee, USA Cycling

As in yesterday's cross country contest, today's downhill final was a tale of diversity as the victories were split between a first time NORBA winner in the women's race and a seasoned pro in the men's event. Reigning World Champion, Greg Minnaar (RSA) captured the men's race while relative newcomer, Bernardita Pizarro Lazo (Chi) scored the win in the women's event.

Earlier in the day, Minnaar posted the fastest qualifying time of 5 minutes 36.3 seconds over the technically challenging course that deteriorated throughout the weekend due to rains and several competitions prior to the time the pros took the stage. His performance in the qualifying round suggested that a win was well within reach, besting the nearest competitor by over 15 seconds as John Kirkcaldie (NZl) clocked a 5:51.9. Dustin Adams (Can) rode to the third best qualifying time in 5:55.6.

In women's qualifying, Marla Streb (USA) rode over 22 seconds faster than her closest threat posting a 7:27.4 to Lazo's 7:49.7. Dawn Borque (Rhino, N.H.) rounded out the top three in the qualifying round with a 8:03.4.

In the final, Minnaar shaved 14 seconds of his qualifying time on the way to his commanding victory. Maxxis Tires teammates, Kirkcaldie and Colin Bailey (USA), claimed second and third respectively posting a 5:29.02 and a 5:31.74.

Bryn Atkinson (Aus) and Jared Graves (Aus) filled the remaining two top-five spots placing fourth and fifth.

In the women's final, Lazo descended the mountain in a time of 7:12.10, narrowly beating second place finisher, Kathy Pruitt (USA) by just over three seconds. Pruitt's teammate Streb took third with a time of 7:21.77, while April Lawyer (USA) and Borque finished fourth and fifth place respectively.

Results

Men
 
1 Greg Minnaar (RSA)               
2 John Kirkcaldie (NZl)            
3 Colin Bailey (USA)               
4 Bryn Atkinson (Aus) 
5 Jared Graves (Aus)
 
Women
 
1 Bernardita Pizarro Lazo (Chi)    
2 Kathy Pruitt (USA)
3 Marla Streb (USA)
4 April Lawyer (USA)
5 Dawn Borque (USA)