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NORBA National series #2 - E1
McDowell Mountain Park, Arizona, March 17-20, 2005
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Day 3 - March 19: Short track cross-country & Super D
Hanusova high-tails it to victory as Kabush makes it five straight
By Eric Wallace
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The third stage of the pro XC stage race offered up 20 minutes plus three laps of short track racing on a short, technically difficult course. Clouds and overcast skies provided cooler temperatures and light winds - essentially perfect racing weather. With GC time on tap and relatively small time gaps amongst the top contenders, the Short Track Cross Country served up hot competition and tactically savvy racing.
The women's event rolled to the line with the obligatory National Anthem and a star studded field that included former olympians, national champions, world champions and even gravity specialists. Wearing the GC Leaders Jersey, Trek-Volkswagen's Susan Haywood toed the line alongside Willow Koerber and Kerry Barnholt (Subaru-Gary Fisher), Lynne Bessette (Garneau), Luna MTB teammates Shonny Vanlandingham, Katerina Hanusova and Alison Dunlap and other stars of the dirt.
At the gun it was evident that Haywood had every intention of retaining her leader's jersey as she immediately rocketed to the front, essentially daring the other ladies to try and steal her shirt. Attacks started to fly after two "settling in" laps with first Koerber, and then Hanusova, tasting the front of the race. At the halfway point it was Koerber, Hanusova and Haywood alone at the front with a chase group at around 30-seconds back heavily patrolled by Luna's Vanlandingham and Dunlap. This chase group contained Bessette, Barnholt, the two Luna riders, Melissa Thomas (Tokyo Joes), Wendy Simms (Frontrunners) and Mary McConnelog (Kenda-Seven Cycles) all looking to take time on GC and shooting for those coveted podium positions. The lead trio continued to open their advantage at the two lap to go point as Barnholt and Dunlap separated themselves from the chase and dangled in no-woman's land. First McConnelog and then Simms and Thomas took a turn on the front of the group, hoping to reel in the antagonists.
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The victory belonged to any of the three breakaways as the race disappeared into the desert for the final lap. When the lead moto pulled off it was Hanusova and Haywood in a pure drag race down the finishing chute, as Koerber had popped off the back. To the line the two riders were shoulder-to-shoulder and knee-to-knee in a sprint that would stand anybody's hair on end. After consulting the finishing cameras the officials gave the victory to Luna rider Katerina Hanusova by a mere knob's width on her tires. The excitement continued as the chase group was absorbed by a high flying Melissa Thomas who overtook everybody else except Barnholt to collect her first ever Short Track podium placing.
The men felt hard pressed to create a portion of the excitement generated by the ladies event. With the registered number nearing the century mark, the promoters elected to divide the large group in half and create two separate heats of racing for the men. The GC was split down the middle with the top half racing the second event. After some fast antics Ryan Trebon (Kona-Les Gets), Ricky Federau (Gears Racing) and Carl Decker (Giant) sliced through the field attempting to make up lost time from the previous day's mechanical mishaps and their low end placing on GC. Trebon endured yet another puncture, essentially eliminating him from contention as Cody Peterson (3D Racing) took the "second" heat followed by Federau and Decker in fourth.
The main event of the day stacked the top GC riders together, with Team Maxxis rider Geoff Kabush rolling to the start line sporting the overall leader's jersey. After a small pile up in the opening corner, the athletes got down to the business at hand and started cranking up the throttle. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Trent Lowe (Subaru-Gary Fisher), Kabush, Adam Craig (Giant), Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-VW), Sid Taberlay and Liam Killeen (Specialized) pushed the initial pace and immediately strung out the group, forcing the rest of the group into defense mode. The bungee cord attached between the groups continued to bounce back and forth as riders would make it across to the group or fall off the pace. Todd Wells (Hyundai-GT) and Chris Sheppard (Haro) were able to reattach the Velcro and moved their way forward and safely into the lead group.
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As par for the course of the weekend, punctures claimed a few of the top riders including Craig and Bishop. At the front Taberlay launched a series of unsuccessful attacks, apparently trying to soften the group for teammate Killeen who sat on the other rider's wheel, waiting and resting. It wasn't until Sheppard hit the sharp point of the race that things got interesting. Through the singletrack and up the small rise to the finishing stretch the group moved as a continuous unit until, just at the corner, Sheppard hit a marbley spot and hit the deck. This spill disrupted the organisation and allowed Kabush, JHK, and Killeen to roll away to an immediate real estate gap. This lead trio continued to work together through the next two laps until, just as the chase regained contact, Kabush surged forward with Lowe, Wells, Killeen and JHK caught off guard. With three laps remaining Kabush attempted a solo TT attempt at victory in the same manner as he has claimed numerous victories with the Number 1 plate in 2004.
With two laps to go, the strong Maxxis rider continued his blaze and increased the gap to around 10 seconds, a considerable amount on only a two minute-per-lap course. The chase group had difficulty mounting a unified defense as Wells looked to the Fishers and they to the Specialized riders to reel in the Canadian. On the bell lap, positions remained the same as the chase group seemed to cede victory and geared up to sprint each other for the rostrum spots on tap. At the line Kabush celebrated his fifth straight short track victory and an increase in his overall GC lead. Coming down the finishing pipe, a hard charging Wells claimed silver with Lowe in third, Killeen in fourth and Horgan-Kobelski claiming fifth spot on the day.
Immediately following the short track finish, many riders made their way to the top of the rise for the opening round of NORBA Super D racing. This format throws all riders of all categories on the line together in a le Mans style start, essentially the first one to the finish line wins the race be it man, woman, junior, pro, amateur, etc. Rocky Mountain-Business Objects XC star Andreas Hestler out sprinted the lead group to take his first victory of the weekend. Defending Super D national champ Marla Streb crossed the line well clear of the next woman.
The race timing crews experienced considerable problems with the General Classification for the XC Stage Race and were forced to give up the ghost after a solid 14 hours on the job. GC results will be issued on Sunday morning well in advance of the cross-country start.
Eric Wallace is manager for Team Maxxis
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Ryan Atkinson
- The happy men's TT podium with Geoff Kabush in the middle of it all
- The men's short track podium again, with Kabush in the middle!
- Cactus Bob, just before the finish of the men's short track
- Australian Trent Lowe who placed third today and yesterday
- The all-smiling women's podium with Katerina Hanusova (Luna Women's MTB Team) the woman of the moment
- Hi mum! on the women's podium
Results
Short Track XC Women 1 Katerina Hanusova (Luna Women's MTB Team) 2 Susan Haywood (Trek-VW) 3 Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) 4 Kerry Barnholt (Subaru-Gary Fisher) 5 Melissa Thomas (Tokyo Joes) Men 1 Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis) 2 Todd Wells (Hyundai-GT) 3 Trent Lowe (Subaru-Gary Fisher) 4 Liam Killeen (Specialized) 5 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) Super D (not part of stage race) Women Marla Streb (Luna Women's MTB Team) Men Andreas Hestler (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects)
