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National Mountain Bike Series #4 (NMBS) - 1
Deer Valley, Park City, Utah, June 27-29, 2008
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Race 16 - June 29: Elite Women Short Track
Another day at the office for Nash
By Dave McElwaine in Park City, Utah
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Katerina Nash (Luna Women's MTB) was victorious in the short track following a pattern we have seen many times before. While she initially had to chase down team-mates Georgia Gould and Catherine Pendrel, she was able to conserve enough energy for a decisive attack with two laps to go. Pendrel , finishing second, rode a very strong race and actually did much of the work. Georgia Gould uncharacteristically began to have trouble during the fifth but was able to hang on for third place.
Rounding out the podium were Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) and Kathy Sherwin (Sobe/Cannondale). Sherwin was riding on her "home course" and the crowd went nuts when she made the podium.
Many of the racers commented that it was a climbers course. While there was no ultra-steep climbs, the course traveled up under the chair lift and back down again.
Pendrel said, "It was a good course for me because there was a lot of climbing. Typically short tracks are tough for me and so I find that although pulling (at the front) wastes energy, I find it is better for me to set the pace and not have to respond to other people." She added, "It was my best short track ever"
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"I felt pretty good from the beginning," remarked Nash. "I kind of missed the front group at the beginning but could pretty easily close the gap. When it was time to go I just went a little harder over one of the climbs and got a gap".
Irmirger rode a very strong race, almost entirely in no-mans-land without help. She was able to hold off Heather Holmes (Kenda Titus) and Sherwin who were locked in battle behind her.
Sherwin was jubilant after the race. "I was kind of a dangler for a bit, but I worked my way up," she said. "Then I was fighting Heather Holmes for fifth. I decided with three laps to go to just go for it".
How it unfolded
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For the first two laps, Georgia Gould looked like she was going to sail away to victory. She was being chased by team-mate Catherine Pendrel and Mical Dyck (Trek/VW).
On lap three, Nash had worked her way back to the front and passed Dyck and Pendrel. It appeared that she may have let Gould get too far out in front to catch.
However, by the fourth lap, Nash caught Gould and shortly thereafter Pendrel joined her team-mates at the front. For a brief time the Luna women rode a three-person team time trial, but halfway through the fifth lap Gould appeared to be in trouble and lost contact.
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Through the next couple laps Pendrel led Nash as they continued to pull away from Gould. Behind them Dyck was losing fifth place as Chloe Forsman (Luna Womens MTB), Kathy Sherwin, and Heather Holmes all passed her.
By the eighth lap, the battle between Holmes and Sherwin was in full swing. It appeared that Holmes would continually get gaps only to have Sherwin close them down again and again.
On lap 10, Nash attacked Pendrel on a climb and opened a 100 foot gap almost instantly. She raced in for the win alone. Sherwin finally got by Holmes on the same climb and nailed down fifth place.
It was the second time this weekend that the Luna women took the top three spots on the podium. Nash increased her lead in the NMBS short track series.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net
- Katerina Nash (Luna Womens Mtb Team) topped another Luna podium.
- Katerina Nash (Luna Womens MTB) is the series leader
- Catherine Pendrel (Luna Womens MTB) finished sixth at the World Championships XC last weekend.
- Mical Dyck (Trek/VW) has had a very strong season so far.
- Georgia Gould (Luna Womens MTB) wins the start as usual.
- Jenna Zander (Sobe/Cannondale), Heather Holmes (Kendad/Titus), and Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) chasing the leaders.
- Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher) leads Kathy Sherwin (Sobe/Cannondale)
- Georgia Gould (Luna Womens MTB) has an off day but still takes third place.
- Mical Dyck (Trek/VW) rides in third position.
- Katerina Nash (Luna Womens MTB) rides in fourth position but moves up.
- Mical Dyck (Trek/VW) and Catherine Pendrel (Luna Womens MTB) chases Georgia Gould.
- Katerina Nash (Luna Womens MTB) climbs.
- On lap five the Luna women ride a team time trial on the front of the race.
- Emily Batty (Trek/VW) moves up in the field.
- Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) leads Katerina Nash (Luna Womens MTB) on lap eight.
- Heather Holmes (Kenda/Titus) has quite a battle for fifth with Kathy Sherwin (Sobe/Cannondale).
- 19 year-old Emily Batty (Trek Bicycle Store Toronto) goes on to finish seventh.
- Katerina Nash (Luna Womens MTB) was quite happy with her win.
- Catherine Pendrel (Luna Womens MTB) finishes second, her best short track ever.
- Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher) gives 100% right to the finish.
- Kathy Sherwin (Sobe/Cannondale) locks up fifth place.
Results
1 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Womens Mtb Team 23.48 2 Catherine Pendrel (Can) Luna Womens Mtb Team 0.11 3 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Womens Mtb Team 0.47 4 Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 1.03 5 Kathy Sherwin (USA) Sobe-Cannondale 1.13 6 Heather Holmes (USA) Kenda/Titus/Hayes 1.16 7 Emily Batty (Can) Trek Bicycle Store Toronto 1.47 8 Chloe Forsman (USA) Luna Womens Mtb Team 1.52 9 Mical Dyck (Can) Trek/Terrascape Racing 1.58 10 Judy Freeman (USA) Tough Girl/Contessa 2.00 11 Zephanie Blasi (USA) Kenda Titus Hayes 2.00 12 Jenna Zander (USA) Sobe Cannondale 2.20 Lapped 13 Krista Park (USA) Kenda-Titus-Hayes 14 Caitlyn Tuel (USA) Trek/VW /Rocky Mountain 15 Jennifer Smith (NZl) Trek/VW 16 Jennifer Tilley (USA) Velo Bella/Kona 17 Nina Baum (USA) Sobe-Cannondale 18 Amanda Riley-Carey (USA) Kenda/Titus/Hayes 19 Patricia Buerkle (USA) Vanderkitten 20 Becca Blay (USA) Sobe/Cannondale 21 Kyia Anderson (USA) Ekho Hrm/Cannondale 22 Joy Duerksen (USA) Cole/Marten Transport 23 Lindsey Bishop (USA) Mafia Racing/Felt 24 Stacey Scanlan (USA) Team Tamarack 25 Theresa Richardson (USA) Sobe Cannondale 26 Sonya Looney (USA) Sobe Cannondale 27 Rachel Throop (USA) Devo
