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National Mountain Bike Series #3 (NMBS) - 2
Santa Ynez (Los Olivos), California USA, May 16-18, 2008
Schedule
- Race 1 - May 16: Non-elite Dual Slalom Qualifying
- Race 2 - May 16: Elite / Semi-pro Dual Slalom Qualifying
- Race 3 - May 17: Semi-pro / Expert / Junior Cross Country
- Race 4 - May 17: Expert Downhill
- Race 5 - May 17: Elite Women Cross Country
- Race 6 - May 17: Sport / Beginner Downhill
- Race 7 - May 17: Elite Men Cross Country
- Race 8 - May 17: Dual Slalom Finals
- Race 9 - May 18: Sport / Beginner Cross Country
- Race 10 - May 18: Elite Downhill Qualifying
- Race 11 - May 18: Semi-pro Downhill Final
- Race 12 - May 18: Junior Expert Men Short Track
- Race 13 - May 18: Elite Women Downhill Final
- Race 14 - May 18: Semi-pro Short Track
- Race 15 - May 18: Elite Men Downhill Final
- Race 16 - May 18: Elite Women Short Track
- Race 17 - May 18: Elite Men Short Track
- Race 18 - May 18: Super D
NMBS round three returns to California
By Dave McElwaine
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The National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) resumes this coming weekend amidst the vineyards of the Chamberlain Ranch in Los Olivos, California. Without any conflicting World Cup cross country races, a full contingent of North American racers will be on hand to do battle on the steep, grassy, hills of the ranch. Notable exceptions will be US National Champions Adam Craig (Giant) and Mary McConneloug (Kenda / Seven) who both opted to stay in Europe to completely focus on the next World Cup in Andorra coming up on June 1.
Favorites Gould & Kabush expected to hold off challengers
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Georgia Gould (Luna) is the favorite and she is expected to maintain her lead in the NMBS cross country series over team-mate Katerina Nash. Currently only 20 points separate them in the standings. Gould's streak of consecutive wins now spans back to the 2006 race season. This season so far, she has also finished fifth at the World Cups in Houffalize, Belgium and Madrid, Spain, and she appears to be riding at a level just slightly below World Champion Irina Kalentieva (Topeak / Ergon), and Canada's Marie-Helene Premont. In last year's NMBS round at Santa Ynez, Gould rode quickly off the front, and at one point had a three and a half minute lead over the chasers. Wendy Simms (Kona), who rode solid races at the three opening World Cups, is currently in third place in the NMBS series.
The Luna Women's Mountain Bike Team is presently ranked first in the world after winning the team competitions in all three World Cup races so far. The signing of Canada's Catherine Pendrel has allowed them to surpass even the impressive Chinese National Team. Pendrel, Gould, and Nash all placed in the top ten in Madrid. At Santa Ynez, Luna will also have on hand US National U23 and collegiate champion Chloe Forsman, who last season scored some top ten finishes. Former NMBS Champion Shonny Vanlandingham has been focusing on endurance events and will compete in the X-Terra race in Temecula, California this weekend.
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While many of the top racers were at the three World Cup races, those who stayed home competed at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterrey, California. Both Sea Otter and the Madrid World Cup race courses have similarities with the cross country course at Santa Ynez. All three feature fast, hard packed, often dusty trails, along with mostly open terrain, plenty of cumulative climbing, and screaming descents. While Santa Ynez will not be that fast, speeds will be quite high on the 8.4 mile pro loop. Last year's chase groups could be seen trading pulls in pacelines as drafting was a critical part of the race. The course also features many off-camber singletrack sections on hillsides so steep that passing is virtually impossible. The initial climb that the riders face on the course will surely force many off their bikes. If one person puts a foot down, dozens of riders are behind them will be forced to tackle the hill on foot.
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In the men's racing, Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) will be looking to extend his lead in the cross country series - especially given the absence of the second-place Craig. The competition should be quite high, however, as both Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (JHK) (Subaru/Gary Fisher), and Todd Wells (GT Bicycles) have bested Kabush on at least one occasion in Europe. All the racers are hoping that their form is still improving at this time of year and they will measure that by how they fare against those that they will face at the next World Cups.
Barry Wicks, who was ill in Madrid, currently holds third place in the NMBS and has looked strong this year. At the Houffalize World Cup, he passed 60 racers, a feat that nearly impossible given the high level of competition on the World Cup circuit.
The surprise racer from the 2007 Santa Ynez event was Max Plaxton (Rocky Mountain) who won the short track and was part of the lead group of four in the cross country. While he did not have good luck or form at the first three World Cups this year, he will no doubt be looking to get some results at Santa Ynez. Another racer to watch is Mathieu Toulouse (Maxxis) who finished fifth last year despite having no drafting help the entire race. The lead group of Plaxton, Wicks, JHK, and Kabush never opened a significant gap on Toulouse because of tactical in-fighting. Toulouse had commented after the race "I just rode steady while those guys would speed up and slow down."
Short track action
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For the first time ever, former US National short track champion Barry Wicks (Kona) is leading the NMBS short track series with 354 points. Wicks decided to pass up European cyclo-cross racing this winter in order to prepare for the mountain bike season. So far, this strategy appears to have paid off. Kabush is currently second in the short track series with 345 points. The short track course is generally fast and wide with only one significant climb. A singletrack section on the back side is virtually the only place that a rider can possibly get out of sight. Last year Plaxton attacked with one lap to go and quickly opened a significant gap. Once the chasers decided to reel him in, not even the massive horsepower of Ryan Trebon could accomplish the task.
Luna team-mates Katerina Nash and Georgia Gould are currently tied for the women's short track lead. Only a much improved Wendy Simms (Kona) has been able to match their speed so far this season. Most observers will tell you there is no quid pro quo between Gould and Nash. Both battle valiantly for short track wins, but Nash's ability to dig deeper than anyone else for one decisive lap has won her many races. As many challengers have found out the hard way, Gould and Nash can tag team them better than anyone in the business. The challenger is forced to respond to repeated attacks by each of them, while being blocked once the winning move is made.
Dark horses to watch this weekend include Lea Davision who is having her best season yet on the bike. Davison said at the beginning of the season, "I am starting this season in the best shape of my life." Ryan Trebon should be fully recovered from his off-season cyclo-cross injuries and ready to compete for podium spots. Expect to see Trebon off the front, especially during the short track race. In about half of his short track races, Trebon takes a flier that he converts it into a victory.
Gravity racing
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Also taking place this weekend are dual slalom and downhill races. It is uncertain how many of the top downhill racers will make it back from the World Cup in Maribor, Slovenia, in time for the NMBS race. Melissa Buhl (KHS) currently leads the women's series, while Chris Kovarik (Chain Reaction) heads the men's field. The Santa Ynez downhill course lacks the elevation and technical difficulty of other NMBS tracks, but makes up for it with high speeds and many tight, singletrack corners.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Dave McElwaine /www.trailwatch.net
- Racers head uphill in a fast paceline during the 2007 Santa Ynez NMBS
- Georgia Gould (Luna MTB Team) is undefeated again this season.
- Katerina Nash (Luna MTB Team) is the defending NMBS short track series champion.
- Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) winning NMBS #2 in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
- 2007 Santa Ynez racers led across a ridge by Geoff Kabush (Maxxis)
- Barry Wicks (Kona) winning the short track race this year in Fontana.
- Carl Decker (Team Giant) has become a Super D specialist.
- Kelli Emmett (Team Giant) is a fearless Super D descender who can also climb.
