 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
NORBA USA National Championships - CN
Mammoth Mountain, CA, USA, September 15-18, 2005
Photography
Race 6 - Sunday, September 18: Short Track XC,
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rocky Arroyo/www.arroyophotography.com
- Shonny Vlandingham (Luna) works hard for first place
- Adam Craig (Giant) on his way to victory in the STXC
- Adam Craig (Giant) celebrates as he wins a national STXC
- Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) finished a lap down
- Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles) could be forgiven for taking htings a little easier today
- Shonny Vlandingham (Luna) makes it look so easy
- Heather Irmiger feels the strain of a dry day at altitude
- Shonny Vlandingham dominated on her way to winning the women's race
- Dara Marks Marino (Ford/Specialized) took second behind Vlandingham
- Heather Irmiger (Tokyo Joe's/Go Lite) took fifth place
- New XC National Champion, Mary McConneloug came home fourth
- Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkwagon) gets right down near the bars
- Heather Irmiger (Tokyo Joe's/Go Lite) was part of a strong women's field
- Dara Marks Marino (Ford/Specialized) on her way to a second place finish
- Heather Irmiger (Tokyo Joe's/Go Lite) pushes it during the women's race
- John Tomac hangs out at the finish area
- Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkwagon) focuses hard on the task at hand
- I'm gonna eat you for breakfast! Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna) gives it her all during the short track
- Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkwagon) works hard during the short track race
- Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna)
- Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles) performed quite well after her XC win
- Heather Irmiger (Tokyo Joe's/Go Lite) trails Vanlandingham to eventually take a fifth place finish on the dusty course
- Chris Eatough (Trek/VW) showed plenty of resolve to still place ninth on a tough and dusty course
- Adam Craig (Giant) took control and rode a strong race to win
- Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) led most of the men's Short Track
- Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) was travelling in cruise control before a mechanical problem
- Adam Craig (Giant) cruises ahead of the dust to win the pro men's Short Track
- Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) ran after his flat tyre stopped him riding
- Damn! JHK picked up a flat tyre while leading the Short Track
- Gawwwn! That tyre isn't much use to anyone anymore
Images by Steve Medcroft/Cyclingnews.com
- Shonny Vlandingham (Luna) wins easily after her XC disappointment the previous day
- Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix) and Sue Haywood (Trek/VW) on the start line. Vanlandinhgam won the race. Haywood came third.
- Following her Cross Country National Championship, Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles/Kenda Tires) wasn't able to match the intensity set at the front of the Short Track race and finished fourth.
- Vanlandingham started the race still bandaged from her final-mile crash in the Cross Country race on Friday.
- Alison Dunlap raced her final professional cross country event on Sunday. During the call-up ceremony, she was awarded a specially-made jersey by her Luna Chix team.
- All ceremony aside, Vanlandingham, determined to avenge her cross country loss, was aggressive from the gun.
- Vanlandingham, Dara Marks-Marino (Ford/Specialized) and Haywood made up the mid-race lead group.
- The Short Track featured a short, steep climb up the finishing features of Saturday's Mountain Cross course.
- The leaders race up the Mountain Cross whoops.
- Dunlap said she was just happy to be part of the race. She finished eigth.
- Vanlandingham broke free with ten minutes remaining in the race and soloed to the win.
- Vanlandingham left nothing to chance in the Short Track. She was aggressive, powerful and dominating; the definition of her 2005 NORBA season.
- Vanlandingham was visibly relieved after Sunday's Short Track knowing that she would be taking home at least one National Championship jersey.
- Mary McConneloug's life partner and teammate Mike Broderick (Seven Cycles/Kenda Tires) set the early pace in the men's Short Track.
- Chris Eatough even got into the act to have another chance to race Trek's new all carbon cross country hardtail.
- Horgan-Kobelski moved to the front early in the race and made a winning move. But a flat tyre in the final laps bumped him out of the lead and down to seventh on the day.
- Mike Broderick (Seven Cycles/Kenda Tires)
- The lead group formed, with Adam Craig (Giant), Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher), Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) and Carl Decker (Giant) making up the group after 3D-racing rider Cody Peterson put in a huge attack to break up the field.
- Horgan-Kobelski leading over the mountain cross course climb.
- Craig, Horgan-Kobelski and Wells stuck together until JHK made his move.
- Adam Craig had no tactical reason to attack Todd Wells in the closing laps, with teammate Carl Decker dangling ten seconds behind.
- Wells seemed resigned to team Giant's tactics and settled the pace to try and catch his breath before the final showdown.
- Craig attacked up the mountain cross course climb on the last lap to gap 2003 short track national champion Wells and take his first short track national championship.
Race 4 - Saturday, September 17: Mountain Cross,
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rocky Arroyo/www.arroyophotography.com
- Eric Carter (Mongoose/Hyundai) tears up the course to win the mountain cross championship
- Jill Kintner (Yeti Cycles) cruises her way to first place
- John Tomac (Kenda/Cortez) makes a comeback? Tomac makes an unexpected appearance at Saturday's Super "D" to take 13th overall
- Beverly Chaney (Roaring Mouse Cycles) shows her enthusiasm after taking 1st place in the 40+ category
Race 2 - Friday, September 16: Cross Country,
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rocky Arroyo/www.arroyophotography.com
- A dream machine for some… a work machine for others
- Lined up and ready for action
- Just say cheese… but try your best not to smile
- Sam Schultz (U23 National Team) looks very relaxed before the start of the U23 race
- Andy Schultz (Cannondale) focusses before the start of the U23 race
- Sam Schultz (U23 National Team) handles the curves with ease
- Nick Ranno (Trek/VW) works the turn in the U23 race
- Andy Schultz (Cannondale) shows no sign of slowing down in the technical sections
- Andy Schultz (Cannondale) works the grade
- Nick Ranno (Trek/VW) tackles the grade
- Start line energy.
- Start line energy.
- Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) attacks the technical single track in lap two.
- Adam Craig (Giant) tops a hill section on lap two to eventually take 3rd.
- Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) works the hill portion of the course again in lap two to eventually take 1st place.
- Ned Overend (Specialized) still shows that he can work us all at age 50 and come in at 5th place.
- Walker Ferguson (Scott USA/Spinner) tackles the climb on lap two.
- Adam Craig shows us how to sip oxygen at high altitude, climb and still take 2nd place without showing any sign of grief.
- Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) can still smile while climbing above nine thousand feet.
- Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) tackled the down hill on the third of four laps.
- Walker Ferguson (Scott USA/Spinner) eases into his turns on the third of four laps.
- Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) shows no holding back on his turns on lap three.
- Ned Overend (Specialized) takes fifth place, beating more than a few riders half his age.
- The men's podium - Ned Overend, Adam Craig, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Todd Wells, and Walker Fegurson.
- Quietness at the start line.
- Shonny VanLandingham (Luna Women's MTB Team) prepares for the start.
- Shonny VanLandingham (Luna Women's MTB Team) prepares for the start.
- Shonny VanLandingham (Luna Women's MTB Team) handles the curves on the single track to complete the first of three laps.
- Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkswagon) works to complete the first of three laps to eventually take fifth place.
- Alison Dunlap (Luna Women's MTB Team) kicks up dust on the first of three laps to eventually take second place.
- Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) works her way up the grade on her second of three laps.
- Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) serves me some serious dust for lunch on her descent from the first of three laps.
- Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles) shows us a well earned and emotional finish.
- Shonny VanLandingham (Luna Women's MTB Team) arrives at the finish in 4th place. Despite a flat tire and a displaced drivetrain, Shonny still showcased an amazing race and a podium finish.
- The women's podium - Sue Haywood, Willow Koerber, Mary McConneloug, Alison Dunlap, and Shonny Vanlandingham
- The new US national champions - Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Mary McConneloug
Images by Steve Medcroft/Cyclingnews.com
- Having a chat... Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Adam Craig (Giant) waiting for the start of the men's U.S. National Championship Cross Country race.
- Todd Wells would finish second after four laps of racing.
- Inaugural MTB World Champion and hall-of-famer Ned Overend (Specialized) battled Jay Henry (Ford/Specialized) for the final podium spot and won.
- Craig and Horgan-Kobelski led the field up the big climb to open the second lap.
- Todd Wells never let up his chase and when the two riders immediately ahead of him (Craig and Walker Ferguson) faded, he foudn himself in second place.
- Clearly in National Championship winning form. Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix) led the women's race from the first lap. A flat tire and subsequent fall in the final mile saw that lead disappear and left the win for Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles/Kenda Tires).
- Willow Koerber (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Dara Marks-Marino (Ford/Specialized)
- Mary McOnneloug stayed close enough to gain the advantage when Vanlandingham suffered a final-mile mechanical.
- Former World and defending National Champion Alison Dunlap finshed second behind McConneloug in her second-to-last race before retiring.
- Once Horgan-Kobelski established his lead, he never relinquished time.
- Adam Craig said he could not properly recover from his recent back-to-back European campaign weekends and raced in "survival mode."
- Fresh from a road campaign with HealthNet/Maxxis, former Junior World Champion Walker Ferguson came third in the race and proved he is ready to re-focus on elite-level mountain biking.
- Shonny Vanlandingham seemed to have no trouble with the downhills.
- Horgan-Kobelski cantered in and finished with no challenger in site.
Race 1 - Thursday, September 15: Marathon,
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rocky Arroyo/www.arroyophotography.com
- Shari Hausbeck (SRAM / ROCKSHOX) ready for race start
- Chris Eatough (Trek / VW) climbs the grade on his way to third place.
- Chris Eatough (Trek / VW)
- Chris Eatough (Trek / VW)
- Chris Eatough (Trek / VW)
- Arlo Buijten (Titus) attacks the climb on his second lap just above Canyon Lodge
- Kip Biese (Cannondale) attacks the climb on his second lap just above Canyon Lodge
- Kip Biese (Cannondale)
- Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain Cycles) used her World Cup fitness to take victory in the women's race, getting an early gap then consolidating on lap 2.
- Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain Cycles)
- Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain Cycles)
- James Williams (Team Steven K S) climbs the grade just above Canyon Lodge to begin his second of three grueling laps.
- Monique Sawicki (Team Mata) ups the heat on the beginning of the second of three laps to eventually take second place.
- Monique Sawicki (Team Mata)
- Monique Sawicki (Team Mata)
- Mandy Eakins (Velo Sport) climbs her way into the second of three loops to eventually take third.
- Mandy Eakins (Velo Sport)
- Travis Brown (Trek/FRS) rode the technical single track like he was on rails to finish up his second of three laps and eventually take first place.
- Chris Eatough (Trek/VW) handled the technical single track well on every lap on his way to third place.
- Nat Ross (Subaru - Gary Fisher) eases into a single track on his way to fifth place.
- Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain) shows no sign of restraint after completing her second lap.
- Monique Sawicki (Team Mata) rolls toward the finish
- Travis Brown (Trek/FRS) celebrates his first place finish.
- The men's podium - Michael McCalla, Chris Eatough (Trek/VW), Travis Brown (Trek/FRS), Jay Henry and Nat Ross (Subaru - Gary Fisher)
- The women's podium - Gretchen Reeves (Rocky Mountain) and Monique Sawicki (Team Mata)
