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NORBA USA National Championships - CN
USA, July 13-July 16, 2006
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Race Next Race
Race 3 - Friday, July 14: Cross Country
Trebon and Gould score upsets in US Nats
By Steve Medcroft in Sonoma
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The favorites to win the US National Championships on Friday, four-time champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix) went home empty handed as Ryan Trebon (Kona/Les Gets) and Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) used tempo pacing on the wide-open Sonoma course to take upset victories.
Trebon made what appeared to be a suicidal attempt to get free in the men's race. A strong chase group including JHK, Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW), Todd Wells (Hyundai/GT) and Barry Wicks (Trebon's teammate on the Kona/Les Gets team) worked for four hot laps to pull the six-foot five-inch cyclo-crosser back. But after two hours, Trebon was still in front. He crossed the line with an almost relieved look on his face to earn his first elite cross-country jersey.
Wicks, in the favored position of not needing to help the chase bring back his teammate, saved his legs for the finale and was able to slide home for second. Bishop, cramping on the final lap, finished third. JHK managed fourth and Adam Craig fifth.
Strong solo tempo riding proved the key strategy in the women's race as well. The field splintered into a string of individual riders within fifteen minutes of the start. Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher) pulled into a solo lead until Gould bridged entering the final lap. In only in her third professional mountain-bike season, Gould gapped Irmiger for her first major victory. Her best placing before Friday? Fifth in Deer Valley July 8.
Defending champion Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles) says she cut her losses on the last lap and stopped chasing, preserving the third place she'd earned so far in the race. Sue Haywood finished fourth. Flagstaff Arizona's Dara Marks-Marino finished fifth.
Both winners receive automatic nominations to the US National Team for Worlds in Roturoa, New Zealand.
Trebon's suicide tactics pay off in championship style
The winning move in the men's race came on the very first climb when Trebon muscled his way into a lead with an explosive burst of uphill power. After the race, Trebon said his tactic wasn't as predetermined as it may have looked but was merely an attempt to set his own tempo. "It was windy out there," he said. "It's just easier for me to ride by myself."
Trebon's teammate also said there was no discussion of strategy before the race. "We didn't talk about it. Ryan just likes to race like that. He doesn't like to sit in a group were he can't ride a real, solid tempo."
Trebon says that once he had the lead, he was unsure whether he had the strength to solo for two full hours. "But as long as I was off the front, I knew those guys were going to do just as much work to chase me so I just kept plugging away at the pedals. Your mind plays games with you though; I had to keep reminding myself to take advantage of the sections where I felt good and conserve energy where I didn't feel so good."
Behind him JHK, who had the most to lose as defending champion, was forced to become primary chaser. "I did everything I could to hang onto the jersey," he said. "I didn't want to let Ryan get too much time in those early laps so I put in a couple of really big efforts on the climbs. But the gap was still opening up. For Ryan to be able to stretch that lead out like that; my hat's off to him."
The four chasers, Wicks, JHK, Jeremiah Bishop and Todd Wells, stayed together. Then Wells crashed and the group splintered, with JHK falling off the pace leaving Bishop dragging an uncooperative Wicks into contention for second. "I had to drive it despite the fact Barry was on my wheel," a disappointed Bishop said at the finish line. He added that the effort he put out trying to find his way back to Trebon's wheel depleted every resource in his body. "I cramped hard."
"I could tell he was hurting," Wicks said. "I rode by and kept the same pace and he fell off."
Bishop was philosophical about falling to third after working so hard for second. "I did the best I could with what I had. I raced the way I wanted to. And hat's off to Ryan - he had the cahones to go off by himself and he and Barry worked the tactic superbly. It was a road race and they won with road tactics."
JHK was equally philosophical. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't mind giving up the jersey today but I paid the price for the work I did early."
Words from the top two were almost zen-like. "It's pretty sweet," Wicks said. "It exceeded my wildest expectations." Trebon summed it up with "I'm pretty stoked."
Gould's first major win earns her the Stars and Stripes
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Unlike the men's race, Gould didn't establish her lead right from the start. "The race was weird because nothing happened tactically," said eventual second-place Heather Irmiger. "It just shattered through the second feed zone and all of a sudden, Willow (Koerber, Irmiger's teammate) and I were off the front."
"The Gary Fisher girls had an advantage being able to work together," Mary McConneloug said after the race. "They were able to get about 30 seconds ahead on that first lap."
Then, "we (Irmiger and Koerber) actually crashed into each other," Irmiger said.
The crash sidelined Koerber and stranded Irmiger without help out on the wide-open, windy and hot course. "Georgia was right behind us when we crashed so I just killed myself on the second lap hoping that she felt bad enough that I could stretch out the gap," Irmiger said. "But she was just so strong today."
Gould says she was surprised to suddenly find herself within reach of the lead in the biggest race of her career. "My result last weekend (fifth in the Deer Valley cross country) gave me a little more confidence coming into today and I know I was riding strong but I was surprised to win," she said. "When I caught Heather, I was only trying to ride a smart race and parcel my energy. I didn't really attack, I just tried to keep my pace up." That pacesetting was enough. Gould won with a 1:29 advantage over Irmiger.
Once she knew she was too far back to contend for a higher placing, McConneloug says she switched into preservation mode. "I looked back and saw that there was no-one there so I just put my head down to hold onto third."
Pre-race favorite Vanlandingham suffered in the California heat. "I've been feeling a little tired, worn down," she said after the race. "I knew I wasn't 100-percent. Plus I crashed yesterday and hurt my hip so I just didn't have the power I needed." The two-time NORBA series champion fell to seventh place by the finish but plans to treat her injury tomorrow and line up for short track on Sunday for a chance at redemption.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rocky Arroyo / www.arroyophotography.com
- Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski Jeremy G-Force!
- Adam Craig leads this pack while completing the first of four laps.
- Todd Wells Well made turn.
- Ryan Trebon chose us how to do it without a parachute in the first lap.
- Barry Wicks makes his way to second place while on the second of four laps.
- Jeremiah Bishop makes his way to third place while working the second of four laps.
- Ryan Trebon on the Verge of a 1st place finish while completing lap three.
- Todd Wells works the turns on lap three.
- Barry Wicks working hard to secure a second place finish during lap 3.
- Jeremiah Bishop working hard chase down Barry Wicks during lap 3.
- Ryan Trebon shows his success at the finish line.
- Barry Wicks shows his excitement at the finish line.
- Jeremiah Bishop coming through the finish shoot to claim 3rd place.
- Jeremiah Bishop coming through the finish shoot to claim 3rd place.
- Georgia Gould shows her determination at the start line for the pro women cross country race.
- Shonny Vanlandingham - definitely upbeat at the start line despite the competitive field and high temperatures.
- Mary McConneloug ready for the race ahead.
- Heather Irmiger shows us her serious side.
- Mary McConneloug prepares for the drop during lap 1 of 3.
- Georgia Gould slowly works her way to first place during lap 1 of 3.
- Shonny Vanlandingham struts her stuff during lap 1 of 3.
- Jamie Whitmore shows us how to adhere to gravity during steep turns.
- Heather Irmiger works her descents during lap 2 of 3.
- Georgia Gould begins to secure her first place slot during lap 2 of 3.
- Mary McConneloug shows her dedication to the down hill on lap 2 of 3.
- Georgia Gould on the up hill during lap 3.
- Mary McConneloug works the ascent during lap 3 of 3.
- Shonny Vanlandingham in the ascent during lap 3 of 3.
- Shonny Vanlandingham in the ascent during lap 3 of 3.
- Georgia Gould and Shonny Vanlandingham line opportunity shot!
- Riders cool off before podium time.
- Women's podium - Georgia Gould, Heather Irmiger, Mary McConneloug, Susan Haywood, and Dara Marks Marino
- Susan Haywood focuses on securing a strong finish.
Images by Steve Medcroft / www.cyclingnews.com
- JHK rode a 29er in the US National Championship race. He said he got what he needed from the bike.
- Todd Wells (GT/Hyundai) at the start
- Barry Wicks (Kona/Les Gets) at the start
- Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW) looked to have determination in his heart
- Adam Craig (Team Giant) lost contact with the lead group, fell back with Mike Broderick (Kenda/Seven Cycles) and Carl Decker (Team Giant) only to surge again for fifth
- Ryan Trebon off the front in the first lap.
- The chase group in the first lap
- Adam Craig lost contact up the long climb at the beginning of lap two
- Trebon time-trialed his way into a national-championship jersey
- Bishop pulled Wicks while he chased Trebon and earned third place for his trouble
- JHK struggled to stay with the leaders.
- Ryan Trebon (Kona/Les Gets), waits for teammate Barry Wicks to cross the line for a one-two team sweep of the US MTB National Championships
- Partial men's podium Adam Craig (5th), Ryan Trebon (1st) and Barry Wicks (2nd)
- Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher) keeps her head down while she hunts to catch Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) on their final lap.
- Shonny Vanlandingham crashed in training Thursday and says she couldn’t find enough power in her injured hips to keep the pace of the leaders.
- Georgia Gould wins her first national championship
- Irmiger rolls across the line for second.
- Women's podium Sue Haywood, Heather Irmiger, Georgia Gould, Mary McConneloug, Dara Marks-Marino
Images by Rob O'Dea/www.BaldZebra.com
- JHK looks confident at the call-up
- Adam Craig adds style to the call-up
- A million watts and 90 degrees of scorching sun
- By mid-way through lap 1 Trebon had the lead he would take to victory
- Proud father - Ryan Trebon's father waits anxiously at the line for Ryan to crush the field.
- Victory & relief… - Trebon crosses the line with time to spare
- Thanks, Dad!
- Trebon greets runner-up and teammate Barry Wicks
- The Men's Pro XC Podium
- The women's pro field takes off for a hot ride in the sun
- Willow Koerber had her game face on at the start of the race
- Mary McConneloug chased hard
- Heather Irminger hung tough on Georgia's wheel on the steaming hot road climb
- Dara Marks worked hard by herself in pursuit of the podium
- It is ALL Georgia!
- Heather Irminger crosses the line for the silver medal
- Alison Dunlap turned out to congratulate her teammate!
- Sue Haywood rounds out the podium
- The women's Pro XC Podium
Results
Pro men 1 Ryan Trebon (Kona/Les-Gets) 2.02.25 2 Barry Wicks (Kona/Les-Gets) 0.54 3 Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW) 1.29 4 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) 2.50 5 Adam Craig (Giant) 3.12 6 Todd Wells (Gt Bicycle) 5.33 7 Carl Decker 7.02 8 Michael Broderick (Seven Cycles) 8.10 9 Nick Waite (Kelly Benefits Strategies) 8.19 10 Jeff Schalk (Trek-Vw East Coast) 8.56 11 Aren Timmel (Soulcraft) 10.04 12 Jay Henry 10.18 13 Alan Obye (SRAM) 10.28 14 Andy Schultz (Bear Naked) 11.19 15 Erik Tonkin (Kona/Team) 12.04 16 Jeff Hall (Salsa Cycles) 12.39 17 Tim Olson (Trek Vw) 13.56 18 Kevin Bradford-Parish (Bicycle Bu) 14.27 19 Cody Peterson (3D Racing/Hillenbrand) 15.47 20 Keith Hickerson (Tamarack) 16.05 21 Sean Donovan (Cytomax/KHS) 16.34 22 Kyle Dixon (Bicycle Warehouse) 16.59 23 Michael Andres (Team Chico) 17.07 24 Dana Weber (Jax Bicycles) 17.34 25 Michael Janelle (Tokyo Joe's) 17.35 26 Jason Sager (Hotel) 18.03 27 Charles Jenkins 18.46 28 Jason Moeschler 18.47 29 Ross Schnell (Trek/VW) 20.05 30 Eric Ransom (Tamarack) 21.14 31 Lucas Livermon (Cycling) 21.23 32 Stephen Iles (Comotion) 21.34 33 Tj Woodruff (Trego Wi Usac Litespeed/) 22.26 34 Brent Winebarger (Health FX) 25.09 35 Bear Perrin (Kenda/Jamis) 26.44 36 Leonardo Sandoval (Bicycle) 27.04 37 Blake Zumbrunnen (Revolution) 27.18 38 Daniel Corum (Inland) 33.34 DNF Ariel Lindsley (Maverick ) DNF Clint Muhlfeld (Sportsman ) DNF Hal Helbock (Cytomax/Kh) DNF Walker Ferguson (Scott/Spin) DNF Luke Pennington DNF Noah Holcomb (Bear Naked) DNF David Wyandt (Mcguire) DNF Eric Jones (Raleigh Factory) DNF Paul Hanson DNF Nat Ross (Subaru-Gary Fisher) DNF Matt Kelly (Subaru-Gary Fisher) DNF Charlie Pendry (Inland Construction) DNF Dain Al Zaffke DNF Patrick Bush (Clif Bar) Pro women 1 Georgia Gould (Luna Women) 1.46.26 2 Heather Irmiger (Subaru-Gary Fisher) 1.29 3 Mary Mcconneloug (Seven Cycle) 3.35 4 Dara Marks Marino (Titus/Kenda) 4.58 5 Susan Haywood (Trek/VW) 5.45 6 Jennifer Wilson (Titus Grass roots) 6.13 7 Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Women) 6.38 8 Jamie Whitmore (Felt Racing) 7.23 9 Melissa Thomas (Tokyo Joes) 8.34 10 Kathy Sherwin (Ford Cycling) 10.17 11 Sarah Barber (Tamarack) 10.56 12 Stacey Scanlan (Tamarack) 11.27 13 Shannon Gibson (Crazy Cat) 11.44 14 Alice Pennington 13.24 15 Kelli Emmett (Ford Cycling) 14.41 16 Cassandra Perkins (Land Rover) 14.43 17 Sara Bresnick-Zocchi (Ford Cycling) 15.24 18 Theresa Richardson (Bear Naked) 16.02 19 Chrissy Bono (Bicycle) 18.26 20 Kristin Danielson (Ford-Basis) 19.02 21 Meggan Flaherty (Bicycle) 19.47 22 Shannon Holden (Velo Bella) 20.50 23 Lynn Stott 21.14 24 Judy Freeman (Cannondale) 21.23 25 Chris Costa (Team Tamarack) 22.05 26 Zephanie Blasi (Kenda/Sinister) 22.36 27 Rebecca Gross (Armed Forces) 24.55 28 Kristina Andrus (Dean Bikes) 25.03 29 Ann Fitzsimmons (Schwalbe Tires) 26.41 30 Kim Passafiume (Velo Bella) 27.01 31 Nina Baum (Bear Naked) 27.02 32 Heather Svahn (Content) 27.33 33 Lorien Lightfield (Tamarack) 29.46 34 Abbie Durkee (Hunter Cycles) 38.11 DNF Krista Park (Colavita/A) DNF Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) DNF Megan Monroe (Sports Gary Fisher) DNF Jennifer Tilley (Kona-Velo) DNF Becca Blay (Bear Naked)
