NORBA USA National Championships - CN

USA, July 13-July 16, 2006

Photography

Race 8 - Sunday, July 16: Downhill,  

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Images by Steve Medcroft / www.cyclingnews.com

• Women's winner Tara Llanes (Giant Bicycles) left the full downhill bike home and rode a 7-inch-travel Giant Rain to a DH national championship.
• Tara Llanes wins an automatic berth on the US Worlds team. A mountain-crosser by trade, she says she'll have to think about whether or not to compete in both disciplines.
• Marla Streb came third in only her second race back from giving birth to daughter Nikoya.
• The dry course gave riders fits.
• Duncan Riffle (Honda/Ironhorse), 2006 US Downhill National Champion.

Images by Rob O'Dea/www.BaldZebra.com

• Downhill racers enjoy the view of San Francisco across the Bay from the top of the DH course.
• Jeff Evans, racing for KHS/Utopia chases his shadow
• Rich Bond races for the edge of the earth
• DH racers didn't have time to enjoy the view.
• Keith Mott, racing for KHS, took the straight line
• Mikey Haderer hits the steeps racing for FOX Shox / Yeti
• Ryan Finney scorched the earth on his way to a silver medal
• Duncan Riffle snatched the win by less than 1 second…

Race 7 - Sunday, July 16: Short Track,  

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Images by Steve Medcroft / www.cyclingnews.com

• Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix). Even though she had physical therapy on her injured hip Saturday, she says she still couldn't find the power to get to the front of the aggressive short-track race.
• Sue Haywood (Trek/VW) won her second national championship of the weekend. The first came in super D on Saturday.
• Georgia Gould (Luna Chix), crowned cross-country champion on Friday, was active in the lead group in Sunday's short track.
• Willow Koerber (Subaru/Gary Fisher).
• Haywood leads the women down a fast, paved descent.
• Georgia Gould hung with the leaders until the last lap.
• Kelli Emmett (Ford Cycling) posted an impressive third.
• Dara Marks-Marino (Titus/Kenda) rode aggressively and earned herself second in the national championship competition.
• Sue Haywood (Trek/VW), 2006 US Short Track National Champion.
• Seven stitches and an inch of bandage line Todd Well's elbows at the short track start.
• JHK used 700c wheels and cyclo-cross tires on his Race Day 29er in short track. His wasn't the only unusual equipment choice; Trek/VW's Ross Schnell rode 700c front and 26-inch rear on his 9.9 hardtail and Carl Decker went with the singlespeed he used to win the SS cross-country championship on Saturday.
• The always smiling Ryan Trebon.
• Rad Ross Schnell (Trek/VW).
• Barry Wicks earns the Kona/Les Gets team their second national championship of the weekend; a matched set to Ryan Trebon's elite cross-country title.
• Course designers ran the short-track race over the final bumps of Saturday's mountain-cross course.
• Wicks, Bishop and JHK work their way across the top of the course mid race.
• Look left - and you'll see Ross Schnell make the attack on the last lap that, when he dropped his chain five seconds later, launched Barry Wicks to his first elite mountain-bike win.
• Barry Wicks (Kona/Les Gets), 2006 US Short Track National Champion.

Images by Rob O'Dea/www.BaldZebra.com

• Trek VW's Sue Haywood looked calm, cool (?) and collected before the race start under scorching sun and apocalycptic 96+ degree temps
• Mary McConneloug and Willow Koeber pushed the pace and strung the pack out early
• The short track ascent of the mountain cross course kept the women's field tight through much of the race
• Heather Irminger wore her contempt for dopers on her sleeve
• Late in the race, Haywood powered away from the field…
• The new National Short Track Champion - Sue Haywood!
• Post race, Haywood took some time track side to savor her return to championship form
• Women's Pro Short Track championship podium
• The pride of Stars & Stripes…
• Marin County, CA racer Pat Bush takes the line for Cliff Bar
• Ryan Trebon sports new Stars & Stripes gloves to celebrate his XC National Champion title
• Barry Wicks was the picture of confidence before the start
• The men's field hits the first climb…what's wrong with this picture?
• Early, it looked like Trebon might give a repeat of his his field crushing XC performance
• Todd Wells looked like he should add Kaiser to his list of proud sponsors…
• NorCal mtn biking icon, Mark Weir of WTB was a fan favorite
• Podium contenders separated early, but battled until the final lap for the finishing order
• On the final climb, Barry Wicks through down the gauntlet and put his stam on the race.
• Wicks' effort paid off…
• After the race, Wicks was in a state of shock…Kona Les Gets takes a pair of National Championships!
• Barry burned as many calories smiling as racing…
• Men's Pro Short Track national championship podium

Race 6 - Saturday, July 15: Mountain Cross,  

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Images by Rob O'Dea/www.BaldZebra.com

• Brian Culp riding for local sponsor WTB gets in some pre-race flying
• Rich Housman of Team Yeti looked fast and focused early on
• Superman Brian Lopes was all business during the practice session
• Semi-Pro racer, Kyler Geraci lit up a strong field early, but ended up taking home silver
• Kevin Huffman dusted the semi-pro mens field to capture the stars and stripes
• Lopes made the opening heats look easy as he tore through the field
• Eric Carter was on a mission as he took apart the earlier heats
• In the final Eric Carter got the hole shot on Lopes…
• In the Semi-Pro final Geraci took advantage of the carnage to get out early…but couldn’t hold it to the line
• Shimano insider Chad Roberts was a crowd favorite bringing the masses to their feet in the semi-pro consolation race
• In the final, Carter took the holeshot out of the first turn and never looked back
• Carter's strong line helped gain margin over Lopes…and to ultimately capture the stars and stripes by a nose
• A rider for Bear Naked Cannondale summons warp speed from Scotty in the engine room
• Jill Kintner showed the field why SHE wears the rainbow jersey!
• Tara Llanes rode out from under her competition on her way to the final round
• In the women's final it looked like it was all Llanes as the competiton strung out behind her…
• Llanes overcooked a technical berm and took a detour that allowed Kintner to go on for the win and the field to pass her.

Images by Steve Medcroft / www.cyclingnews.com

• Jill Kintner considers the final stretch of the Sonoma National Championship mountain-cross course before her semi-final heat.
• Semi pro category riders went first, kicking up dust on the dry and slippery course.
• World champion Brian Lopes (GT) was on hand to take a stab at the US National Championship jersey.
• Eric Carter (Mongoose) held off Brian Lopes by a tire's width to successfully defend his mountain cross national championship jersey.
• Jill Kintner - the second world champion in attendance in Sonoma - made short work of the seven-woman field.
• Lopes hounds Carter on the final straight.
• Like last year, Carter is just returning from injury to vie for the championship jersey.
• Lopes wanted to see video to make sure he had been beaten.

Race 5 - Saturday, July 15: Super D,  

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Images by Steve Medcroft / www.cyclingnews.com

• The super D start looked more like the beginning of a MTB group ride than a pro-level race
• Fox Sport News had a ten-man camera crew gathering footage for a future piece on the US National Championships
• Chris Eatough is not only an endurance specialist but, being from the rooty terrain of the American Northeast, a skillful bike handler
• Ariel Linsley (Maverick)
• Ross Schnell (Trek/VW) gets the royal media treatment before the super D start.
• Adam Craig (Team Giant), Chris Eatough (Trek/VW) and Ariel Lindsley (Maverick)
• The super D started with a 100-meter run-with-your-bike.
• Riders mounted their bikes after the run and immediately started downhill.
• The course then followed some of the hard-packed dirt roads that carry drivers out to the farthest corners of the property when the Infineon Raceway hosts an annual NASCAR race.
• Melissa Thomas hasn't gotten enough of Sonoma yet. She won the marathon on Thursday, raced cross-country on Friday, was seen here on the super D start line and says she plans to enter the short-track race on Sunday.
• Marla Streb (Luna Chix)
• Sue Haywood (Trek/VW); bundled up against the 85-degree cold.
• Kelli Emmett (Ford Cycling) lost the jersey she earned in 2005 at the Mammoth Mountain Nationals.
• The women tear down one of the grassy downhills in Saturday's super D.
• Fields stayed close in the group format for this year's super D (a change from last year's individually timed runs).

Race 4 - Saturday, July 15: Singlespeed cross-country,  

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Images by Steve Medcroft / www.cyclingnews.com

• Ryan Trebon is greedy; he's not satisfied with the single national championship jersey he won in Saturday's elite cross country race - he wants the singlespeed jersey too.
• Travis Brown rolls out his prototype 69er, a hybrid singlespeed with a 26-inch rear wheel and 29-inch front wheel. Trek has said they expect to see the bike in production for '07.
• Three fast single speeders; Carl Decker (Team Giant), newly-crowned US Cross Country National Champion Ryan Trebon (Kona/Les Gets) and Marathon National Champion Travis Brown (Trek/FRS).
• One brave woman threw herself to the wolves in the open singlespeed class.
• Carl Decker repeats as Singlespeed Cross Country National Champion.

Race 3 - Friday, July 14: Cross Country,  

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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

Race 2 - Friday, July 14: U23 Cross Country,  

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Images by Rocky Arroyo / www.arroyophotography.com

• The U23 men's cross country race started in cool morning air. The low clouds would burn off by race's end.
• Andrew Freye
• U23 riders did four laps of the 7.7-mile course.
• Spencer Paxson leads his teammate up a gravel-road section of the course.
• Mitchell Peterson
• Ross Scatchard
• Sam Schultz worked with his two U23 National Team mates to tightly control the race.
• Schultz earned his family's second U23 national championship jersey. The first was won by brother Andy in 2005.
• Mitchell Peterson and his teammates chased the U23 team riders without success.
• A look of acceptence from the field as the heavily-favored U23 team dominated the race.
• Sam Schultz was able to outsprint his teammates to take his first national-championship jersey.
• Sam Schultz

Race 1 - Thursday, July 13: Marathon,  

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Images by Steve Medcroft / Cyclingnews.com

• Mike Janelle (Tokyo Joes)
• Jay Henry (3D/Hollenbrand) was outnumbered by Trek riders today and fell to perfectly-executed team tactics by Travis Brown and Chris Eatough
• Chris Eatough (Trek/VW), six-time 24 Hours Solo World Champion
• Travis Brown is semi-retired. He works for Trek as in product design and testing and shows up to take a win or five in the middle of the season. He defended his marathon national championship jersey to perfection on Thursday, winning for the second year in a row.
• Eatough, Brown, Henry - the main players in Thursday's marathon
• Men's start
• Women's start
• Nat Ross (Subaru/Gary Fisher) just competed as part of the winning four-man team in the 2'700 mile Race Across America.
• Melissa Thomas (Tokyo Joes), led the women's race from start to finish
• Monique Sawicki (Team MATA), came second last year to Gretchen Reeves and second again this year to Melissa Thomas. The young endurance phenom is just recovering from a nasty crash at the Mont Saint Anne World Cup marathon where she suffered severe facial lacerations and a concussion after flipping into a boulder on a downhill section of the course.
• The course was mostly racecourse roadway, hard-pack dirt road and some well-worn singletrack
• Specialized is based in Morgan Hill, California; just a short drive down the freeway from Sonoma.
• Travis Brown launched an attack that only Eatough could follow. The pair worked together for the entire second half of the race until their lead was secure then fought each other for the win.
• Josie Beggs (Starbucks), won last week's marathon in Deer Valley, Utah.
• Karl Etzel (X-Fusion) runs a Web site dedicated to endurance mountain biking www.ride424.com.
• Eatough and Brown rode for more than two hours without company.
• Eatough fishes for space to hold fluids as he heads out for lap seven of eight. With the cloudless sky, shadeless terrain and skyrocketing temperatures, hydration was key to success in Thursday's marathon.
• Melissa Thomas on her second-to-last lap.
• Travis Brown wins his second consecutive marathon national championship
• Eatough was disappointed that Brown was able to attack right when his cramping legs were giving him trouble on the final lap.
• Melissa Thomas races cyclo-cross and X-Terra's most of the year. She says she will ride super D, short track and maybe cross-country this weekend; a trip she considers and destination vacation - with racing mixed in
• Men's podium: (l to r), Mike Janelle, Jay Henry, Travis Brown, Chris Eatough, Mike Lee
• Travis Brown, his marathon Stars and Stripes jersey and the Trek Top Fuel he used to earn the it.