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Sea Otter Classic - 1
Monterey, CA USA, April 12-15, 2007
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage Next Stage
Race 2 - Friday, April 13: Time Trial
Nash and Kabush win time trial
By Sue George in Monterey
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Cross country racers got a chance to warm up their legs with a short time trial this morning during day two of Sea Otter competition. Katerina Nash (Luna) and Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) took top honors in the tightly contested event in which less than 10 seconds separated podium finishers in both elite races.
Memories of a boggy, muddy 2006 time trial were not far from anyone's mind, and most racers were grateful for the dry, fast conditions on the sub two-mile course sandwiched on a hillside between the expo area and the dual slalom.
With the top men finishing in under three and half minutes; their efforts resembled more of an individual pursuit than a cross country mountain bike race. Racers' abilities to punch the climbs early in the lap and carry momentum through the later, tighter, more rutted sections were the keys to success.
Luna takes top two podium spots with near-tie
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The women went first, with intervals of 30 seconds separating each. Luna ladies Katerina Nash and Georgia Gould won the top two positions, nearly tied and within less than one second of each other. Willow Koerber (Subaru - Gary Fisher) finished third, four seconds back. Then followed Sue Haywood (Trek / VW) and Wendy Simms (Frontrunners) to finish off the podium.
After the race, Pan Am champion Gould commented on the brief duration of the event. "You warm up for an hour and then you're done so fast. The course was short and fast. I don't remember that much. But it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I remembered it a lot worse."
Maybe that was because last year's short track and time trial courses were littered with hub-deep mud holes that seemed to be in different places for different racers. Subaru / Gary Fisher's Heather Irminger, who finished eighth, recalled with a laugh, "There was a man-eating puddle. Last year, it was like quicksand."
Standing in the bright sunlight after the race, fourth place finisher Haywood called the course, "a good opener for tomorrow and the next day. It was a tricky course for sure. The first part was all climbing and if you didn't get that nailed, you'd lose out.
"I think the strongest person will win today," predicted Haywood before results were available.
Last year's third place finisher Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain / Haywood) just barely missed the podium by finishing in sixth, but she wasn't too disappointed. Today was just one of those days.
"There were quite a few ruts in the course, and you know you're going to hit one of them at least, but I hit every single one of them or that's what it felt like," said Sydor. "Then, at the end, someone had a flat and they were standing in the course fixing it. I was a little disappointed to have to slam on my brakes before the high speed part. But it was a solid ride and I stayed upright."
Finishing only six seconds back, Sydor was clearly among the strongest women out there. The Canadian's goal today was to do well enough today to set herself up for tomorrow's short track. "I came in with the objective of doing well today because I'm guessing the short track start positions are based on time trial. I just love the short track," she said with a big smile.
Kabush wins by five seconds
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On the men's side, Pan Am champion Kabush (Maxxis) continued his early season winning ways with another victory. The Rocky Mountain / Haywood men were gunning for Kabush, but Max Plaxton and Seamus McGrath had to settle for second and third. Frenchman Jean Christoph Peraud finished fourth ahead of South African Burry Stander.
"It went pretty smooth today," said Kabush after the race, when his time stood atop the leader board, but before everyone else had finished. "I had a few little bobbles, but I kept it on line most of the time. I ran super light tires and full suspension which I think helped a bit. I got to look at course yesterday and pre-rode this morning." Kabush finished fourth in last year's time trial.
Kabush said he hoped the forecasted rains would hold off for tomorrow's short track, but more important to him is Sunday. "I think my main focus will be the cross country laps. I like it [referring to the two 19 mile laps which are longer than those raced at most other domestic pro cross country race - ed.). I like the longer races, you have to get in your head a bit more and pace yourself."
Absent from the podium were the Kona men. Last year's US cross country national champion Ryan Trebon finished 10th while his teammate, the reigning short track national champion Barry Wicks, finished 18th. Wicks called his performance "all right." Already looking to the short track, he said, "I feel pretty good. It's early in the season, so we'll see. The short track course is a pretty long course. I don't care if it rains or not. If it does rain, it won't change that much."
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Fourth place racer, Frenchman Jean Christophe Peraud, was one of a handful of racers who made the journey across the Atlantic only one week before next weekend's World Cup cross country race in Houffalize, Belgium.
Peraud finished second in last year's time trial and short track and third in the cross country. "We wanted to come back. It's important for Orbea." Peraud admitted he was still feeling the travel, but said, "I did my best. I wanted to do well, and I finished fast. I hope to be going well in Belgium next week if I can get over the jetlag."
In the meantime, racers will tackle the short track Saturday afternoon followed by the cross country on Sunday.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by FJ Hughes/http://www.fhughesphoto.com/
- Katerina Nash (Luna) rode to victory in the women's race.
- Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) proved to be the fastest in the men's race.
- Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) talks with reporters after the race.
- Seamus McGrath (Rocky Mountain / Haywood) finished on the third step of the podium.
- Barry Wicks (Kona) finished 18th.
- Trek-Volkswagen's Sue Haywood placed a strong fourth.
- Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-Volkswagen) shows off Trek's new kit before heading to Europe.
- Yesterday's Super D winner Adam Craig (Giant MTB Team) could only manage seventeenth.
- Mountain biking's elder statesmen Thomas Frischknecht (Swiss Power)
- Christoph Sauser (Specialized) placed a respectable seventh.
- Jean Christophe Peraud (Orbea) leads on his way to victory.
- In the final laps, Jean Christophe Peraud (Orbea) closed in on Ryan Trebon (Kona)
Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews
- readies for the start.
- Kiara Bisaro (Team Race) gets the starting count down.
- Bear Naked Cannondale's Becca Blay on the starting line.
- Officials watch Zephanie Blasi (Kenda / X-fusion / Titus) take off.
- Specialized Factory's Lene Byberg at the start.
- Willow Koerber (Subaru / Gary Fisher) smiles after the finish.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) took second in the time trial.
- Nino Schurter (Swiss Power) warms up.
- Nat Ross (Subaru / Gary Fisher) does short races, too.
- Christoph Sauser (Specialized) readies for the start.
- Ross Schnell (Trek / VW) concentrates on the start line.
- Sam Schultz (Subaru / Gary Fisher) at the start.
- Todd Wells (GT) starts from the fence.
- Jean Christophe Peraud (Orbea) after the finish.
- Have you ever seen an Otter that could drive a VW?
Images by Mitchell Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com
- Katarina Nash (Luna) wins the women's race.
- Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) zooms to victory in the men's race.
Results
Elite Women 1 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna 4.12 2 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna 3 Willow Koerber (Can) Subaru-Gary Fisher 0.04 4 Susan Haywood (USA) Trek/VW 0.05 5 Wendy Simms (Can) Frontrunners-Steed Cycles 0.06 6 Alison Sydor (Can) Rocky Mountain - Haywood 7 Mical Dyck (Can) Trek/Terrascape Racing 0.07 8 Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 0.08 9 Zephanie Blasi (USA) Kenda / X-Fusion / Titus Mtb 0.09 10 Lene Byberg (USA) Specialized Factory Racing 0.12 11 Kathy Sherwin (USA) Titus 12 Dellys Starr (USA) BMC/Sports Garage 0.15 13 Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant 14 Asa Erlandsson (Swe) Subaru-Gary Fisher 15 Kiara Bisaro (Can) Opus 0.16 16 Jenna Zander (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale 0.17 17 Melanie McQuaid (Can) BMC/Natures Path 18 Chloe Forsman (USA) Luna 0.18 19 Jennifer Gersbach (USA) BMC/Sports Garage 0.20 20 Sue Butler (USA) Bear Naked/ Cannondale 0.21 21 Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) Luna 22 Lea Davison (USA) Trek/VW 0.22 23 Megan Monroe (USA) BMC-Sports Garage 0.29 24 Nina Baum (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale 25 Kristin Danielson (USA) Velo Bella 26 Mary-Ellen Ash (USA) Easton/Specialized 27 Emily Van Meter (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale 0.31 28 Rie Katayama (Jpn) Trek 0.32 29 Kristina Maier (USA) BMC/ Sports Garage 0.33 30 Shannon Gibson (USA) 0.34 31 Monique Sawicki (USA) Ergon / Ellsworth 0.38 32 Melanie Meyers (USA) Ford Cycling 0.41 33 Christie Pleiss (USA) Pass Pt 0.50 34 Carolyn Van Vurst (USA) Trek VW - SE Region 35 Becca Blay (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale 0.51 36 Jennifer Tilley (USA) Velo Bella - Kona 0.53 37 Theresa Richardson (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale 0.58 38 Sheryl Loan (USA) 1.01 39 Rachel Throop (USA) Team Nova 1.15 Elite Men 1 Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis 3.26 2 Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood 0.05 3 Seamus Mcgrath (USA) 0.08 4 Jean Christophe Peraud (Fra) Orbea 5 Burry Stander (RSA) Africagt Bicycles 0.09 6 Liam Killeen (GBr) Specialized Factory Racing 0.10 7 Christoph Sauser (Swi) Specialized Factory Racing 8 Ruzafa Ruben (Can) Orbea 9 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelsk (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 0.11 10 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona 11 Todd Wells (USA) Targetraining 12 Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona Les Gets Factory Team 0.13 13 Thomas Frischknecht (Swi) Swisspower 14 Ross Schnell (USA) Trek/VW 15 Nino Schurter (Swi) Swiss Power 16 Sam Schultz (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 17 Adam Craig (USA) Giant 0.14 18 Barry Wicks (USA) Kona 19 Michael Simonson (USA) Bells Brewery/Quiring Cycles00: 0.15 20 Sam Jurekovic (USA) U23 National Team 21 Jeff Schalk (Aus) Trek-VW East 0.17 22 Brent Miller (USA) WTB/Foxshox/Santacruz 0.18 23 Alan Obye (USA) SRAM 24 Jeff Hall (USA) Salsa Cycles 25 Colin Cares (USA) Usa Cycling U23 Nat'l Team 0.20 26 Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Trek/VW 0.21 27 Federico Ramirez (CRa) La Ruta De Los Conquistadore00: 0.22 28 Eric Barlevav (USA) VRC-MSVRC-MS Society 0.23 29 Mat Toulouse (Can) Team Maxxis 30 Aren Timmel (USA) Team Chico 31 Bryan Fawley (USA) Hotel San Jose/Redbudsports 0.24 32 David Wood (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale 33 Charlie Pendry (USA) Inland Construction - Btd 0.25 34 Carl Decker (USA) Giant 35 Kevin Bradford Parish (USA) Lapierre 0.26 36 Adam Snyder (USA) Balance Bar/Devo 0.27 37 Chance Noble (USA) California Giant/Specialized 38 Thomas Turner (USA) Cannondale 39 Cale Redpath (USA) 3D Racing 0.29 40 Ben Thompson (USA) Santiam Bicycles / Breakaway 41 Cody Peterson (USA) Scott Bicycles 42 Grant Kier (USA) Red Barn Bicycles 43 Kenny Burt (USA) Motion Based / Garmin Mtb 44 Nick Martin (USA) Trek/VW 0.30 45 Andy Schultz (USA) Montana State Univesity 46 Matthew Hadley (Can) Rocky Mountain Haywood 47 Ken Onodera (Jpn) Subaru-Gary Fisher 48 Miguel Valadez (USA) Zumwalts 0.32 49 Kevin Smallman (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale 50 Michael Raney (USA) Voodoo Cycles 0.33 51 Glenn Fant (USA) 52 Nat Ross (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 0.34 53 Kelly Magelky (USA) 54 Leonardo Sandoval (USA) Socal Specialized Team 55 Kevin Rice (USA) Tokyo Joes/Golite 0.36 56 Sloane Anderson (USA) Topeak-Ergon 0.38 57 Matt Green 58 Michael Lee (USA) Trek 0.39 59 Eric Ransom (USA) Team Tamarack Resort 60 Mitchell Peterson (USA) Devo 0.42 61 Shun Matsumoto (Jpn) Trek Japan 62 Paul Hanson (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale 63 David Yakaitis (USA) Bpg/ Montano Velo 64 Trevor Downing (Isr) Bear Valley Bikes 0.43 65 Dror Pekatch (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 0.44 66 TJ Woodruff (USA) Momentumendurance.Com 0.46 67 Dustin Wanstrath (USA) Team Tamarack 0.59
