Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Giro finale Photo ©: Bettini |
Sea Otter Classic Mountain Bike Races - 1
Monterey, California, USA, April 16-19, 2009
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage Next Race
Race 2 - April 17: Super D
Team Giant gets weekend off to a winning start
By Sue George in Monterey, California
Team Giant's Carl Decker and Kelli Emmett won the opening mountain bike event of the weekend, the elite men's and women's Super D on Friday afternoon. The race was held in sunny conditions on a dry and dusty doubletrack course with no major technical obstacles.
Racers started kneeling, facing away from their bikes with their heads to the ground. Upon the official start, they turned around, ran for their up-side-down bikes and righted them before taking off.
Emmett takes strategic win
 |
From the top, it was a four-woman battle. The experienced Emmett, who finished second last year to the absent Lea Davison, used her experience to strategically time her final attack en route to her victory ahead of Mary Ellen Ash and Rachel Lloyd.
"If you've done this race a few times, you start to realize that it's better to wait until the last climb and attack there. You have room to pass on a two-track road, and you can conserve energy that way and go for it at the end."
"I've been working on a lot of sprints in the past few weeks, and it seemed like it worked out well today," said Emmett.
Wendy Simms took off from the start and initially gapped the other women by 20m.
"I didn't play it too smart. I hadn't done this one before and I didn't realize how much drafting was involved. I got the hole shot and felt good. I could hear them behind me."
"There wasn't any singletrack," said Simms, who conceded afterward that she attacked too soon given the wind. "Stupid racing gets your fourth place every time," she said referring to being caught by Ash, Lloyd and Emmett as they bridged back up to her.
No one could follow Emmett's final attack.
"I was able to get by Wendy and Rachel and held on for second," said an out-of-breath Ash after the finish. "It was a hard effort."
Lloyd, who was out for a fun day of racing and has no plans to race the short track or the cross country, finished third. "You just need a big gear and have to use your energy in the right places. "I'd planned to wait for the third climb and attack, but I went on the second bump. When Kelli attacked at the end, I couldn't go with her."
Decker faster than the rest
 |
Decker won solo with a several-second margin over Aaron Bradford and Nate Byrom. Despite being the clear favorite going into the men's race, Decker wasn't the first off the line.
"I was sixth out of the start. I'm somehow never very good at getting to my bike first, but by the top of the first climb, I was able to get back to the front," said Decker, who stayed there the rest of the race.
"The course was the same as last year, but it had less ruts. You could have passed or been passed at the end because of the lack of ruts. So it wasn't as dangerous, although it felt just as dangerous because you're still going fast over water bars."
"I relied on my fitness to get away from the guys that might have bigger gonads than me," said Decker, who will also race the short track and cross country races this weekend.
Behind Decker the race was for second. "Once Decker was gone, we were all pacelining and going back and forth at the front of our group," said Bradford, who finished second just a few weeks after taking fourth at the Super D at Fontana.
Smilling after his race, third-placed Byrom said, "The start was really creative. I was fifth going into the first climb, and I saw Carl coming, so I grabbed his wheel as he went by, but it was really a battle between me and the other guys."
"We were all in a stalemate - spinning and coasting - as we chased Decker," said Jason Sager, who won the start and then finished fourth. "He was so savvy. He got off in just the right place."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net
- Carl Decker (Giant) won the elite men's Super D.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant) used her experience to get a strategic win in the women's Super D.
- The Sea Otter Classic is always a festival as well as a bicycle race.
- Kelli Emmett (Giant) is always a Super D favourite.
- Carl Decker (Giant) sporting some cool goggles for the race.
- Where there are bike racers there are coffee vendors.
- The infield at Laguna Seca Raceway is packed with bicycle industry vendors.
- Rachel Lloyd (Proman) is the current USA Super D champion.
- Rachel Lloyd's (Proman) Super D race will be her only action for the weekend.
- Wenndy Simms (Kona) is also one of the race favorites.
- Oakley Girl Rachel Troop
- Jason Sager (Jamis) is wearing a movie camera during the race.
- Junior Men staging for their race.
- Maureen Kunz (Lost Coast Brewery) waiting for her race to start.
- Professional men setting their bikes upside down for the Le Mans start.
- Robert Marion (Kenda/Tomac) does plenty of mountainous training in North Carolina.
- Professional men kneel down and have to touch their heads to the ground for the start.
- Professional men must jump up and spin around to claim their bikes before the real race starts.
- Professional men running to their bikes.
- Christopher Everist gets the hole shot.
- Aaron Bradford went on to a second place finish.
- Nate Byrom riding to a third place finish.
- Carl Decker (Giant) chasing Leland Scott.
- Carl Decker (Giant) leads by the end of the climb and goes on to win.
- Professional men race down the valley in a cloud of dust.
- The Sea Otter Super D course is run on open fire roads.
- Men in the distance on a fire road climb, including Jason Sager (Jamis) and Carl Decker (Giant).
- Wendy Simms (Kona) gets the hole shot in the women's race.
- Rachel Lloyd (Proman) chasing Wendy Simms (Kona).
- Kelli Emmett (Giant) overtaking Anina Aaron (Kenda/Tomac) on her way to victory.
- Shanon Holder racing out of the saddle.
- Rebecca Rusch (Specialized) appears to be having a lot of fun.
- Jamie Stamps (Another Bike Shop) climbing out of the saddle.
- First year professional Philicia Marion (Kenda/Titus).
Results
Elite men
1 Carl Decker (USA) 6.21.70
2 Aaron Bradford (USA) 0.08.50
3 Nate Byrom (USA) 0.09.20
4 Jason Sager (USA) 0.11.00
5 Travis Livermon (USA) 0.13.00
6 Sam Benedict (USA) 0.13.40
7 Robert Marion (USA) 0.13.90
8 Christopher Everist (Can) 0.17.80
9 Wes Dichson (USA) 0.18.40
10 Scott Leland (USA) 0.19.00
11 Robert Bender (USA) 0.26.40
12 Jordan Lopez (USA) 0.28.60
13 Ian Massey (USA) 0.29.10
14 Adam Parke (USA) 0.29.70
15 Timothy Carson (USA) 0.36.90
16 Joel Baty (USA) 0.37.20
17 Matt Wittler (USA) 0.42.80
18 Allan Laframboise (USA) 0.43.60
19 Chris Brown (USA) 0.52.10
20 Ray Storm (USA) 0.57.80
21 Rich Houseman (USA) 1.14.00
22 Michael Males (USA) 1.14.70
23 Tyler Thompson (USA) 1.15.20
24 Naish Ulmer (USA) 1.37.80
DNF Ross Schnell (USA)
DNF Joe Lawwill (USA)
Elite women
1 Kelli Emmett (USA) 7.15.50
2 Mary-Ellen Ash (USA) 0.01.70
3 Rachel Lloyd (USA) 0.03.20
4 Wendy Simms (Can) 0.07.70
5 Maureen Kunz (USA) 0.26.80
6 Jamie Stamps (USA) 0.29.90
7 Anina Aaron (USA) 0.31.50
8 Shannon Holden (USA) 0.34.00
9 Rebecca Rusch (USA) 0.36.60
10 Philicia Marion (USA) 1.19.30
11 Rachel Throop (USA) 1.40.90
DNF Jean Ann Mckirdy (Can)
Men 18 & under
1 Tyler Allison (Can) 6.53.70
2 Casey Sanchez (USA) 0.03.20
3 Chase Dickens (USA) 0.04.20
4 Brady Adams (USA) 0.18.70
5 Riley Predum (USA) 0.21.80
6 Trevor Thomassen (USA) 0.22.30
7 Noah Hanagan (USA) 0.27.50
8 Colby Pastore (USA) 0.29.70
9 Tommy Bitner (USA) 0.33.80
10 Anthony Goryl (USA) 0.49.40
11 Casey Williams (USA) 0.52.40
12 Matthew Prout (USA) 0.56.20
13 Gene Capinas (USA) 0.59.00
14 Bryce Semonian (USA) 1.04.10
15 Colin Kenny 1.06.90
16 Jason Hadsell (USA) 1.08.40
17 Jacob Stowe (USA) 1.08.80
18 Matt Atwood (USA) 1.12.80
19 Richard Schoenfelder (USA) 1.14.60
20 Avery Cook (USA) 1.21.70
21 Peter Woolley (USA) 1.26.20
22 James Schmidt (USA) 1.32.40
23 Liam Earl (USA) 1.32.80
24 Ian Stowe (USA) 1.33.30
25 Reilly Hohman (USA) 1.42.70
26 Andrew Henn (USA) 1.46.50
27 Miles Lim (USA) 1.50.60
28 Brian Twiggs (USA) 1.51.80
29 Ethan Cook (USA) 1.52.90
30 Andrew Clifton (USA) 1.59.90
31 Jimmy Lucchesi (USA) 2.31.40
32 Zach Williams (USA) 2.33.40
33 Bryce Zaffarano (USA) 2.45.50
34 Matteo Jorgenson (USA) 2.52.50
35 Anthony Reardon (USA) 3.41.30
36 Michael Beck (USA) 5.17.30
DNF Tyler Oreilly (USA)
DNF Antonio Enriquez.V (USA)
Men 19-29
1 Joshua Olmstead (USA) 6.46.10
2 Clinton Claassen (USA) 0.00.30
3 Chris Baddick (USA) 0.00.80
4 Chris Thibodeau (USA) 0.12.20
5 Bobby Langin Junior (USA) 0.12.60
6 Brian Crooks (USA) 0.14.40
7 Graham Aldredge (USA) 0.30.70
8 Justin Wolff (USA) 0.31.90
9 Dustin Gillingham (USA) 0.32.80
10 Jamie Lee (USA) 0.37.70
11 Marshall Eames (USA) 0.46.80
12 Mathias Marley (Nor) 0.47.10
13 Jacob Douglas (USA) 0.51.40
14 Mostafa Ozyilmaz (USA) 0.53.30
15 Drew Rohde (USA) 0.53.70
16 Sean Walker (USA) 0.57.80
17 Jake Kinney (USA) 0.58.80
18 John Valera (USA) 0.59.10
19 Stephen Marshall (USA) 1.00.20
20 Aaron Peterson (USA) 1.01.00
21 Alexander Macmillan (Can) 1.01.50
22 Stephane Roch (USA) 1.06.10
23 Sam Edgemon (USA) 1.06.50
24 Ryan Anderson (USA) 1.07.00
25 David Bender (USA) 1.10.90
26 Isaac Pallone (USA) 1.20.40
27 Gabriel Shaw (USA) 1.20.90
28 Michael Hutson (USA) 1.22.90
29 Brennan Kim (USA) 1.35.40
30 Travis Westcott (USA) 1.36.40
31 Matt Henn (USA) 1.39.80
32 Luke Burnett (USA) 1.40.20
33 Jeff Bernaeyge (USA) 1.44.80
34 Jose Lopez (USA) 1.54.70
35 Kyle Monez (USA) 1.55.40
36 Leonardo Sapon (USA) 2.10.40
37 Sulien Oneill (USA) 2.13.60
38 Chris Partida (USA) 2.27.40
39 Sam Rodriguez (USA) 2.28.60
40 Humberto Barraza (USA) 2.38.40
41 Steve Ramirez (USA) 3.04.40
42 Kyle Kindred (USA) 4.13.90
DNF Morgan Brewer (USA)
Men 30-39
1 Jason Kent (USA) 7.10.00
2 Brian Butler (USA) 0.00.30
3 James Bender (USA) 0.02.00
4 Garett Heitman (USA) 0.05.80
5 Shane Flynn (USA) 0.18.10
6 Peter Verdone (USA) 0.20.80
7 Matthew Mcnelley (USA) 0.24.80
8 John Hurley (USA) 0.25.80
9 Jeff Stanners (USA) 0.27.10
10 Fun Chad (USA) 0.29.60
11 Matthew Oconnor (USA) 0.31.00
12 Kevin Garcia (USA) 0.33.80
13 Chris Messina (USA) 0.38.50
14 Michael Page (USA) 0.42.60
15 Matthew Walters (USA) 0.48.30
16 Clint Stevenson (USA) 0.48.90
17 Jonathan Brandt (USA) 0.52.30
18 Alain Lanusse (USA) 0.56.10
19 Jeff Church (USA) 0.57.90
20 Todd Bishop (USA) 0.58.40
21 Brent Panas (USA) 1.00.80
22 Brett Wheeler (USA) 1.01.20
23 Eric Hunter (USA) 1.01.80
24 Andre Lecompte (Can) 1.06.00
25 Ryan Hernandez (USA) 1.12.00
26 Todd Breeden (USA) 1.12.80
27 Justin Wilson (USA) 1.24.80
28 Matthew Bagalso (USA) 1.35.50
29 Ted Bair (USA) 1.35.90
30 Michael Reyes (USA) 1.38.40
31 Patrick Finch (USA) 1.43.80
32 Bryan Ferkins (USA) 1.52.70
33 John Hildebrand (USA) 1.55.40
34 Mark Natividad (USA) 2.14.10
35 Christian Santos (USA) 2.15.10
36 Ernie Cusi (USA) 2.16.00
37 Damon Ropoulos (USA) 2.20.30
38 Ricardo Suralta (USA) 2.24.60
39 Eric Palechek (USA) 2.28.10
40 Jon Ahlf (USA) 2.28.60
41 Robert Hampton (USA) 2.29.30
42 Leo Maxwell (USA) 2.31.30
43 Erik Smithart (USA) 3.00.90
44 Warren Johnson (USA) 3.05.70
DNF Donald Morehouse (USA)
DNF Joseph Berdal (USA)
DNF Tony Cale (USA)
DNF Todd Branham (USA)
Men 40-49
1 Keith Defiebre (USA) 6.58.70
2 Ben Swann (USA) 0.07.30
3 Luke Shenefield (USA) 0.09.40
4 Stephen Smith (USA) 0.18.80
5 Erik Trogden (USA) 0.20.50
6 Scott Schlachter (USA) 0.25.20
7 David Von Holder (USA) 0.25.70
8 Dean Henthorn (USA) 0.28.30
9 Dean Meyer (USA) 0.29.00
10 Rann Valdez (USA) 0.30.80
11 Robert Letson (USA) 0.34.30
12 Scott Wacker (USA) 0.36.00
13 David Reid (USA) 0.36.70
14 Dan Stevenson (USA) 0.37.20
15 Walter Wallace (USA) 0.41.50
16 Eric Wallace (USA) 0.43.60
17 Michael Prodanovich (USA) 0.54.60
18 Luke Dimichele (USA) 0.57.80
19 George Hopper (USA) 1.11.80
20 Phil Strong (USA) 1.13.20
21 Zachary Carter (USA) 1.15.50
22 Bob Langley (USA) 1.20.60
23 Mike Lingelbach (USA) 1.28.80
24 Sean Fitzpatrick (USA) 1.31.10
25 Mitchell Brooks (Can) 1.39.60
26 Joey Adame (USA) 1.40.10
27 Brian Woodring (USA) 1.40.50
28 David Campbell (USA) 1.53.30
29 David Collins (USA) 2.05.50
30 Ralph Jones (USA) 2.06.10
31 Guy Corrigan (USA) 2.34.60
32 Jeff Riley (USA) 3.27.40
33 Leroy Dominguez (USA) 4.22.20
DNF Rich Bartlett (USA)
DNF Robert Lopez (USA)
DNF Ronald Collins (USA)
DNF Mike Abbott (USA)
Men 50+
1 Philip Trenholme (USA) 7.12.00
2 Cosmic Miller (USA) 0.05.50
3 Roger Lopez (USA) 0.08.70
4 Tom Rice (USA) 0.13.90
5 Steven Clifton (USA) 0.18.70
6 Paul Zarubin (USA) 0.20.80
7 Christopher Holmes (USA) 0.28.90
8 Greg Knight (USA) 0.41.90
9 Steve Bertrand (USA) 0.49.60
10 Randy Martin (USA) 1.08.80
11 Tony Lucchesi (USA) 1.41.60
12 George Guerdrum (USA) 1.56.70
13 Stuart Penner (USA) 2.12.10
14 Ricardo Ortiz (USA) 2.34.10
15 Richard Pitra (USA) 2.51.70
DNF Frank Smith (USA)
DNF Bernie Lacotta (USA)
Women 18 & Under
1 Cayley Brooks (Can) 7.57.70
2 Kjersten Lone (Can) 0.01.50
3 Christine Weir (USA) 0.02.30
4 Nicole Rehder (USA) 0.52.20
5 Kristin Brooks (Can) 1.50.70
Women 19-29
1 Karla Kingsley (USA) 7.17.40
2 Lisa Crowe (USA) 0.18.00
3 Vanessa Humic (USA) 0.57.40
4 Sarah Land (USA) 1.13.80
5 Jennifer Jordan (USA) 2.54.90
DNF Christin Mccurdy (USA)
Women 30+
1 Karla Kingsley (USA) 7.17.40
2 Lisa Crowe (USA) 0.18.00
3 Vanessa Humic (USA) 0.57.40
4 Sarah Land (USA) 1.13.80
5 Jennifer Jordan (USA) 2.54.90
DNF Christin Mccurdy (USA)
Full results coming!
