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NORBA national series #1 (NE)

Big Bear, California, May 10-12, 2002

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Day 2 - May 11: Short track Cross-country

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Hesjedal gets first short track win

By Micah Joseph

Ryder Hesjedal (Subaru-Gary Fisher) followed his third place cross country finish with a win in the short track. The win was not an easy one, as a pack consisting of 99 of the world's best fought for position at the NORBA National season opener. Action was fast paced on the short, half-mile course.

Hesjedal won the hole shot and pushed the pace from the beginning. With 10 of the 20 minute plus three lap race completed, Seamus McGrath (Haro Lee Dungarees), Hesjedal, 2001 World Champion Roland Green (Trek- Volkswagen) and Geoff Kabush (Kona) led the field.

Fourteen minutes into the race Carl Swenson (RLX Polo Sport), and Jose Adrian Bonilla Bonilla (Cafe' De Costa Rica/Pizza Hut) joined the leaders. The lead pack, now consisting of six riders, sat up and looked for a leader. The attacks began again. In the following laps Todd Wells (Mongoose/Hyundai) and Chris Sheppard (Haro Lee Dungarees) pulled themselves up to the leaders.

With only a handful of laps remaining, Green pulled out of the race, leaving it wide open for his fellow Canadian, Hesjedal.

On the last lap, McGrath attacked and gapped the rest of the leaders. His lead was short lived as he entered a corner too hot and went down. Bonilla seized the opportunity and leaped into the lead. Even this lead would not last. As the leaders rounded the last corner, Hesjedal powered past Bonilla and took his first ever Short Track victory.

World champ Dunlap attacks again and again

Reigning Cross Country World Champion Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix) took the victory in the opening race of the NORBA short track series in convincing style by repeatedly attacking at the right moments to rid herself of all competition. Unattached rider Mary McConneloug set the pace early on and whittled the contenders down.

All the favorites were there with defending series champion and Yesterday's long course winner Jimena Florit (RLX Polo Sport), Dunlap, Shonny Vanlandingham (SoBe-Cannondale), and Chrissy Redden (Subaru/Gary Fisher). Halfway through the race Dunlap decided to shake things up and made a decisive attack that only Florit could follow.

Vanlandingham had to up her pace steadily as she was nursing a torn ligament in her leg, but was able drop the others for a few laps as she pursued Florit and Dunlap. Up front the two women worked together to steadily increase their lead and with 3 laps to go Dunlap launched the decisive attack and Jimena could only watch as Alison rode away to the win. Top road rider Susy Pryde put in a strong ride to out kick Vanlandingham for third.

Photography

Images courtesy of Rob Karman

• Ryder Hesjedal (Subaru-Gary Fisher) takes the holeshot
• Jose Adrian Bonilla Bonilla (Cafe de Costa Rica-Pizza Hut) - pipped to the post by Hesjedal
• Chris Sheppard (Haro Lee Dungarees) - fought his way up to the leaders and eventually a podium spot
• Seamus McGrath (Haro Lee Dungarees) takes a turn on the front of the hard-charging pack
• Todd Wells (Mongoose-Hyundai) chased hard to catch the lead group
• Ryder Hesjedal leads the main group in the men's race.
• Ryder Hesjedal concentrates
• Ryder Hesjedal crosses the line just ahead of Adrian Bonilla.
• Unsponsored rider Mary McConneloug made the early running.
• Shonny Vanlandingham (SoBe-Cannondale) supposedly taking it easy with a damaged ligament. If fourth place is easy...
• Shonny Vanlandingham in the chase after Dunlap and Florit
• Jimena Florit (RLX Polo Sport) was the only rider to match Dunlap's pace in the early stages, but had no answer to the world champ's final attack
• Susy Pryde (Velo Bella) crossed over from the road to take a creditable third place
• Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix) smiling on her way to the win
• Jimena Florit also looking cheerful - what is it about women's short-track?
• Alison Dunlap with an even bigger grin as she crosses the line

Images courtesy of Clifford Eveleigh

• Decisive attack
• Sprinting out of the saddle
• Fighting for a wheel on the pavement
• Putting the head and hammer down

Results

Men
 
1 Ryder Hesjedal (Subaru-Gary Fisher)
2 Jose Adrian Bonilla (Cafe de Costa Rica-Pizza Hut)
3 Chris Sheppard (Haro Lee Dungarees)
4 Seamus McGrath (Haro Lee Dungarees)
5 Todd Wells (Mongoose-Hyundai)
6 Geoff Kabush (Kona)
7 Carl Swenson (RLX Polo Sport)
8 Marc Gullickson (Mongoose-Hyundai)
9 Salvador Barriga (Turbo Bike)
10 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (RLX Polo Sport)
 
Women
 
1 Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix)
2 Jimena Florit (RLX Polo Sport)
3 Susy Pryde (Velo Bella)
4 Shonny Vanlandingham (SoBe Cannondale)
5 Dara Marks (Titus)
6 Mary McConneloug (Unattached)
7 Kerry Barnholt (SoBe Cannondale)
8 Chrissy Redden (Subaru-Gary Fisher)
9 Jamie Whitmore-Cardenas (K2-Michelin)
10 Mary Grigson (Subaru-Gary Fisher)

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