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NORBA national series #3 (NE)

Snowshoe Mtn, West Virginia , June 21-23, 2002

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Day 3 - June 23: Downhill

When the crowd looked up to see Chris Kovarik (Intense) waffling down the finish chute of the Chevy Trucks Nationals downhill course, they all realized this season’s king had been dethroned. A front flat tire had ended a four-race winning steak.

And the prince, John Kirkcaldie (Maxxis), having finished second in all three Chevy Trucks Nationals, gladly took the crown for the day.

The women’s saw another confidence building victory for Frenchwoman Sabrina Jonnier (Intense), who is seen as the heiress for her country’s queen of gravity, Ann-Caroline Chausson.

In the qualifying run on this craggy Appalachian course, Jonnier qualified first, despite a minor spill. This steep course dropped 1,400 feet in 2.25 miles, taking most of the women’s field close to five minutes to complete. On a course that long – finish times were roughly five times those of a week earlier in Wisconsin - riders bravery was rewarded and minor mistakes could be forgiven.

Tara Llanes (Yeti/Pearl Izumi) had flatted in her qualifying run, but knocked down the fastest time of day with an even 5-minute run in the finals. Then came the faster times: Vanessa Quinn (Intense) put the mark down to 4:49, where several of the favorites huddled. Then came Marla Strebb (Luna Chix) who pushed it down to 4:45. The last two riders, England’s Tracy Mosely (Kona) and Jonnier were able to knock down the time even farther. Mosely posted a seemingly unbeatable 4:38. But while so many riders hovered at the 4:49 mark, Jonnier blasted down the course with a shocking 4:33! That’s 15 seconds faster than fourth place finisher, Lisa Sher (Chumba Wumba).

Jonnier did it, winning her second straight Chevy Trucks Nationals and grabbing the series lead.

With a rock garden and large drop-offs an aggressive rider could literally manhandle this mountain. Several top finishers in the men’s race consider the Snowshoe course to be the best in the American series. The first pro male rider on the course took 20 seconds off Jonnier’s winning time.

The first time – a 4:13 posted by John Waddell (Sun Race/Santa Cruz) – was the best time for 26 riders. Myles Rockwell (Giant) pushed it down to 4:06, which would make him top American on the day. Nathan Rennie (Yeti/Pearl Izumi) shaved that down to 4:05.97. His time would be bettered by a second by the season surprise, Dustin Adams (Giant). Jared Graves sanded it down another 10/100th of a second.

Having qualified fourth, Kirkcaldie knocked Graves off the seat with an eye-popping 4:02. But Kirkcaldie looked up the mountain and waited for Cedric Gracia (Volvo/Cannondale), Shaums March (Chumba Wumba) and Mick Hannah (Haro/Lee Dungarees). Gracia came in 28/100th of a second slower. March rumpled down the hill with a rear flat. And Hannah’s mistakes kept him well out of contention.

And Kirkcaldie exulted with his first major win of the season.

Results

Women

1 Sabrina Jonnier (Intense)               4:33.87
2 Tracy Moseley (Team Kona)                  4.72
3 Marla Streb (Luna Women)                  11.40
4 Lisa Sher (Chumba Wumba)                  15.49
5 Fionn Griffiths (Ancillotti)              15.66
 
Men

1 John Kircaldie (Maxxis)                 4:02.40
2 Cedric Gracia (Volvo/Cannondale)           0.27
3 Jared Graves (Mad Cats)                    1.43
4 Dustin Adams (Giant Bicycles)              1.53
5 Jared Rando (Foes/Azonic)                  1.97

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