Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championship Series, Round 3 - MTBDeer Valley, USA, July 28-30, 2000Schedule
Day 1 - July 28: Pro Men and Women cross countrySteve Larsen (LL Bean/Mongoose rider) shot off like a rocket and never looked back during Friday's cross-country race, part of the third round of the Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championship Series, July 27-30 at Deer Valley Resort. Earlier in the day, Australian Mary Grigson (Gary Fisher-Saab) won the women's cross-country, her second Chevy Trucks NORBA National win this year. 2000 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Olympian Ruthie Matthes (Durango, Colo. -- Trek-Volkswagen) was leading the closely fought battle until she flatted mid race. Larsen, who the national cross-country title in 1997, never faltered after taking the lead from the start of the 28-mile race. At the start, riders like 2000 U.S. Olympic Mountain Bike Team member Travis Brown (Boulder, Colo.) and Chevy Trucks NORBA Nationals round winner Kirk Molday (Temecula, Calif.) followed the Oregon resident closely. Russian Pavel Tcherkassov (Gary Fisher-Saab) was also in the mix. "I think I felt good today. I tried to remain strong and go my pace. If you go too hard at the beginning, you pay for it later, and I know it was going to be a hard race," said Tcherkassov, who ended up second, enough to put in the overall lead in the cross-country series. Molday was panning out to be Larsen's biggest threat for the gold medal Friday. Molday, who led the series before coming in to Deer Valley, was quickly picking up speed on Larsen. Like Matthes in the women's race, bad luck struck Molday when experienced mechanical trouble with his bike and had to withdraw. After finishing more than 4 minutes and 45 seconds ahead of second-place Tcherkassov, Larsen was thrilled. "I had my 'A' game today, and when I'm on like that nobody can touch me. I showed who is best today. I had something to prove today after not making the Olympic Team," Larsen said. "Today I got myself back in the hunt for the national title, so these guys better watch out the next few weeks." Larsen also sported a new look at the winner's podium, a shaved head. "I just wanted to have a little fun. I did as a homage to Marco Pantani (past Tour de France winner) and Lance Armstrong (two-time Tour de France winner), and today I rode as close to them as I probably ever will," Larsen said. While she didn't take off like Larsen did, Matthes seem to have a lock on the 20-mile women's race by the second lap. The three-time consecutive national cross-country champion (1996-98) had a 30 second gap on Argentine rider Jimena Florit (RLX Polo Sport) when she flatted in the third lap. The two-and-half minute tire tube change was all Grigson needed to move ahead of Matthes and the field. "There was no way I was going to catch Ruthie (Matthes), if she hadn't flatted," said Grigson, a 2000 Australian Olympic team member. "I started to feel the heat, and it's so hot out there. I knew I didn't have a lot out here, so I saved it for the end. To win today feels nice. I think I had a bit of luck going my way." Matthes may have been down, but not out. Still strong, she made up more than a minute in one lap and was hot on the Grigson's wheels. But time, and trails, ran out and Matthes settled for second, 19 seconds behind the Aussie. "I wanted to win today. Deer Valley is one my favorite places to race and after last year (Matthes placed second in 1999), I really wanted to get back to winning here. I flatted, but I didn't crash. I made a few mistakes and washed out a couple times. My flat today was so bittersweet. Mary (Grigson) said to me afterward 'It was your race.' It just didn't work out that way on paper." Grigson's win Friday solidifed her overall lead on the series, with Matthes the top American at second. Marc At fourth, Marc Gullickson (Boulder, Colo. -- Mongoose Pro) is the top U.S. rider in the men's cross-country standings. ResultsPro men's cross-country. 1. Steve Larsen (USA) LL Bean/Mongoose 2.32.27 2. Pavel Tcherkassov (Rus) Gary Fisher-Saab 4.48 3. Roland Green (Can) Team GT 6.40 4. Travis Brown (USA) Trek-Volkswagen 8.47 5. Geoff Kabush (Can) Kona Factory 9.51 6. Andreas Hestler (Can) Ford Devinci 10.32 7. Peter Swenson (USA) SoBe/Headshok 11.06 8. Marc Gullickson (USA) Mongoose Pro 12.00 9. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Nantucket Nectars-Specialized 12.43 10. Chris Sheppard (Can) Haro/Lee Dungarees 13.13 Pro women's cross-country. 1. Mary Grigson (Aus) Gary Fisher-Saab 2.04.49 2. Ruthie Matthes (USA) Trek-Volkswagen 0.19 3. Alla Epifanova (Rus) Volvo-Cannondale 3.13 4. Chrissy Redden (Can) Gary Fisher-Saab 3.49 5. Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX Polo Sport 6.32 6. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) SoBe/Headshok 9.03 7. Lesley Tomlinson (Can) RLX Polo Sport 10.12 8. Kelli Emmett (USA) Litespeed 12.36 9. Ann Grande (USA) GymAmerica.com 13.04 10. Gretchen Reeves (USA) Cane Creek 14.16 Day 2 - July 29: Pro Men and Women short track and dual slalomCanadians dominate day 2It may be America's premier mountain bike national series, but the Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championship Series was all about Canadians at Saturday's short-track cross-country. The Chevy Trucks NORBA Nationals made its third stop July 27-30 at Deer Valley Resort in Utah. In the men's short-track, Chris Sheppard (Kamloops, Canada) took an easy win after dropping the pack early in the race. Campbellville, Ontario resident Chrissy Redden (Gary Fisher-Saab) won the women's race, edging out Argentine Olympian Jimena Florit (RLX Polo Sport). Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo. -- Nantucket Nectars) and 2000 U.S. Olympian Ann Trombley (Golden, Colo. -- Koulius Zaard) were the top Americans in their respective events. The men's short-track was dominated by Canadians, with four placing in the top five. The race began with Sheppard, Seamus McGrath (Millgrove, Canada -- Haro/Lee Dungarees) and Team GT rider Roland Green (Victoria, BC, Canada) in the front. RLX Polo Sport rider Carl Swenson (Boulder, Colo.) was the lone American in the lead pack. About 11 minutes in to the 25-minute race, Sheppard attacked, leaving the rest of the field behind permanently. "Thanks to my teammate Seamus (McGrath) I was able to make the attack. My problem normally with this race is that I go out so hot and lead from the start. That gets you on the podium, but it doesn't get you the win," Sheppard said. "I rode smart today. After I was out in the front for three laps, I knew I could hold it." Sheppard's teammate, McGrath, stayed in the chase group, fending off any attackers to the leader. "We (Chris Sheppard and Seamus McGrath) didn't have any plan when we came into the race," McGrath said. "I just tried to slow down the chasers when Sheppard attacked. I just patrolled the pack, and it worked out perfectly." Fifth place was enough to make Horgan-Kobelski, a three-time national collegiate mountain bike champion, the top U.S. rider. His performance was his best result as a pro. "It feels great. I felt stronger as the race went on," Horgan-Kobelski said. "I've really gotten better this year at the short-track. I think I'm pretty good at the shorter races, and I like it a lot." Familiar faces led the women's short-track with Friday's cross-country winner Mary Grigson (Australia -- Gary Fisher-Saab), Trombley, Florit and Redden. The latter two broke off early in the race, with a small chase group in the hunt for the leftover podium spots. Florit and Redden tested each other throughout the race, with Florit making her move with two laps to go. As Redden reached for her water bottle, Florit charged around the Canadian and put a small gap between them. "It was a little sneaky," Florit admitted. "I was hoping that she couldn't catch me. I never slowed down." But Redden still had enough power in her legs to end up first at the finish line and in the overall lead for the short-track series. "It feels good to win today. When Jimena (Florit) went out with two laps to go, I thought it was sort of early. I knew If I could stay with her, I could win in the end," said Redden, a 2000 Canadian Olympian. "(When I took a drink from my bottle) it forced Jimena to make a move. I didn't do it on purpose, but it was good. Yea, I like this event." Rounding out Saturday was the SoBe Dual Slalom. On one of the steepest, most technically demanding courses yet seen in a dual slalom race, Team GT rider Eric Carter (Temecula, Calif.) and Leigh Donovan (Capistrano Beach, Calif. -- Schwinn Toyota RAV4) overcame the gradient and an international field to claim well-deserved wins. On the 300-yard course, with ultra-steep turns and a slippery surface, both riders took the low-risk approach. "It's probably good that I'm a conservative rider." Donovan said. "I feel lucky." Though he felt he wouldn't win, Carter said, "I knew that if was patient on the top section, and just stayed close to Cedric (Gracia), I could probably win it." ResultsPro men's short-track cross-country 1. Chris Sheppard (Can) Haro/Lee Dungarees 2. Seamus McGrath (Can) 3. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Gary Fisher-Saab 4. Andreas Hestler (Can) Ford Devinci 5. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Nantucket Nectars-Specialized 6. Carl Swenson (USA) RLX Polo Sport 7. Roland Green (Can) Team GT 8. Andres Brenes (CRc) Café de Costa Rica 9. Kirk Molday (USA) Trek/Volkswagen 10. Geoff Kabush (Can) Kona Pro women's short-track cross-country. 1. Chrissy Redden (Can) Gary Fisher-Saab 2. Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX Polo Sport 3. Mary Grigson (Aus) Gary Fisher-Saab 4. Lesley Tomlinson (Can) RLX Polo Sport 5. Ann Trombley (USA) Koulius Zaard-Residence Club 6. Susan Haywood (USA) W. Virginia Tourism 7. Audrey Augustin (USA) Koulius Zaard 8. Rene Marshman (USA) Moots 9. Lanie Mason (USA) Cane Creek 10. Gina Hall (USA) Koulius Zaard Pro men's SoBe Dual Slalom: 1. Eric Carter (USA) Team GT 2. Cedric Gracia (Fra) Volvo-Cannondale 3. Mike King (USA) Haro/Lee Dungarees 4. Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense Pro women's SoBe Dual Slalom: 1. Leigh Donovan (USA) Schwinn Toyota RAV4 2. Katrina Miller (Aus) Jamis 3. Tara Llanes (USA) Subaru-Specialized 4. Missy Giove (USA) Foes/Azonic Day 3 - July 30: Pro Men and Women DownhillResultsPro Women: 1. Marla Streb (USA) Yeti 4.53.1 2. Tara Llanes (USA) Suburu-Specialized 0.12.9 3. Cheri Elliott (USA) Maxxis 0.13.2 4. Lisa Sher (USA) Foes-Azonic 0.14.3 5. Missy Giove (USA) Foes-Azonic 0.19.0 Pro Men: 1. Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense 4.15.6 2. John Kirkaldie (NZ) Rocky Mountain 0.10.3 3. Nathan Rankin (NZ) Foes-Azonic 0.10.6 4. Michael Ronning (Aus) Intense 0.10.9 5. Eric Carter (USA) GT 0.11.1 Overall StandingsPro Women's Cross-Country 1. Mary Grigson (Aus) Gary Fisher-Saab 564 pts 2. Ruthie Matthes (USA) Trek-Volkswagen 546 3. Chrissy Redden (Can) Gary Fisher-Saab 520 4. Ann Trombley (USA) Koulius Zaard-Residence Club 448 5. Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX Polo Sport 424 Pro Men's Cross-Country 1. Pavel Tcherkassov (Rus) Gary Fisher-Saab 510 pts 2. Roland Green (Can) Team GT 454 3. Geoff Kabush (Can) Kona Factory 436 4. Marc Gullickson (USA) Mongoose Pro 436 5. Seamus McGrath (Can) Haro/Lee Dungarees 404 Pro Women's Short-track Cross-country 1. Chrissy Redden (Can) Gary Fisher-Saab 548 pts 2. Mary Grigson (Aus) Gary Fisher-Saab 530 3. Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX Polo Sport 494 4. Ann Trombley (USA) Koulius Zaard-Residence Club 492 5. Susan Haywood (USA) W. Virginia Tourism 438 Pro Men's Short-track Cross-country 1. Chris Sheppard (Can) Haro/Lee Dungarees 476 pts 2. Seamus McGrath (Can) 468 3. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Gary Fisher-Saab 452 4. Roland Green (Can) Team GT 444 5. Carl Swenson (USA) RLX Polo Sport 428 Pro Women's Dual Slalom 1. Cheri Elliott (USA) Cheri Elliott/Maxxis/ODI 2. Leigh Donovan (USA) Schwinn Toyota RAV4 3. Katrina Miller (Aus) Jamis Pro Men's Dual Slalom 1. Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense 2. Eric Carter (USA) Team GT; 3. Mike King (USA) Haro/Lee Dungarees |