NORBA Series Round #3

Deer Valley, Utah, USA, June 29-July 1, 2001

The Schedule

Day 1 - June 29: Long course XC M/W - 26.8/20.6 miles

Hesjedal, Alexander triumph over strong fields

Ryder Hesjedal of Canada and Caroline Alexander of Great Britain rode to victory in the men's and women's cross country races on a tough mountain course at Deer Valley Resort in round three of the Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championships Mountain Bike Series.

Both men's and women's races contained one of the strongest international fields seen on the Chevy Trucks NORBA circuit this season.

Men

Ryder Hesjedal, Canada (Subaru/Gary Fisher) dominated the men's race in which he out-climbed the two-times world cup champion, Australia's Cadel Evans (Volvo/Cannondale).

Hesjedal, 21, from Victoria, B.C., used his characteristic attacking style to great effect on the long, steep climbs. He attacked early and kept on attacking, while the tenacious field refused to let go.

Cadel Evans, Todd Wells, Tucson, Ariz., Ziranda Madrigal, Mexico, (Turbo) and Pavel Cherkasov, Russia (Subaru/Gary Fisher), led the chase group. By lap three of four-and-a-half Hesjedal had gradually opened a lead of 35 seconds over Evans, with the others strung out over the following minute.

Evans counter-attacked in hope that Hesjedal would crumble, and early in lap four the gap came down to 20 seconds. But Hesjedal dug deep and had enough in reserve to rebuff the advance of the experienced Aussie.

This win gives Hesjedal the overall lead in the series, and at only 21 years of age he is one of the youngest riders to have led the Chevy Trucks NORBA series.

Women

Caroline Alexander (Specialized), who only last weekend finished tenth overall in the HP Women's Challenge road stage race, powered away from her rivals on lap one of three-and-a-half, and never looked like being challenged. Alexander is regarded as one of the world's best mountain bike climbers. The course included three big climbs with a total elevation gain of 1635 feet.

Mary Grigson, Australia (Subaru/Gary Fisher), the Chevy Trucks NORBA series leader, stayed with Alexander on the first climb, but then faded and dropped back to sixth place. She rallied on the final lap and finished second.

Ruthie Matthes, Boulder, Colo. (Trek/Volkswagen) assumed second place when Alison Dunlap, Colorado Springs, Colo. (GT), had a flat tire on lap two. Matthes remained in second until the resurgent Grigson rode past her on the final lap.

Grigson retains second place overall in the series.

Post race quotes

Women

Caroline Alexander, first

"I thought it was too early to push myself after the HP Challenge. I said to myself 'please, please only ride at 80 per cent, don't push too hard.' And today I just went out and rode at my own speed. I wasn't racing, I was just riding around. I couldn't believe it!"

Mary Grigson second

"I floated up the climb on lap one, but starting lap two I felt weak and faint. I decided then that it would be a training race. Actually, I felt like pulling out, but I decided not to. I need to re-evaluate my level of tiredness. I'm having a lot of naps and sleeping a lot. Maybe I need a couple of days off and a chat with my coach and the guys at the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport). I'm pretty stoked to finish second."

Ruthie Matthes, third

"I benefited from Alison Dunlap flatting, then Mary Grigson came on strong on that last lap. I tried to stay with her but she was just inching away. I suddenly realized that I was over my limit and I had to let her go and make sure I didn't lose any more places."

Men

Ryder Hesjedal, first

"It's my biggest win. There were a lot of world cup guys here today. To win here at altitude is a huge deal. My goal this year is the Under 23 world championship title at Vail. It's all about Vail now."

(On Evans's late attack) "Cadel Evans is a world class rider. Any time you were being chased by a rider like that you'd be worried about him chasing you! I talked with Roland (Green) on the phone before leaving BC. He said 'go out and win it' I said 'sure!'"

Cadel Evans, second

"My attack was more mid-race. I had some mechanical difficulties at the end and I couldn't quite close on Ryder. He's riding very well. He was pushing hard at the start, he gapped me on lap two and I couldn't close it. He was pushing hard at the start and he was still strong at the finish. He deserved to win."

Kashi Leuchs, third

"To be honest, I wanted to win. I won here two years ago and this race was one of my goals for the season. Ryder Hesjedal and Cadel Evans were just stronger today - Ryder especially. He took off and I wasn't up to speed."

Results

Pro Women


1 Caroline Alexander (GBr) Specialized 1.54.45 2 Mary Grigson (Aus) Subaru/Gary Fisher 1.15 3 Ruthie Matthes (USA) Trek/Volkswagen 2.32 4 Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX/Polosport 3.35 5 Chrissy Redden (Can) Subaru/Gary Fisher 5.06 6 Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) SoBe Headshok 5.51 7 Audrey Augustin (USA) Zeal/GT 6.49 8 Trish Sinclair (Can) Ford/Devinci 7.28 9 Ann Grande (USA) Ford/Devinci 8.12 10 Nancy Busching (USA) SoBe Headshok 8.50   Pro Men 1 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Subaru/Gary Fisher 2.05.36 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Volvo/Cannondale 1.10 3 Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Volvo/Cannondale 2.19 4 Pavel Cherkasov (Rus) Subaru/Gary Fisher 2.53 5 Steve Larsen (USA) LL Bean/Mongoose 3.18 6 Tinker Juarez (USA) Volvo/Cannondale 3.38 7 Todd Wells (USA) 3.49 8 Seamus McGrath (Can) Haro/Lee Dungarees 4.20 9 Carl Swenson (USA) RLX/Polosport 4.38 10 Paul Rowney (Aus) Yeti/Pearl Izumi 5.33

Day 2 - June 30: Short track XC M/W - 9/8 mile

Hesjedal does the double; finally Florit

Ryder Hesjedal completed another Canadian XC double today while Jimena Florit finally produced the short track win she's looked capable of all season.

Men

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal emulated his compatriot and training partner Roland Green by winning both the Cross Country and the Short Track races at round three the Chevy Trucks National Off-Road Bicycling Association National Championship Mountain Bike Series at Deer Valley Resort.

Green accomplished the same feat only one week ago at round two, but was absent here in favor of preparing at home to defend his lead in the world cup series in Vancouver, 7 July.

Hesjedal's accomplishments this weekend earned him the overall series lead in both the Cross Country and the Short Track series.

Hesjedal's blistering pace, sustained throughout the intensive 18-lap Short Track race on a half-mile circuit saw him finish ahead of major names such as two-times world cup series champion Cadel Evans of Australia and the Swiss champion Christophe Sauser, both of the Volvo-Cannondale team.

Evans and Sauser did not start in the front row of the grid and therefore were unable to get into the early break. Despite a valiant effort they couldn't close the gap to the leaders.

The task of winning suddenly and unexpectedly became easier for Hesjedal just two laps from the end when Geoff Kabush, Canada (Kona/Ford) collided with his team-mate, fellow Canadian Peter Wedge, reducing the leading grou p from six to four.

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Carl Swenson of the RLX Polosport team worked together for the win, but in the end it was a furious attack starting the final lap that gave Hesjedal the gap he needed to claim victory. Kobelski finished second, while Canada's Chris Sheppard (Haro/Lee Dungarees) took third, one place ahead of Swenson.

Women

After waiting for what must have felt like an eternity, Argentina's Jimena Florit (RLX-Polosport) finally produced the Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series Short Tr ack win for which she hard tried so hard and for so long. Florit's best results in the Short Track discipline had been two second places last year.

This win makes Florit the series leader, although being foreign she is not eligible to become the US short track national champion.

Repeated attacks by several riders in the fast 16-lap race whittled the lead group down to only three riders with three laps remaining. Among those that could not quite stand the pace were three-times world champion Aliso n Sydor, Canada, who had not fully adjusted to the 7,000 feet altitude at Deer Valley Resort, and finished fourth.

Early leader Alison Dunlap, Colorado Springs (GT), exited the race on lap 11 with a flat tire, the same way in which she exited the cross country race yesterday. Both yesterday's and today's results inflicted severe damag e on her chances of winning the five race championship series in both cross country and short track, the latter of which she had been expected to do with reasonable ease. Dunlap had missed round two of the series to compe te in the HP Women's Challenge.

Susan Haywood, Davis, W.Va. (Trek/W Va. Tourism), having the best race of her career, launched an attack with three laps remaining, which sent Chrissy Redden, Canada (Subaru/Gary Fisher), off the back leaving just Florit and Haywood to duel for the win.

Florit attacked with 400 yards remaining, and opened a gap that was good enough to ensure she was first across the line.

Post race quotes

Men

Ryder Hesjedal, first

"I woke up this morning and my legs felt good. At breakfast I had lots of grease, which maybe helped. Unfortunately the Kona boys clipped each other while trying to jump me and took each other out. As a junior I wasn't finishing races, I had a lot of problems. Last year was a good year for me and I wanted to improve on that."

Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski second

"My (prior) best result was 2nd at the NORBA finals at Mammoth last year, and I'm thrilled about taking second place here today - I've been searching for a podium spot this year. This result reinforces my confidence that I should be up there."

Chris Sheppard, third

"I was riding on my own for five laps, trying to catch up with the lead group. There was a lap and a half when I said maybe I should give up chasing and wait for some help, but people were cheering so loud that it was har d to give up. I was just coming up on the inside when those two guys went down, it was like an act of god!"

Women

Jimena Florit, first

"When Susan Haywood attacked it was perfect for me. I didn't want to go, but we needed to get rid of Chrissy Redden. Normally I am always attacking, making the race, and then I am cooked by the last lap. Today I spent the least amount of time possible at the front and it worked - I made it!"

Susan Haywood, second

"I'm kinda motivated, I'm hoping to get the national championships series title in short track. With Alison Dunlap out of the running, my main rival now is Shonny Vanlandingham."

Chrissy Redden, third

"If you don't go for it, you're never going to win. It was bad luck for Alison Dunlap - she had fresh legs after not finishing the race yesterday. She would definitely have won."

Results

Pro Men
 
1 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Subaru/Gary Fisher              22.41
2 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) RLX-Polosport            0.01
3 Chris Sheppard (Can) Haro/Lee Dungarees               0.03
4 Carl Swenson (USA) RLX-Polosport                      0.16
5 Jose Adrian Bonilla (CoR) Café de Costa Rica          0.18
6 Peter Wedge (Can) Kona/Ford                           0.19
7 Geoff Kabush (Can) Kona/Ford                          0.21
8 Bart Bowen (USA) Kona/Ford                            0.22
9 Jeff Hall Apple (USA) Salsa Cycles                    0.22
10 Jimi Killen (USA) Schwinn                            0.23
 
Pro Women
 
1 Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX-Polosport                    22.53
2 Susan Haywood (USA) Trek/WV Tourism                   0.01
3 Chrissy Redden (Can) Subaru/Gary Fisher               0.14
4 Alison Sydor (Can) Trek/Volkswagen                    0.28
5 Mary Grigson (Aus) Subaru/Gary Fisher                 0.30
6 Rachel Lloyd (USA) SunRace/SantaCruz                  0.36
7 Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) SoBe Headshok              0.39
8 Ruthie Matthes (USA) Trek/Volkswagen                  0.59
9 Gina Hall (USA) Zeal Optics                           1.06
10 Dellys Franke (Aus) Merida                           1.23 

Day 2 - June 30: Dual Slalom M/W

Deldycke takes lead in National Series

Michael Deldycke (Schwinn) of France took over the series lead on a night when Leigh Donovan (Schwinn) took her third straight win, and Eric Carter (Mongoose/Hyundai) surprised himself to emerge as the winner of the night under hot evening sun at Deer Valley Resort in the round three of the SoBe Dual Slalom discipline of the Chevy Trucks National Off-Road Bicycling Association National Championships Mountain Bike Series.

After working his way through a men's field that included world champions Mike King (Haro/Lee Dungarees), Brian Lopes (GT/Fox), and Nicolas Vouilloz (Vouilloz Racing), Carter defeated the fast Chris Kovarik (Intense) Australia, in the final heat for the win.

The battle for third and fourth between Brian Lopes (GT/Fox) Temecula, California, and Michael Deldycke was the key contest of the event, since this decided the series leader. Deldycke came back in the second run, beating Lopes for third place.

Leigh Donovan, in great form, was barely challenged and in the final overcame Tara Llanes (Yeti/Pearl Izumi) in the finals. Tai-Lee Muxlow (Dirtworks) found herself against Katja Repo (GT), in a surprise match-up for third place. Katja confidently raced her way into a bronze medal while Tai-Lee took fourth in her first appearance in the NORBA dual slalom series this year.

Post race quotes

Leigh Donovan, first woman

"This win was awesome but nothing will top my Big Bear win - in front of my family and all. This course was good, though I'm not much of a berm-girl!"

Eric Carter, first man

"This course was really easy to make mistakes on, as everyone did. You had to ride well and be able to make it up when you slipped."

Results

Pro men
 
1 Eric Carter(USA) Mongoose/Hyundai
2 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense
3 Michael Deldycke (Fra) Schwinn
4 Brian Lopes (USA) GT/Fox
 
Pro women
 
1 Leigh Donovan (USA) Schwinn
2 Tara Llanes (USA) Yeti/Pearl Izumi
3 Katja Repo (Fin) GT
4 Tai-Lee Muxlow (Aus) Dirtworks

Day 3 - July 1: Downhill M/W

Two in a row for Giove and Peat

Missy Giove and Steve Peat again went fastest on a difficult course in dry, dusty conditions to win the pro women's and men's downhill events on the final day of competition at round three of the Chevy Trucks NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series at Deer Vally Resort, Utah.

The 2.2 mile Deer Valley track was praised by the world's top riders for its design and obstacles. Stephan Girard, the manager of the Vouilloz Racing team, pointed out that the most challenging downhill courses are now found in North America, which is partly why seven-imes world champion Vouilloz chose to compete here rather than at the European championships this weekend.

Steve Peat (GT), after winning round two one week ago was clearly the best again today, finishing almost three seconds faster than second-placed Vouilloz. Towards the end of his run, however, Peat was almost thrown off his bike and for an instant was hanging on in the Superman position.

Chris Kovarik of Australia extended his lead in the series with a third place, which he earned despite crashing near the mid-point. The top US rider is Todd Leduc, Cherry Valley, Calif. (Foes/Azonic) in fourth position overall.

Missy Giove (Global Racing) predicted that if she hit form on her run, she would be untouchable on this dry, dusty medium-altitude course. She reported having some scary moments, but her descent of the track was fast enough to earn her a second consecutive win in the five-race series.

Elke Brutsaert (Schwinn) took second place in a return to form after a bruising crash in practice prior to round one of the series, at Snow Summit Resort, Big Bear, Calif. on 3 June.

Giove's win today extended her series lead over second placed Marla Streb (Foes/Azonic), who today finished sixth.

Post race quotes

Women

Missy Giove, first

"I screamed like a girl!" (at one point when she thought she was about to crash). "I was out of control, it's really hard to put it together, I didn't have a clean run. Since I was the only member of the Global Racing team here, I'd say it was a good representation of my team!"

"This is a great course because it's fast and it's technical. World Cup courses are getting faster and less technical to make it look faster and have closer finishes, which is better for TV."

Elke Brutsaert, second

"I felt good on the course. As my run progressed I felt more and more confident. I'm finally feeling better now, the past few days have been the first time in weeks I haven't felt discomfort in my ribs."

"I came into this season just as fit and just as confident as last year, but one big crash can change everything. I'm scared to death of certain situations. This course doesn't have any of those 'do or die' sections that I'm scared to death of."

Leigh Donovan, third

"I kept losing my rear end. It felt like my rear tire was a little bit flat. I knew it wasn't a winning run, but I thought it would be good enough for top five."

"I think it's cool to have different kinds of courses and for us to ride the range of riding. Because we get such a wide range of riding we're going to be strong at the world's this year, but it's good for all racers to have wider experience."

Men

Steve Peat, first

(Asked where he thought he may have won the race) "All the way down. You've got to be smooth and ride all the lines right. And the course has been changing constantly over the past few days." "I'm super-confident in general, although I was a little bit nervous before the race, because these conditions are not really what I ride normally - whereas Nicolas Vouilloz and those guys are more used to it. The altitude and dust makes it particularly difficult - I'm not used to either of those."

Nicolas Vouilloz, second

(On his first visit to a NORBA series event) "There are many people here to watch the race, and I like this kind of track. The event looks really professional. I'm happy to have come here to race."

"My run was good, but compared to Steve Peat's time this morning (in the qualifying run), it was not enough. He will do a 3:40 - 3:42."

Chris Kovarik, third

"I was a lot faster compared to the qualifier, but in the final run I had a crash in the rock garden. I was off my bike for five seconds. When you have a crash like that you always get back on and try harder to make up time."

(On his streak of good form this year) "It's like Christmas! I get a podium result every weekend! Racing against Nicolas Vouilloz and Steve Peat here this weekend is especially good."

Results

Women
 
1 Missy Giove (USA) Global Racing               4:23.5
2 Elke Brutsaert (USA) Schwinn                  4:26.85
3 Leigh Donovan (USA) Schwinn                   4:31.15
4 Kathy Pruitt (USA) Dirt Works                 4:35.48
5 Katja Repo (Fin) GT                           4:36.07
6 Marla Streb (USA) Foes/Azonic                 4:38.53
7 Melissa Buhl (USA) ODI/JHS                    4:48.29
8 Tara Llanes (USA) Calif Yeti/Pearl Izumi      4:49.45
9 Lisa Sher (USA) Calif Chumba/Azonic           4:53.36
10 Cheri Elliott (USA) ODI/Azonic               4:56.99
  
Men
 
1 Steve Peat (GBr) GT                           3:40.67
2 Nicolas Vouilloz (Fra) Vouilloz Racing        3:43.36
3 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense/Foes              3:45.40
4 John Kirkcaldie (NZl) Maxxis Tires            3:48.94
5 Todd Leduc (USA) Foes/Azonic                  3:53.91
6 Eric Carter (USA) Mongoose/Hyundai            3:53.54
7 Michael Ronning (Aus) Intense/Foes            3:53.70
8 Shaums March (USA) Chumba Wumba               3:53.84
9 Gary Houseman (USA) Tomac                     3:55.69
10 Jared Rando (Aus) Foes/Azonic                3:56.22

NORBA standings after round 3

Women Cross Country 
 
1 Mary Grigson (Aus) Subaru/Gary Fisher              586 pts 
2 Ruthie Matthes (USA) Trek/Volkswagen               522 
3 Chrissy Redden (Can) Subaru/Gary  Fisher           486 
4 Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) SoBe  Headshok          438 
5 Trish Sinclair (Can) Ford/Devinci                  436
 
Men Cross Country
 
1 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Subaru/Gary Fisher            544 pts
2 Pavel Cherkasov (Rus) Subaru/Gary Fisher           502 
3 Paul Rowney (Aus)  Yeti/Pearl Izumi                434 
4 Carl Swenson (USA) RLX/Polosport                   422 
5 Seamus McGrath (Can) Haro/Lee Dungarees            420
 
Women short track 
 
1 Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX-Polosport                  572 pts
2 Susan Haywood (USA) Trek/WV Tourism                516
3 Chrissy Redden (Can) Subaru/Gary Fisher            510
4 Mary Grigson (Aus) Subaru/Gary Fisher              462
5 Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) SoBe Headshok           452
 
Men short track
 
1 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Subaru/Gary Fisher            544 pts
2 Jose Adrian Bonilla (CoR) Café de Costa Rica       474
3 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) RLX-Polosport         460
4 Carl Swenson (USA) RLX-Polosport                   450
5 Paul Rowney (Aus) Yeti-Pearl Izumi                 418
 
Men dual slalom
 
1 Michael Deldycke (Fra) Schwinn                     420 pts  
2 Brian Lopes (USA) GT/Fox                           380
3 Eric Carter(USA) Mongoose/Hyundai                  360
4 Wade Bootes (Aus) Trek/Volkswagen                  340
5 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense
 
Women dual slalom
 
1 Leigh Donovan (USA) Schwinn                        600 pts
2 Tara Llanes  (USA) Yeti/Pearl Izumi                500
3 Katrina Miller (Aus) Jamis                         400
4 Missy Giove (USA) Global                           320
5 Cheri Elliott                                      240
 
Downhill women
 
1 Missy Giove (USA) Global Racing                    586
2 Marla Streb (USA) Foes/Azonic                      514
3 Leigh Donovan (USA) Schwinn                        500
4 April Lawyer                                       454
5 Tara Llanes (USA) Calif Yeti/Pearl Izumi           446
 
Downhill men
 
1 Chris Kovarik (Aus) Intense/Foes                   504
2 John Kirkcaldie (NZl) Maxxis Tires                 440
3 Jared Rando (Aus) Foes/Azonic                      434
4 Todd Leduc (USA) Foes/Azonic                       422
5 Steve Peat (GBr) GT                                400