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The Chris Davidson diary
Chris Davidson is a former mechanic for Bontrager Racing Service, now in the service of Shimano Multi-Service.
Chris' diary entries will show you what life is like inside the pits and an insight into the mind of a mechanic.
NORBA NCS Series #1, Waco, TX, USA, March 11-14, 2004
Day 4 - Sunday, March 14: Nice guys finish first
D-Day in Waco on Sunday, or more correctly E1-day. Lots of questions at the start today: Is Wells really sick? Are the USA Cycling U23 guys for real? Who is going to emerge big today? There is nothing like full-throttle racing to get answers.
Right from the gun in the women's XC race it was the battle of the Alisons. It was Sydor's race to lose and Dunlap's race to prove. These two went to the front early and killed the rest of the field. In the end Dunlap outsprinted Sydor and both were winners as Sydor won the stage race overall and Dunlap started the long road to a US Olympic spot with a maximal points score. Sydor's move to Rocky Mountain this year may prove to be her best year yet; the whole scene at Rocky Mountain just seems to be working this year (minus the trailer accident).
The men's field was stacked with horsepower and the first short lap of the XC was full throttle from the gun. As the riders came under the start/finish after a less than two minute start lap, there were gaps already and loads of riders on the rivet and going backwards. The look on some faces was brutal - all this less than three minutes into the race. Out of the leaders, Jeremiah Bishop (Trek VW East Coast) had an awesome ride and a flat tire, but still brought home the XC victory. Perhaps most noteworthy was Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) with a super solid second spot in the XC and the overall win. Both of these riders are in the pinch for an Olympic spot, both are fighting the underdog role, and both have the goods. Interesting to see if today's boost of confidence helps takes these two to the next level. Round one of 2004 has been recorded, and if I was playing the stock market, I would be buying shares of both Bishop Inc. and Kabush Industries. Solid.
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Speaking of solid, Wade Bootes was in the tent today with his custom Fuel gravity bike today. An all-aluminum frame and some 8-inch rotors on this gravity machine makes it one of a handful of non-stock Trek racing machines. Wade rode both the STXC and the XC with style this weekend. He finished the STXC by riding a wheelie down the whole front straightaway each of the last two laps. He was cranking it today early in the XC as well. You won't meet a nicer, more approachable guy in bike racing than Bootes. He is always smiling, even if the hammer is down and he is riding an event - that being the STXC and XC this weekend - that is not even close to his specialty.
Lastly, a name to watch for: semi-pro Matt Gordon. This guy has been around for a while, but he keeps getting better. He won the semi-pro XC and the overall this weekend. The semi-pro race XC was four laps this morning, one lap longer than the pro race. He creamed the field, many minutes up for the solo win. Do not underestimate this guy, you heard it here first.
Round one is done. The fields are bigger this year. The competition is deeper and tighter at the top. We have more events to attend this year. The Olympics are this summer. Things are looking brighter for MTB racing. Thanks for reading, see you at Sonoma. Stop by the Shimano tent and introduce yourself. Then go by the Trek tent and get a Bootes autograph, you will be glad you did.
CD