Sea Otter Classic - 1

Monterey, CA USA, April 12-15, 2007

Photography

Stage 5 - Sunday, April 15: Cross Country,  

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by FJ Hughes/http://www.fhughesphoto.com/

• Kiara Bisaro (Opus) finished second.
• Georgia Gould (Luna) dons an extra layer after while speaking with reporters after her win.
• Georgia Gould (Luna), head down, pedalled solo almost all day on the way to her third major cross county victory of the year.
• Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) takes a turn at the front of the five-man break.
• Women's cross country podium: 1. Georgia Gould (Luna), 2. Kiara Bisaro (Opus), 3. Katerina Nash (Luna), 4. Lene Byberg (Specialized Factory), 5. Heather Irminger (Subaru - Gary Fisher)
• Men's cross country podium: 1. Geoff Kabush (Maxxis), 2. Jean Christophe Peraud (Orbea), 3. Christoph Sauser (Specialized Factory), 4. Burry Stander (GT), 5. Todd Wells (GT)

Images by Steve Medcroft/Cyclingnews

• 2006 Sea Otter winner Liam Killeen (Specialized)
• Max Plaxton (Rocky Mountain/Haywood)
• Seamus McGrath (Rocky Mountain/Haywood)
• Todd Wells (GT)
• Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
• Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/VW)
• At 38 miles, the course distance seemed suited to marathon specialists like Thomas Frischknecht (Swisspower)
• But it was former cross-country world champion Christophe Sauser (Specialized) who was able to push the pace
• Leonard Sandoval (SoCal Specialized team)
• Glenn Fant (Specialized)
• Barry Wicks (Kona)
• Ross Schnell (Trek/VW)
• Six time 24 Hours of Adrenalin solo world champ Chris Eatough (Trek/VW) was featured in the new MTB movie 24-Solo; which premiered at Sea Otter
• Matthew Toulouse (Team Maxxis)
• Natt Ross (Subaru/Gary Fisher) was one of several distance specialists in the cross country race
• Cyclingnews diarist Nick Martin. Yes, 'the' Nick Martin.
• US National MTB Champ Ryan Trebon (Kona)
• Canadian National MTB Champ Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis) would win the race in a three-up sprint againt Sauser and Peraud.
• Baby fans
• The men's start
• Georgia Gould (Luna Chix) planning an early escape in the women's race
• Melanie Myers (Kenda/Titus/X-Fusion)
• Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna Chix)
• Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain/Haywood)
• Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
• Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
• Kristina Maier (BMC/Sports Garage)
• Lea Davidson (Trek/VW)
• Cyclingnews diarist Barbara Howe (Velo Bella/Kona)
• Katie Compton (Spike/Primus Mootry)
• Sue Haywwod (Trek/VW) received a late call up but used her frustration to fuel a very early attack that split the women's field.
• Katie Compton sizing up the course
• Kelli Emmett (Giant)
• The women's start
• Burry Stander (GT) led the men through the feed zone after the first lap
• The rest of the leading group contained Jean-Chrstophe Peraud, Christophe Sauser, Geoff Kabush and Todd Wells.
• The first chase group contained Ryan Trebon, Barry Wicks, Jeremiah Bishop, Max Plaxton and Nino Schurter
• Georgia Gould was off the front by two minutes after the first of two 19-mile laps.
• Gould's teammate - Katerina Nash sat behind Kiara Bisaro and held on for third.
• Another chase group
• Alison Sydor and Shonny Vanlandingham try to bridge back to one of the chase groups
• Katie Compton was stuck four groups behind solo breakaway rider Georgia Gould
• Kelli Emmett riding alone through the start/finish line after her first lap
• Geoff Kabush outsprinted Peraud and Sauser for the Sea Otter win
• Kabush gets high-fives at the finsh line
• Wells and Stander, the two GT riders, were dropped from the lead group in the final lap but held on for fourth and fifth.

Stage 3 - Saturday, April 14: Short Track,  

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by FJ Hughes/http://www.fhughesphoto.com/

• Katie Compton (Spike) powers her way to a win in the women's race.
• Katerina Nash (Luna) battles the muck.
• Heather Irmiger (Subaru / Gary Fisher) leads teammate Willow Koerber.
• Georgia Gould (Luna), Willow Koerber (Subaru - Gary Fisher), and Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain / Haywood) charge up the hill together early in the race.

Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews

• The women's race started under a light drizzle.

Images by Mitchell Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

• Eric Tonkin (Kona/Team S&M) dominated from the start in the first short track heat.
• Kelly Magelky with one lap to go and Chance Noble (Cal Giant / Specialized) not far behind.
• Chance Noble (Cal Giant / Specialized) finished a strong third in the opening short track heat.
• Katie Compton (Spike) on her way to victory in the woman's short track race.
• Katerina Nash (Luna) finished second in the woman's short track race.
• The start of the men's short track second heat.
• Ryan Trebon (Kona) out front for the first part of the second short track heat.
• Kris Sneddon (Kona) had the best pain face in the short track races.
• Peraud Jean Christophe (Orbea) poured it on in the last part of the race for the win.
• Who wants a big kiss?

Stage 2 - Friday, April 13: Time Trial,  

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by FJ Hughes/http://www.fhughesphoto.com/

• Katerina Nash (Luna) rode to victory in the women's race.
• Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) proved to be the fastest in the men's race.
• Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) talks with reporters after the race.
• Seamus McGrath (Rocky Mountain / Haywood) finished on the third step of the podium.
• Barry Wicks (Kona) finished 18th.
• Trek-Volkswagen's Sue Haywood placed a strong fourth.
• Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-Volkswagen) shows off Trek's new kit before heading to Europe.
• Yesterday's Super D winner Adam Craig (Giant MTB Team) could only manage seventeenth.
• Mountain biking's elder statesmen Thomas Frischknecht (Swiss Power)
• Christoph Sauser (Specialized) placed a respectable seventh.
• Jean Christophe Peraud (Orbea) leads on his way to victory.
• In the final laps, Jean Christophe Peraud (Orbea) closed in on Ryan Trebon (Kona)

Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews

• readies for the start.
• Kiara Bisaro (Team Race) gets the starting count down.
• Bear Naked Cannondale's Becca Blay on the starting line.
• Officials watch Zephanie Blasi (Kenda / X-fusion / Titus) take off.
• Specialized Factory's Lene Byberg at the start.
• Willow Koerber (Subaru / Gary Fisher) smiles after the finish.
• Georgia Gould (Luna) took second in the time trial.
• Nino Schurter (Swiss Power) warms up.
• Nat Ross (Subaru / Gary Fisher) does short races, too.
• Christoph Sauser (Specialized) readies for the start.
• Ross Schnell (Trek / VW) concentrates on the start line.
• Sam Schultz (Subaru / Gary Fisher) at the start.
• Todd Wells (GT) starts from the fence.
• Jean Christophe Peraud (Orbea) after the finish.
• Have you ever seen an Otter that could drive a VW?

Images by Mitchell Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

• Katarina Nash (Luna) wins the women's race.
• Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) zooms to victory in the men's race.

Stage 1 - Thursday, April 12: Super D,  

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by James Huang / Cyclingnews

• The Super D featured a running start.
• The men tackle the initial climb as a pack.
• Racers string out going downhill in the Super D.
• If you get left behind, you'll have to eat their dust.
• The men's field works a climb.
• By the top, the men were strung out.
• The women's pack thins over the top of the initial climb.
• But they stick together on the initial climb.
• The women string out as the road turns downward.

Images by Sue George / Cyclingnews

• Third-place women's finisher Mary Ellen Ash (Easton / Specialized) was happy with her first Super D.
• Mical Dyck (Trek / Terrascape Racing) took second in the women's race, also in her first Super D.
• Marla Streb (Luna) with her biggest supporter and favorite fan, 11 month-old daughter Nico.
• Kelli Emmett (Giant) speeds toward the finish.
• Kelli Emmett, Adam Craig, and Carl Decker (Team Giant) all got to stand on the podium today.
• Kelli Emmett (Giant) shakes up her champagne on the podium.
• Please pass the champagne.
• The top five women celebrate on the Super D podium.
• Adam Craig (Giant) dons the winner's jersey from the top step of the podium.
• Adam Craig (Giant) gets ready to spray his champagne in celebration.
• Adam Craig (Giant) takes a swig from the podium's top step.
• The top five men raise their arms together from the Super D podium.
• An empty podium awaits the awards ceremony.