Writing and Photos by: Todd Park
Although still a factor, the heat at Santa Ynez was significantly lower than both last year and last week for the US West Cup #5. The course was a mixture of double and single track, cut down by about 1.5 miles from last year. Gusty winds both cooled the racers while at the same time made them work harder and look for help along the ridges and in the valleys.
Pro Men:
Sho-Air sent Manny Prado off the front at the start of the race, forcing Andy Schultz (Kenda/Tomac/Hayes) and other racers without team help to make a decision early. The attack didn’t last long, however, before Sho-Air/Specialized teammate Sid Taberlay went off the front, where he stayed for the remainder the race, to take an easy victory. Schultz and Aaron Olsen (Oakley/Sidi) worked together until Schultz flatted near the end, just barely finishing ahead of fourth place Craig Ritchey (Blue Comp).
Andy Schultz (Kenda/Tomac/Hayes) leading the chase
Pro Women:
Kathy Sherwin (Kenda/Tomac/Hayes) led out with Alison Mann (Sho-Air/Specialized) and Amanda Carey (Kenda/Tomac/Hayes) not far behind. Sherwin led for two-and-a-half laps with the exception of a brief turn up front by Mann. There would be no time to relaxing for the top three, with only 15-30 seconds separating them for most of the race. That is until Amanda Carey made what is now becoming her signature move, a late charge on the last lap, passing both Mann and Sherwin to finish over a minute out front.
Sherwin and Carey (Kenda/Tomac/Hayes)
Race Notes:
The best action was in the kid’s race when two determined little girls met head on!
The next generation of Pro Women
Pro Men1, Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized) 1.44.39
2, Aaron Olsen (Oakley,Sidi) 1.46.53
3, Andy Schultz (Kenda/Tomac) 1.49.45
4, Craig Ritchey (Blue Comp)1.49.51
5, Dana Weber (Trek) 1.51.30
6, Daniel Sessford (Blue Comp)
7, Manuel Prado (Sho-Air/Specialized)
8, Charles Jenkins (Cytomax/KHS)
9, Sean Donovan (Cytomax/KHS)
10, Paul Friewald (Pivot)
11, Jason Siegle (Bear Valley Bikes)
12, Drew Edsall (Scott USA)
13, John Nobil (Bear Valley Bikes)
14, Chad Stoehr
15, Matt Freeman (Pass PT)
16, Romolo Forcino (Bear Valley Bikes)
17, Alex Boone (Helens/Subaru)
18, Matthew Connors (Fisher 29er Crew)
19, Hal Helbock (Cytomax/KHS)
20, Garnet Vertican (Giant/ODI)
21, Noah Holcomb (Cannondale Factory)
22, Zachary Griffin
23, Derek Hermon (Bear Valley Bikes)
Pro Women
1, Amanda Carey (Kenda/Tomac) 2.08.36
2, Kathy Sherwin (Kenda/Tomac) 2.09.38
3, Alison Mann (Sho-Air/Specialized) 2.11.52
4, Krista Park (Incycle) 2.13.12
5, Natasha Hernday (Amgen) 2.14.37
6, Joy Duerksen (Pass PT) 2.19.23
7, Heather Ranoa (Intense Cycles) 2.22.02
DNF Zephanie Blasi
