Geoff Kabush goes 4 for 4 in Fontana
Barry Wicks leads a group up the opening climb
With over 110 pro men toeing the line in Fontana intense action was pretty much guaranteed. The resounding favorite was Maxxis/Rocky Mountain rider Geoff Kabush. The Canadian National Champion has won all three events held at the California venue.
Even with Kabush the field was stacked with high-level talent including Adam Craig (Giant), Jeremiah Bishop, (Monavie-Cannondale.com), Gary Fisher teammates Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Todd Wells (Specialized), and the Specialized/Sho-Air trio of Sid Taberlay, Max Plaxton, and Sam Jurekovic.As promised the action started right from the gun. Unfortunately for Todd Wells, it was not the kind of action he was hoping for. The Specialized rider broke his chain 100 yards into the race. After fixing it he started the race minutes behind the last placed rider. Jurekovic found trouble of his own as his rear skewer sheared off at the bottom of the first climb. The young rider wasn’t ready to quit as he picked up his bike and started running the course.
Kabush got off the line much better and led into the first climb. Unlike 2008, he carried a bunch of riders along with him, namely Bishop, Taberlay, and Plaxton.
After the first lap the leaders shed Bishop. Kabush was left to handle the two Sho-Air riders on his own. After three laps Taberlay began to fall of the pace leaving Paxton and Kabush on even terms at the front.
The two riders stayed close together throughout the closing laps. Kabush threw several small attacks at the younger rider on the penultimate lap but nothing stuck. He finally loosened Paxton with an acceleration the final time up the technical opening climb on the fifth and final lap.
Geoff Kabush charging in front of Sid Taberlay and Jeremiah Bishop
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski gets up close and personal with a boulder in the singletrack
Behind the two leaders came an ever-changing group of riders. Third place on the course cycled between Australian Sid Taberlay, Jeremiah Bishop, JHK, Adam Craig, and Sam Schultz. After three laps the Gary Fisher pair seemed to find each other and began making their way toward the front. The Fisher riders rolled their 29er Superflys through the course dispatching Bishop and a quickly fading Taberlay finally relegating U.S. National Champion Adam Craig into fifth place.
Sid Taberlay would finally finish in sixth followed by Canadians Derek Zandstra (3-Rox Racing) and Seamus McGrath (Jamis). Monavie’s Jeremiah Bishop rolled in ninth followed by Todd Wells. One can only speculate where Wells would have placed had he not broken his chain and been forced to pass 104 of the 114 rider field. Although he finished 10th, Wells had one of the most impressive rides of the day.
When asked after the race if Kabush just expected to win here at Fontana he said, “You never know what to expect but I’ve won here before without being in the best condition. The training has been going well and I knew I was 100% coming in here…I felt pretty in control the whole race.” I don’t think anyone can argue that Kabush is in control when it comes to Fontana.
Sid Taberlay would finally finish in sixth followed by Canadians Derek Zandstra (3-Rox Racing) and Seamus McGrath (Jamis). Monavie’s Jeremiah Bishop rolled in ninth followed by Todd Wells. One can only speculate where Wells would have placed had he not broken his chain and been forced to pass 104 of the 114 rider field. Although he finished 10th, Wells had one of the most impressive rides of the day.
When asked after the race if Kabush just expected to win here at Fontana he said, “You never know what to expect but I’ve won here before without being in the best condition. The training has been going well and I knew I was 100% coming in here…I felt pretty in control the whole race.” I don’t think anyone can argue that Kabush is in control when it comes to Fontana.
Sam Schultz descends on lap one
Sam Schultz had one of the more impressive rides at Pro XC Tour #1. His fourth place is a significant improvement for the young rider. After the race he commented on his quickly improving results, "It seems like things have gone really smoothly this off-season. This year I'm finally starting to figure everything out and balancing things. There's a lot to figure out as far as training goes and I just hope I'm finally getting it."
Many stories will come out of Sunday's cross country. Perhaps the most important is that the Pro XC Tour and Kenda Cup promoters created at thoroughly exciting and action packed men's cross country event. With tight racing lines, tricky Pro only descents, and an abundance of talent the Pro men provided an outstanding show.
Race Notes:
The award for best new look of 2009 goes to Adam Snyder (3D Racing). While many of the younger riders are sporting mustaches, none can match the all out Burt Reynolds look of Snyder. He may be looking to trade his bike in for a Trans Am.Writing and Photos by: Shannon Boffeli
1. Geoff Kabush
2. Max Plaxton
3. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
4. Sam Schultz
5. Adam Craig
6. Sid Taberlay
7, Derek Zandstra
8, Seamus McGrath
9, Jeremiah Bishop
10, Todd Wells
11, Troy Wells
12, Andy Schultz
13, Carl Decker
14, Kris Sneddon
15, Adam Morka
16, Barry Wicks
17, Travis Livermon
18, Manuel Prado
19, Stefan Widmer
20, Tad Elliot
21, Robbie Squire
