writing and photos by Todd Park
Pro XCT series leader Plaxton Uses Descents to Move to the Front
Canadian's win the day, taking four out of ten podium spots in the elite men and women XC races. Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women's MTB) won the Elite Women's race, narrowly putting her in the lead for the series, and Max Plaxton (Team Sho-Air/Specialized) increased his current lead in the series with a win in the men’s field.
Plaxton and Pendral in PRO XCT leader’s jerseys
Cheyenne Mountain XC Course:
With a wide single track for half of the climb, followed by more climbing through technical rock gardens and a treacherous descent, this course was designed to expose weaknesses of both the rider and the ride. The lap distance was just over 5 miles and the call-up was crucial, because there was almost no chance to move up on the paved “parade lap” and passing was difficult once you reached the dirt. Those who had the skills to climb and descend well through the rock gardens, but failed to get a good start position, were at the mercy of less skilled riders in front of them.
All of this made for an exciting race for the front runners of both fields. Lead changes were common and no huge gaps were ever established.
Elite Women:
Catherine Pendrel, riding a hard tail, Orbea, was strongest on the single track climb. She was chased by Katie Compton (Spike Shooter), who made up time on the rocky sections. Heather Irmiger (Gary Fisher/Subaru) also looked strong but needed a rear-wheel change on laps two and three, the second one costing her three spots and a chance for a podium finish. Irmiger was riding a 2x9 29er and later reported that she still needs to play with tire pressure for the bigger wheels.
Pendrel and Compton, a close finish
Pendrel came through just ahead of Compton, where she made a point of being first onto the winding, paved downhill section just before the finish. Pendrel and Compton were followed by Katerina Nash and Georgia Gould (Luna Women’s MTB). Lea Davison (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) made an impressive move on the pavement, just before the corners, passing Pua Sawicki (Ellsworth) and taking the final spot on the podium.
Judy Freeman (Tough Girls), Heather Holmes and Zephanie Blasi (Kenda/Tomac/Hayes) had impressive races as well.
Women’s Podium
Elite Men:
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Gary Fisher/Subaru), on a hard tail 29er, and Todd Wells (Specialized), on a full suspension 29er, were off the front early. “I tried to blow it apart, I didn’t want to race all three Sho-Air guys again” Horgan-Kobelski said after the race. Plaxton was able to close on Wells and Horgan-Kobelski on the second lap, leaving Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis–Rocky Mountain), Adam Craig (Giant) and Sam Schultz (Gary Fisher/Subaru) to chase. “Max [Plaxton] was descending well” commented Horgan-Kobelski.
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
Plaxton got by Wells on the descent of the third lap “I was looking for places to pass” he explained. “Todd [Wells] showed me a great line”.
Todd Wells
On the final lap, Horgan-Kobelski made another big surge on the climb, “I thought I had it, Max [Plaxton] made a sick pass on the last descent”. As it turned out, Plaxton made good use of the line Wells took on the previous lap. “JHK was climbing well and was smooth on the descents but his hard tail wasn’t as fast as my full-suspension [Specialized Epic]. I’m pretty psyched about my first [US cross country] win”.
Canadian Derek Zandstra had a great race and overtook Sam Schultz on the last lap, which put him in the final podium slot.
Men’s Podium
US West Cup Finale
Unofficially, Krista Park (No-Tubes/Magura/INCYCLE) and Sid Taberely (Team Sho-Air/Specialized), while neither having their best race, both did well enough to take the series. Park came in just ahead of Allison Mann (Team Sho-Air/Specialized), her closest competitor in the series. Taberlay, after being in the mix with the leaders at the start of the race, dropped off when his front fork locked up.
1, Catharine Pendrel (Luna) 1.21.03
2, Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) 1.21.04
3, Katerina Nash (Luna) 1.24.02
4, Georgia Gould (Luna) 1.25.03
5, Lea Davison (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) 1.25.51
6, Pua Sawicki (Ellsworth)
7, Heather Irmiger (Subaur/Gary Fisher)
8, Judy Freeman (Tough Girls/Scott)
9, Heather Holmes (Kenda/Tomac)
10, Zephanie Blasi (Kenda/Tomac)
11, Kathy Sherwin (Kenda/Tomac)
12, Kelli Emmett (Giant)
13, Amanda Carey (KEnda/Tomac)
14, Amdance Sin
15, Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
16, Chloe Forsman (Luna)
17, Aleksandra Rokita
18, Krista Park (Incycle)
19, Allison Mann (Sho-Air/Specialized)
20, Nina Baum
21, Anina Aaron (Kenda/KMC)
22, Lindsey Bishop
23, Caitlyn Tuel
24, Lydia Tanner
25, Melody Serra
26, Erin Huck
27, Maureen Kunz
28, Erika Powers (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
29, Sonya Bugbee
30, Sara Tarkington
31, Philicia Marion
32, Athena Kraus
33, Danae York
1, Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized) 1.33.08
2, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) 1.33.10
3, Todd Wells (Specialized) 1.34.03
4, Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) 1.34.27
5, Derek Zandstra 1.36.56
6, Sam Schultz (Subaur/Gary Fisher)
7, Adam Craig (Giant)
8, Sam Jurekovic (Sho-Air/Specialized)
9, Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized)
10, Jeremiah Bishop (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
11, Rotem Ishay
12, Chris Sheppard (Jamis)
13, Carl Decker (Giant)
14, Troy Wells (Clif)
15, Manuel Prado (Sho-Air/Specialized)
16, Pater Glassford
17, Benjamin Sonntag (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
18, Matt Shriver
19, Colin Cares (Kenda/Tomac)
20, Macky Franklin
21, Travis Livermon
22, Alex Grant (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
23, Cody Peterson
24, Dana Weber
25, Bryan Alders (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
26, Travis Scheefer
27, Robert Marion (Kenda/KMC)
28, Adam Snyder (3D Racing)
29, Jason Sager (Jamis)
30, Aaron Bradford
31, Andy Schultz (Kenda/Tomac)
32, Robbie Squire (U-23)
33, Ken Onodera (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
34, Kevin Kane
35, TJ Woodruff
36, JJ Clark
37, Stephen Ettinger
38, Adam Parke
39, Benjamin Portilla
40, Scott Frederick
41, Michael McCalla
42, Colby Pierce
43, Dylan Stucki
44, Aaron Elwell
45, Yuki Saito
46, Barkley Robinson
47, Blake Harlan
48, Matt Rotroff
49, Drew Edsall
50, Greg Carpenter
51, Doug Ryden
52, John Nobil
53, Jan Koles
54, SPencer Powlison
55, Daniel Matheny
56, Tad Elliott (U-23)
57, Ryan Clark
58, Alex Ryan
59, Craig Wohlschleger
60, Kalan Biesel
61, Jamie Morgan
62, Chad Harris (Recer's Cycle Service)
63, Joe McNerney
64, Jordon Williford
65, Seamus Powell
66, Ross Bowden
67, Matt Connors
68, Jacob Virostko
69, Mitchell Hoke
70, Bryan Mickiewicz
71, Katriel Statman
72, Chris Peterson
73, Mitchell Peterson
