Americans Take Both Sea Otter Short Track Titles
Todd Wells saw nothing but clean air in front of him all throughout today's short track
April weather in Monterrey, California, is known for being predictably unpredictable. It ranges from temperatures in the 50s and thick mud to soaring highs well over 100 with gusting winds. This year however, it seems to be down right pleasant. As riders lined up for the short track today many commented that this is the best weather they have ever seen at Sea Otter.
The racing action was pretty good too.
The women started first with Pro XCT #1 short track winner Willow Koerber (Subaru/Gary Fisher) going to the front. Koerber was joined by Specialized rider Lene Byberg and Georgia Gould (Luna). Canadian Katharine Pendrel (Luna) chased the leaders.
Gould quickly made it clear she had her sights set on winning this race. After several early attacks by the Luna rider, she was finally able to get clear with four laps remaining. Byberg and Koerber were left to do the chasing but Gould's determination to win was just too much.
Georgia Gould took her first win of 2010 in commanding style
With each lap she powered farther off the front leaving all the other riders to sort out who would be second. With one to go, it looked as if Gould's teammate Pendrel would take the runner up spot but Norwegian Lene Byberg surged one final time and passed the Luna rider. Pendrel would take third in front of Koerber and 2009 Sea Otter short track champion Emily Batty (Trek).
Just as the dust settled the men took their turn at Sea Otter glory and just like last year the Specialized team stomped out the competition.
Todd Wells leads the chasers through the chicane
Early on, it was Specialized's big man Todd Wells doing most of the damage accompanied by Geoff Kabush (Maxxis/Rocky Mountain). A crash early on waded up a healthy portion of the field and assured the front-runners clear sailng.
Wells was soon joined at the front by his South African teammate Burry Stander. And just like 2009, the two simply checked out from the rest of the field. Kabush had his hands full trying to hold off former world champion Christoph Sauser (Specialized) while Subaru/Gary Fisher riders Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Sam Schultz did their best to latch on to the Swiss rider.
Sid Taberlay, flying to Aussie National Championship colors, leads Burry Stander early in the race
There was simply no catching Wells today. The big Specialized rider rode confidently slowly increasing his lead and proving that he is truly on great form heading in to 2010. Wells was able to cruise across the finish line claiming back-to-back Sea Otter STXC wins.
His teammate Stander also repeated his result from 2009 taking second. Kabush held off the charging Swiss rider for third. Sauser crossed the line in fourth while Sho-Air/Specialized rider Sid Taberlay squeaked into the fifth and final podium spot.
Geoff Kabush on course
Staging for the short track event under warm sunny skies in Monterrey
Lene Byberg on her way to a second place finish
Willow Koerber, Lene Byberg, and Georgia Gould opening things up early in the race
Pro Women
1, Georgia Gould (Luna)
2, Lene Byberg (Specialized)
3, Katharine Pendrel (Luna)
4, Willow Koerber (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
5, Emily Batty (Trek)
6, Katerina Nash (Luna)
7, Kelli Emmett (Giant)
8, Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
9, Chloe Forsman (Tokyo Joe's)
10, Mical Dyck (Trek Canada)
Pro Men
1, Todd Wells (Specialized)
2, Burry Stander (Specialized)
3, Geoff Kabush (Maxxis/Rocky Mountain)
4, Christoph Sauser (Specialized)
5, Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized)
6, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
7, Sam Schultz (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
8, Manuel Fumic
9, Carl Decker (Giant)
10, Marco Fontana
11, Ryan Trebon (Kona)
12, Max Plaxton (Sho-Air/Specialized)
13, Ken Onodera (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
14, Roel Paulissen (Cannondale)
15, Jeremiah Bishop (Cannondale)