18th Annual Deer Valley Pedalfest, Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Intermountain Cup #7

Written by: Shannon Boffeli
Photos by: Lyna Saffell

As any cyclist in Utah will tell you, it has been raining a lot in Utah this year. The normally arid high-desert climate of Utah has done a 180 in 2009. Rain has been falling hard and steady everyday for the past two weeks. Yet through some miracle of nature, Sautrday morning, it stopped, just long enough for racers to complete their grueling laps on the Deer Valley racecourse.

Dave Welsh pushing the pace early on the Little Stick climb

The Pro men got off the line first with a strong group of twenty pros all challenging for a top position. Bart Gillespie (Monavie-Cannondale.com) and Dave Welsh (Kuhl/Scott) got the early gap up the Little Stick climb followed closely by Chris Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher), Kevin Day (Kuhl/Scott), and Shannon Boffeli (Revolution/MTBracenews.com). After the first descent Blake Zumbrunnen (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) and Josh Wolfe had bridged up to the chase group but it was clear the leaders were not coming back.

Welsh, who has been showing phenomenal form in 2009, challenged the Monavie team captain with repeated attacks. Never giving up hope that he could dislodge Gillespie. As he soon found out, there is a reason Bart Gillespie has been the most dominant rider in Utah for the past 10 years.

Gillespie looks relaxed on his way to another Intermountain Cup win

Through all the attacks Gillespie stayed close. On the third of four ascents up Little Stick, Welsh threw all his chips in. With a huge acceleration he moved clear of the Monavie rider. But the effort proved too much for Welsh who almost immediately gave up the top spot to Gillespie and more. As the final full lap wound down and just a half lap remained, Welsh soon found himself falling prey to Chris Holley and Kevin Day who had been climbing strong all day just a minute behind the leaders.

After the race Holley said, “You can’t expect to drop Bart it’s just not going to happen. You really have to hand it to Dave though. He really gave it everything today.”

Chris Holley stayed strong for a second place in Deer Valley

To finish off the podium Rich Abbott (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) charged from mid-pack into the 5th spot. After a slow start, Abbott moved methodically through the field. At the start of lap number three, he put in a huge effort on Little Stick, which moved him from 8th into the 5 slot.

KC Holley motors her way to an impressive win

In the women’s race there were a few absences due to the Pro XCT race in Colorado Springs. This left KC Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Jen Hanks (Revolution/Peak Fastners) to battle for the top spot. Holley got the early advantage taking a lead on the first lap. Hanks tried her best to keep pace with the Gary Fisher rider until a wrong turn on course cost Hanks many minutes.

After the race an exhausted Jen Hanks said, “At the end of each lap the course crosses over itself and instead of descending back to the start/finish I just started up the climb again. I didn’t realize my mistake until the top of Little Stick at which point I rode all the way back down and had to do the climb again.”

Her mistake left Holley charging ahead unchallenged. The talented Gary Fisher rider, who excels at both XC and ultra-endurance racing, had no problem maintaining her focus and keeping the hammer down to finish over 8 minutes ahead of second place Julie Minahan (Jan’s). Hanks climbed her way back into third followed by Katie Lindquist (Kent Eriksens Cycles).

Pro Men

1. Bart Gillespie (Monavie-Cannondale.com) 2.03.07
2. Chris Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) 2.05.04
3. Kevin Day (Kuhl/Scott) 2.05.57
4. Dave Welsh (Kuhl/Scott) 2.06.32
5. Rich Abbott (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) 2.06.41
6. Reed Wycoff (Contenders)
7. Jonny Hintze (Bikers Edge)
8. Geoffrey Montague (Delta 7 Sports)
9. Shannon Boffeli (Revolution/MTBracenews.com)
10. Josh Wolfe (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
11. Ty Hansen (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
12. Quinn Bingham (Bikers Edge)
13. Brandon Firth (Rocky Mountain)
14. Taylor Foss (Kuhl/Scott)
15. Marc Wimmer (Wimmers Cycles)
DNF Blake Zumbrunnen (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
DNF Matt Ohran (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
DNF Brandon Cross (Monavie-Cannondale.com)

Pro Women

1. KC Holley (Subaru/Gary Fisher) 2.02.33
2. Julie Minahan (Jan’s) 2.10.58
3. Jen Hanks (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
4. Katie Lindquist (Kent Eriksen Cycles) 2.19.42

Full Results from Colorado Springs Short Track

Todd Wells Continues His Streak While Irmiger Derails the Luna Train

Heather Irmiger continues to muscle her way into the elite ranks of U.S. women's mountain bike racing. Click here to read our interview with the Heather from earlier this year where she reveals some of the secrets that have led to her best ever season in 2009.

Pro Women

1. Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
2. Katie Compton (Spike Shooter)
3. Catharine Pendrel (Luna)
4. Katerina Nash (Luna)
5. Georgia Gould (Luna)
6. Lea Davison (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis)
7, Pua Sawicki (Ellsworth)
8, Kathy Sherwin (Kenda/Tomac)
9, Kelli Emmett (Giant)
10, Alison Dunlap (Luna)
11, Zephanie Blasi (Kenda/Tomac)
12, Chloe Forsman
13, Heather Holmes (Kenda/Tomac)
14, Anina Aaron (Kenda/KMC)
15, Nina Baum
16, Maureen Kunz
17, Lindsey Bishop
18, Melody Serra
19, Philicia Marion


Pro Men

1. Todd Wells (Specialized)
2. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher)
3. Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis)
4. Adam Craig (Giant)
5. Carl Decker (Giant)
6. Colin Cares (Kenda/Tomac)
7, Ryan Trebon (Kona)
8, Troy Wells (Clif)
9, Bryan Alders (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
10, Macky Franklin
11, Andy Schultz (Kenda/Tomac)
12, Robert Marion (Kenda/Tomac)
13, Matt Shriver
14, Alex Grant (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
15, Tad Elliott (U-23)
16, Travis Livermon
17, Kalan Biesel
18, Colby Pierce
19, Cody Peterson
20, Stephen Ettinger
21, Robbie Squire (U-23)
22, JJ Clark
23, TJ Woodruff
24, Aaron Elwell
25, Scott Frederick
26, Drew Edsall
27, Ken Onodera
28, Mitchell Hoke
29, Matthew Beaton
30, Yuki Saito (Ergon)
31, Mitchell Peterson (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
32, John Nobil
33, Matt Rotroff
34, Alex Ryan
35, Matt Connors

Pro XC Tour Comes to Colorado: Race Preview

Numero Uno, Geoff Kabush is always a threat

Writing and Photos by: Shannon Boffeli

The Pro XCT moves to the mountains of Colorado. The Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colorado will host round four of the Cross Country national series. The Sand Creek Invitational will treat riders to more climbing and higher altitude than any racecourse on the circuit thus far.

Georgia Gould is only a part of what makes Luna so dominant

The change in altitude should bring some changes in the final outcome. After taking the top three spots in Alabama, the Luna train appears intact and back on the rails. Georgia Gould, Katerina Nash, and Catharine Pendrel are all proven climbers who should excel on the Colorado course. Hoping to derail the train will be U.S. Short Track and Cyclocross National Champion Katie Compton (Spike Shooter). Compton took first at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail last weekend defeating Gould in the process. It is unknown if Compton can handle all three Lunas, a challenge for any rider, even a National Champion.

Other riders to watch for will be Colorado residents Heather Irmiger (Subaru/Gary Fisher), and Kelli Emmett (Giant). Emmett has been slightly under-the-radar this season but she has done enough to occupy 3rd in the Pro XCT standings. Racing in front of the hometown crowd should provide a boost for the Giant rider.

Pua Sawicki (Ellsworth), Kathy Sherwin (Kenda/Tomac), and Lea Davison (Maxxis/Rocky Mountain) all finished in the top-10 in Alabama and are proven climbers capable of scaling onto the podium this weekend.

In the men’s event, Sho-Air/Specialized riders Max Plaxton and Sid Taberlay refuse to give up the top spots in the series. Both riders have proven they can compete in almost any conditions and for that reason are sitting one-two in the Pro XCT standings. Despite a top field in Colorado Springs there is no reason to think Plaxton or Taberlay will relinquish their hold on the series standings.

Todd Wells should be right up front again this weekend

Challenging for the win will be Coloradoan Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru/Gary Fisher) who just missed a win in Alabama and defeated nearly the same field of riders at last weekend’s Teva Mountain Games. Another Colorado rider, Todd Wells (Specialized), should have a strong ride on Sunday, provided he avoids the bad luck that has hounded him this season.

Maxxis/Rocky Mountain rider Geoff Kabush will be on hand and is always a threat to win. He hasn’t been his typical dominant self this spring but you can never count the K-Bomb out. His combination of power and cool calculation can produce wins even on bad days. The same can be said about U.S. National XC Champion Adam Craig (Giant). Craig has been off to a slow start in 2009 but he is no doubt building his fitness for the upcoming National Championships in Granby, Colorado.

Kona riders Barry Wicks and Ryan Trebon will be hoping to emerge from their respective cocoons this season. Both riders have been struggling in 2009 and currently sit 30th or below in the Pro XCT standings. Watch for Sam (Subaru/Gary Fisher) and Andy Schultz (Kenda/Tomac) to end up in the top-10. The brothers from Montana know how to climb and have spent an abundance of time riding up front with the big guns this season.

The Carmichael Training Systems Sand Creek Invitational will kick off with a Short Track race on Friday followed by the Cross Country on Saturday. Check back with MTBracenews.com for results, reports, and photos from the events.