The 2010 racing season is officially upon us. With the opening race of the US Cup Triple Crown presented by H2Overdrive, the mountain biking public enjoyed the first Pro-level mountain bike event of the new year.
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Sid Taberlay leads Geoff Kabush
Scott Tedro and the US Cup crew have been working hard this offseason to put together a rewarding and high-level series of events for the mountain biking public. They unveiled the first of the three races this weekend in Bonelli Park, California.After a week of cold temperatures and rain the weather held off for the inaugural Triple Crown cross country on Saturday. The Pro fields were smaller than your average National Championship level event but stacked with top-ranked competition.
The men’s field included big guns like Geoff Kabush, National Champion Jeremy Horgan –Kobelski, youngster Sam Schultz, Todd Wells, Jeremiah Bishop and his Cannondale teammate Tinker Juarez, and of course the Sho-Air squad featuring Sid Taberlay, Max Plaxton, Manny Prado, and newcomer Tad Elliot.
With sizable cash on the line, these huge motors would be battling hard to reach the finish line first. As usual things got off to a fast start, with the group splitting and reforming several times throughout the opening laps.
At the halfway point Kabush, JHK, Wells, Schultz, Plaxton, and Taberlay all remained at the front with no room in between. Finally, with two laps to go, Plaxton broke clear of the bunch. Quickly getting a lead of 20 seconds on the chasers.
Taberlay was not about to chase down his teammate so it was up to Kabush to try and pull his countryman back.
Kabush and Taberlay changing wheels on the final lap (photo by Todd Park)
Disaster struck on the final lap when both Taberlay and Kabush flatted virtually ending the chase. Both riders lost spots but Taberlay had clearly been holding back. After the flat and a slightly hectic wheel change, the Aussie put down an outstanding final lap moving back into the second spot.
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Max Plaxton charging toward the victory
Eventually Plaxton would take the win by less than a minute over his teammate who just squeaked in front of Subaru/ Gary Fisher man Sam Schultz. Kabush crossed the line a mere 3 seconds behind Schultz with Todd Wells another 11 seconds back.
The small but stacked women's field (photo by Todd Park)
In the women’s race just 11 riders took the start. But the small field included National Champion Heather Irmiger, Kelli Emmett, Pua Sawicki, World Class roadie Amber Neben, ’09 Bonelli winner Krista Park, and Lene Byberg.
The women would complete 5 laps of the 4-mile course. In the early laps, Pua Sawicki put the hammer down and took the early lead. Byberg and Emmett stayed close followed by Irmiger and Rock n Road Cyclery rider Allison Mann putting in a solid performance.
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Lene Byberg challenges for the win
By the midway point Byberg had taken the top spot with Emmett still close behind. Irmiger continued to tap out a consistent cadence just behind. As the laps wound down it was clearly shaping up to be a close race between Byberg and Emmett. The two stayed wheel to wheel and entered the finish stretch locked together. Both riders kicked with all they had with Emmett gritting her teeth to cross the line first.
With the cross country complete riders will have to wait for the official winner of the Bonelli Park Triple Crown to be announced. Riders will have to contest a short track and Super-D event on Sunday before the winner is ultimately decided.
Stay tuned to MTBRaceNews.com for the latest results from Bonelli.
Race Notes:
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Chloe Forsman back with Tokyo Joe's
Former U-23 National Champion Chloe Forsman made her national debut this weekend riding for the Tokyo Joes team
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Juarez still in the mix
42 year old Tinker Juarez finished 11th in a stacked men’s field
