June 18/06 10:52 am - NORBA #3: Short Track & DH

Posted by Editoress on 06/18/06
 

NORBA #3 Mount Snow VT
Courtesy USA Cycling

Short Track

Day three of the 2006 National Mountain Bike Series at Mount Snow came to a climactic close for Ryan Trebon (Kona/Les Gets) who picked up his first-ever professional victory when he won the men's short track competition Sunday.

Trebon took off to an early lead, creating a 20-second lead just six minutes into the contest on a chase group that included Great Britain's Liam Kileen, Todd Wells (GT Bikes) and NMBS series leader Geoff Kabush.

"I was hoping someone would go with me, but once I get out there, I get into a rhythm," Trebon said. "It's a lot easier for me then going with the hard accelerations of the attacks. It's just kind of like a cross race, but just short...I didn't know for awhile there, I was hurting pretty good out there. I was like 'Please see a lap board, please see a lap board.'"

Lap after lap, Trebon continued to build on the lead until he rolled across the finish line, more than 30 seconds ahead of Kabush and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher) who finished third in the field of 65.

"Trebon made a really impressive start," Kabush said. Kabush picked up a record tenth short-track win at Sugar Mountain last weekend. "He got a 20-25 second gap where no one could cross it in a big effort...I was just trying to grab wheels, let other people do the work and grab points (in the end)."

Trebon pulled out of Saturday's cross country race due to dizziness, but said he felt good coming into today's contest.

"I was just trying to salvage the weekend after having a bad result yesterday and you know, short track's a good way to do that," Trebon said, whose season thus far has been riddled with illness and technical problems. "It's about time (I won). I've had a bunch of bad luck and I'm just making up for it for all of those times I was close and just couldn't finish it off."

NMBS series leader Katerina Nash picked up her second NMBS short track win in a row Sunday, edging out Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) in the final 100 yards. Sue Haywood (Trek/VW) finished third in the field of 48 women.

"My teammate Heather (Irmiger) and I are just trying to practice being 'little better teammates out there - not being out in front or taking too many pulls out there - you know, because the Luna Chix are so strong," Koerber said. "In the final lap I followed Katerina up the final climb and just couldn't get past her so I was just that much behind her the whole time; all the way down and around and that sprint at the end, but obviously she had a wheel in front of me."

Throughout the contest, a lead pack of 11 riders established themselves early, with nearly every rider taking her turn at the front; however, Nash's move at the end was the one to put her across the line first.

"I just tried to be patient and just put a little out there at the end," Nash said. "I just put a little punch out there at the end and it just worked out."

All of the riders of the Under-23 National Team were pulled from the men's short track race when they were deemed out of contention.

Men
1. Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona/Les Gets
2. Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis
3. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher
4. Liam Killeen (GBr) Specialized
5. Christopher Sauser (Sui) Specialized
6. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona/Les Gets
7. Todd Wells (USA) Gt Bikes
8. Ross Schnell (USA) Trek/Vw
9. Carl Decker (USA) Giant
10. Ricky Federau (Can) Teamrace.Com
11. Brent Miller (Aus) Wtb/Fox Shox/Santa Cruz
12. Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Trek/Vw
13. Adam Craig (USA) Giant
14. Cody Peterson (USA) 3d Racing/Sram/Lfp&Co
15. Matt Kelly (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher
16. Burry Stander (Rsa) Gt Bikes
17. Sam Schultz (USA) U23 National Team
18. Sam Jurekovic (USA) U23 National Team
19. Mike West (USA) Maverick
20. Troy Wells (USA) Tiaa-Cref
21. Nick Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
22. Alan Obye (USA) Sram
23. Nicholas Stevens (GBr) Fuentes Design/Waltworks
24. Nick Martin (USA) Trek/Vw
25. Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona/Lesgets
26. Ken Onodera (Jpn) Subaru-Gary Fisher
27. Keith Hickerson (USA) Tamarack
28. Bryan Fawley (USA) Wheelsinmotion/Giant
29. Rick Wetherald (USA) Tamarack Resort
30. Travis Woodruff (USA) Litespeed/Pcw
31. Kyle Hammaker (USA) Trek Vw
32. Christian Favata (USA) Overlookmtb/Hutchinson/Spy
33. Colin Cares (USA) U23 National Team
34. Andy Johnston (USA) Kenda/Khs/Cycleyouth
35. Mark Leishman (NZl) Auntbettyscycling.Co.Nz
36. Andrew Freye (USA) Bikeman.Com/Salsa Cycles
37. Matthew Hadley (Can) Rocky Mountain Business Objects
38. Brandon Draugelis (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale
39. Charles Pendry (USA) Inland - Btd
40. Paul Hanson (USA)
41. Lucas Livermon (USA) Cycling Spoken Here
42. Daniel Vaillancourt (USA) Ccb/Vw/Time
43. Ben Moody (USA) Rhino Bike Works
44. Timothy Madgwick (NZl) Serotta/Smith
45. Mike Joos (USA) Dean
46. Shun Matsumoto (Jpn) Trek
47. Spencer Paxson (USA) Balance Bar Devo
48. Leonardo Sandoval (USA) Bicycle John's/Kenda/Mgtec
49. Michael Northcott (NZl)
50. Chanoch Redlich (Isr) Trek/Sram/Rudy
51. Samuel Koerber (USA)
52. Jeff Schalk (USA) Trek Vw- East
53. Mitchell Peterson (USA) Devo
54. Amiel Cavalier (Aus) Giant/Sram/Rockshox/Smith
55. Cody Warren (USA) C-Dub Racing
56. Jorel Hendershot (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale
57. Daniel Corum (USA) Inland/Btd
58. Christopher Kendall (NZl)
59. Adam Snyder (USA) Balance Bar/Devo
DNS. Thomas Spannring (Aut) Cole Sport
DNS. Matthew Okeefe (USA) Ccb/Volkswagen
DNF. Justin Lindine (USA) Windham Mtn Outifitting
DNF. Waylon Smith (GBr) Khs
DNS. Milton Miranda (Pur) Proxtel-Motorola
DNS. Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mtn Business Objects
DNS. Stephen Iles (USA) Comotion Sports
DNS. Jason Sager (USA) Hotel San Jose/Cannondale

Women
1. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Womens Mtb Team
2. Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher
3. Susan Haywood (USA) Trek/Vw
4. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Womens Mtb
5. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) Luna Womens Mtb Team
6. Dara Marks-Marino (USA) Titus/Kenda
7. Kathy Sherwin (USA) Ford Cycling
8. Kelli Emmett (USA) Ford Cycling
9. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher
10. Chloe Forsman (USA) Tokyo Joes
11. Jenna Zander (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale
12. Catherine Pendrel (Can) Norco
13. Jennifer Smith (NZl) Trek/Vw
14. Stacey Scanlan (USA) Tamarack
15. Christina Smith (USA) Orthopedic Store.Com
16. PTrish Sinclair (Can) Scott Usa/Kenda
17. Kristen Danielson (USA) Velo Bella/Kona
18. Rie Katayama (Jpn) Trek
19. Nina Baum (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale
20. Alison Sydor (Can) Rocky Mtn Business Objects
21. Jean Ann Mckirdy (Can) Rocky Mtn/Business Objects
22. Jennifer Gersbach (USA) Tokyo Joes
23. Shannon Gibson (USA) Crazy Cat/Yetigrassroots
24. Christy Love (Can) Sugoi/Giant
25. Caitlyn Tuel (USA) Trek/Vw
26. Tara Llanes (USA) Giant
27. Kimberly Flynn (USA) Vantaggio/Specialized
28. Heather Svahn (USA) Content Works
29. Rebecca Gross (USA) Armed Forces
30. Krista Park (USA) Colavita/Addictive Cycles
31. Sabra Davison (USA) Devo Balance Bar
32. Carolyn Popovic (USA) Mtbikechicks.Com/Cannondale
33. Kristy Lanier-Mantz (USA) Dirtbean
34. Paula Burks (USA) Vantaggio/ Specialized
35. Theresa Richardson (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale
36. Teri Strayer (USA) Tm K&N Perfomance
37. Meggan Flaherty (USA) Bicylce Johns/Serious Cycling
38. Sami Fournier (USA) Velo Bella/Kona
39. Kim Passafiume (USA) Velo Bella
40. Chrissy Bono (USA) Bicycle Johns Serious Cycling
41. Noel Weddle (USA) Velo Bella/Kona
42. Chenoah Hendershot (USA) Bear Naked/Cannondale
43. Melanie Meyers (USA) Ford Cycling
44. Christie Pleiss (USA) Tm K&N Performance
45. Kristi Lewis (USA) Sun And Ski Sports
46. Jimena Florit (Arg) Luna Womens Mtb
DNF. Anja Mcdonald (USA)
DNF. Zephanie Blasi (USA) Kenda/Dtswiss/Gu
DNS. Kiara Bisaro (Can) Teamrace.Com

Downhill

The men's pro downhill competition saw a field of 95 riders vying for 70 spots in the finals, but with a fast downhill course - more than 1500 feet of drop over 1.5 miles - even top-contenders in the sport didn't qualify. 2005 National Champion Cody Warren suffered a punctured tire during the qualifying runs; so did Australian phenom Amiel Cavalier.

In the end, top-seed and former World Champion Greg Minnaar placed first, completing the course in 3 minutes and 19.99 seconds. World Cup champion Sam Hill finished second, just .67 seconds behind Minnaar's time and Matti Lehikoinen of Finland finished third.

On the women's side, World Cup silver-medalist Sabrina Jonnier rode the fastest time in the field of 25 at 3:57.20. NMBS #2 winner, Australian Tracey Hannah was second, and Kathy Pruitt (Jamis) was the top American finisher in third.

Courtesy 23 Degrees Sports
Team G-Cross Honda team-mates, Greg Minnaar (RSA) and Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) opened their 2006 US NORBA Series campaign with a dominate showing at the famously technical Mount Snow race venue, in Vermont, where they finished 1st and 3rd respectfully in a star studded field. This was an historic result for Team G Cross, the team's first such double podium at a major international event, and a great win for Minnaar who has now won 5 NORBA races since he started racing the Honda RN01 bike.

Both riders are starting from behind in the series points tally as they weren't able to make Rounds 1 and 2 due to date conflicts with other major events, so this weekend's Round 3 in Mount Snow was their first outing. However, with the rules for the 2006 NORBA Series allowing riders to throw out their worst two results (including zero points for non-attendance), it's not inconceivable that the title is still achievable for the Team.

The course was mostly different to the one last raced by Greg in 2004, a race which he also won. There was an original woods section and a few other common elements, but for the most part the layout was new, with extremely steep gradients and some very rocky sections. The weather was a little wet and cold during the training sessions earlier in the week however, for the finals today, the temperatures were in the mid 30's Celsius.

For the qualifying, 70 of the 95 riders would go through to the finals, and the Team G Cross Honda riders dominated, finishing 1-2 within 0.26secs of each other and well over 3 seconds ahead of Round 2 winner, Sam Hill (AUS). Greg knew he'd have to lift the pace in the final in order to beat Sam, who he thought was well suited to the course with its open flat corners. Greg had changed to a wider handlebar, the Easton Havoc, and found this helped him in those sections where he knew Sam would be fast.

In the final Greg crossed the line to be the only rider under 3m 20secs, and to take the win from Sam Hill, with Matti coming in third at his first ever NORBA race. The points will be enough to move Greg into the top 20 overall, with Matti close behind.

Greg Minnaar (Winner)
"I'm really happy for the win today and also happy to have Matti up on the podium with me. It takes a bit for me to get into my race focus at these NORBA events and this week it all came together well. The run wasn't perfect, but it was one of the best I'd done all week so I'm happy with the result. My shoulder actually popped out in the last woods section. It does that sometimes, but it's not happened in a major race final. I hit a rock awkwardly and that seemed to pop it out, and then I swerved with less control and hit another rock, and that popped it back in! I'm having it looked at tonight but I'm not too worried."

Matti Lehikoinen (3rd Place)
"It feels good to be this close to the big boys. I was in the start house for the final and it was just me and Greg up there. That's a first for me and it was a little scary, but I had a great run in the final and I'm super stoked to be on the podium in my first NORBA. It was such a high speed course so I made sure I walked it every day after training to see what was on the ground, because you just never saw anything at race speed. It was so steep. But I'm feeling good now for the second half of the season, this was a great boost for me."