March 13, 2004
Waco, Texas— Stage two of the NORBA National Mountain
Bike Series opener in Waco, Texas featured the short track event this afternoon
and if early season form is any indication of who will be a threat when the
Olympic Games roll around in August, Canada will certainly be one of the key
players after impressive performances today. In the first UCI sanctioned mountain
bike race on American soil this year, Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) and Alison
Sydor (CAN) posted victories. Sydor, a three-time World Champion, narrowly defeated
two-time U.S. Olympian, Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in a two-up
sprint at the end of the 20-minute race. Afterwards, Hesjedal led a strong
Canadian charge in the men's event.
John Devine (Dixon, Ill.), the 18-year old phenom on the U.S. National U23 Mountain
Bike Team, claimed the only podium spot for American men today in his first-ever
pro event, placing fifth.
The women's race began in awkward fashion as a crash 200 meters after the gun
sounded caused a 30 minute delay and resulted in a restart, but once the race
was again underway, the focus turned to the top American riders who were in the
hunt for an Olympic berth. With the sole women's spot based on UCI ranking, the
points up for grabs today held significant meaning for a handful of riders, most
notably, Dunlap who is now fully recovered from an injury that sidelined her
for most of the 2003 season.
Early in the race, Sydor's Rocky Mountain teammate, Sarah Noble (CAN), held onto
a solo break for a few laps of the half-mile short track circuit before being
reeled in. Once the main field was back together, a few attacks from Jimena Florit
(ARG) animated the otherwise conservative race.
On the final lap, the key players pushed the pace and heading into the long backstretch
Dunlap and Sydor managed to open up a slight gap. With positioning vital heading
into the final hairpin turn 50 yards from the finish, Sydor took control and
held off Dunlap for the win. Behind, Dunlap's teammate, Katerina Hanusova (CZE)
took third ahead of fourth place finisher, Sue Haywood (Davis, W. Va.) and Chrissy
Redden (CAN).
Hoping for the win, a somewhat disappointed Dunlap spoke afterwards. “It was
all about positioning going into the last corner,” she said. “Alison and I fought
for that last corner, but she jumped ahead of me on the flat. I knew I had to
be first into that turn, but I just couldn't quite get there.”
Sydor, no stranger to the top step on the podium over the years, claimed her
third consecutive NORBA National Mountain Bike Series short track win. “It was
a really tactical race,” Sydor explained. “ Once Sarah was off the front, we
were able to make all the others do the work. I just sat in to see who was going
to chase and knew it was going to be a sprint.”
In the men's race, a dominating performance was turned in by a trio of Canadians
as Hesjedal, Seamus McGrath, and Geoff Kabush managed to ride away from the rest
of the competition along with local rider, Jason Sager (Austin, Texas.). The
four riders worked together to increase the gap to a second group which included
U.S. Olympic hopefuls, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo.), Jeremiah Bishop
(Harrisonburg, W.Va.) and Todd Wells (Durango, Colo.). The American trio, along
with the U23 National Team, led the chase to the group ahead which ousted Sager
before the final few laps. Heading into the final stretch it became a two-horse
race as McGrath and Hesjedal fought for position in the final corner. Hesjedal
took the inside line and came underneath before an impressive sprint netted him
the win. Behind, Kabush easily took third, and Andreas Hestler (CAN) took fourth.
Devine raced a tactically savvy final lap on all counts and claimed the final
podium spot with a late charge out of the final corner.
“I had good traction all day going into that final corner,” Hesjedal explained. “I
just took it as hard as I could and took the inside line and that was the difference.”
.
In remarkable fashion, the U23 National Mountain Bike Team continued its showcase
of young talent today. After an eleventh place performance in yesterday's time
trial stage, Devine rode to a surprising fifth place finish. Devine rode with
a tight group in pursuit of the final two podium spots, but was able to pass
sixth place finisher, Chris Sheppard (CAN) just before crossing the finish line.
“This was my first pro race so I really didn't expect this,” Devine said. “Yesterday
was amazing, and this is just overwhelming. I was happy to be out there.”
U23 National Team riders, Alan Obye (Mendon, Vt.), Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont.),
and Nick Waite (Davis, W. Va.), were all in the main pack chasing down fourth
and fifth places.
U23 Team Director, Matt Cramer, commented on the surprising finish, “Obviously
they were talented riders coming into the program. It's exciting and surprising.
Hopefully it's something to be expected down the road.”
The eagerness for tomorrow's conclusion of the first NORBA National is sky high
as pros will continue to chase down valuable UCI points in the pro men and women's
cross-country event at Cameron Park. Dunlap is in the spotlight as her need for
UCI points is vital in her quest for Olympic contention. Anticipation also revolves
around Olympic contenders Bishop, Horgan-Kobelski and Wells and around the U-23
National Team as they race in their first pro cross-country event together.