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Date: April 6, 2003

Event: Hibernia Spring Bash

Name: Jeremiah Bishop

City: Harrisonburg AKA. Bike Town

State/Province: VA

Country: USA

Age: 27

Place: 1st

Category: Pro

Class or Age Group: Senior Men 19-29

Team: TREK/VW

Race Bike: FUEL 100 Carbon-Fiber with FOX F80 RLT Front Suspension, SRAM and Bontrager components with Hayes Disc Brakes

Tires: Bontrager ACX 2.1

Conditions: Apparently it was drying out with some wet spots that were slippery which made it a technical race in a few sections of the woods (swampy with piled up logs and slimy rocks) and you had to choose whether to run or ride. Most of the course was predominately fast with \"tacky\" dirt with some drying toward the end on the gravel road sections that were really fast. All and all it was a fast course with just a few technical sections to challenge you and really make you focus at high speed.

Email: bishoptrekvw@hotmail.com

 

• How was your fitness level going into this race?
   
  It's hard to tell. This was the first race I have done this year with this high of a competition level. However I did race last weekend at the AMBS Poor Farm Spring Fling. I won that race so that was a good indicator, but I wasn't really too sure if I was going to race this weekend due to some inflammation in my left hip. I was ecstatic that I didn't have trouble with that today. I was very focused on trying to win the race and was thinking about my sister who's car died last week so......... that was extra motivation....... trying to help her.
  
  
• I know gas was expensive driving up, and it's tough for a pro mtn bike racer so, if you don't mind me asking - how much did you win for 1st Place Overall?
   
  $150
   
  
• Were you happy with your position going into the singletrack?
   
  Very happy! I was in the lead and got the hole shot (first into the singletrack) then I got passed by Mike Kuhn, he was leading that first downhill section but I was comfortable with being in the front.
   
  
• Were you strong from start to finish?
   
  Yes, I felt good. (editors note: Jeremiah's lap times kept decreasing every lap with his fastest time being his last lap)!
   
  
• When did you put the hammer down?
   
  There was a pack behind us in hot pursuit on the second lap which consisted of Roger Aspholm (Roger is from Finland, a former cross country skier for the Finland National Junior Ski Team and a category 2 road racer) and Mike Kuhn. They were working together in the open sections, trading the lead drafting to catch up to Chris and I. I definitely wanted to work with Chris so that we could establish a substantial gap on the other competitors. We managed to pull some distance on those guys. Since I was feeling good I kept the effort very high during some climbs and started to establish a gap and just went with it.
   
  
• Did you have any unusual problems?
   
  No unusual problems. It was a smooth race, I think everyone encountered some tricky spots back there in the swamp........ I just kept it steady and didn't take any risks on the downhills. The bike was a dream!
   
  
• Were you happy with the way the race was run?
   
  Yes, it was well run, well marked, excellent course and beautiful weather.
   
  
• Did you have any interesting experiences during your race (exchanges with competitors/spectators)?
   
  Yeah, I got to watch the women's race........ got to cheer on some friends of mine and experience the friendly spectators who were cheering me on......... it was fun to come back to the Super Series atmosphere. That was the best thing about the race.
   
  
• Anything you would like to add?
   
  I would like to thank Jonathan Posner (TREK team manager), Steve Borkoski (head mechanic) and TREK/VW/TRAFFIC PRO/JBL, Fox, PowerBar, Nike Cycling, CEC Wheels, OETTINGER, Sounddomain.com, SRAM, Hayes, Zeal, Swany, TIME, Bontrager Components, Chris King, Wrench Force, Sock Guy, and mountainbikeRACER.com