Mata, Tostado go the distance at the 2011 24-Hour MTB Nationals

Josh Tostado rides to his third consecutive 24-Hour Mountain Bike national championship.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (October 2, 2011) — After taking an early lead on their respective fields through the opening lap, Josh Tostado (Breckenridge, Colo./Bach Builders) and Pua Mata (Anaheim, Calif./Team Sho-Air) went the distance to become the male and female solo national champions at the 2011 USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships.

The top three men each completed 18 laps, with Tostado finishing in 22:12:21. Runner-up was Nate Ginzton (Boise, ID) at 23:26:57 and in third was Jonathan Davis (Boulder, Colo./Trek Bike Store Boulder) with a final time of 23:50:57.

Mata earned her win by finishing 15 laps in a time of 22:34:57. KT DeSantis (Allenspark, Colo.) followed with 13 laps through 23:27:00, and rounding out the top three was Laureen Coffelt (Memphis, Tenn.), who completed 13 laps in 23:37:21.

Tostado and Mata dominated on a course that many competitors described as difficult but deserving of awarding a national title. “I actually loved the course. It’s a lot of fun. It’s, I think, one of the harder 24s for sure. You’re constantly using your suspension, getting bumped around,” said Mata.

“I was pretty destroyed at the end because it was a really tough course,” recalled Tostado. “The first six hours I felt horrible. Then during the night I felt really good until about three or four in the morning, and then I definitely was suffering after that. I went really hard in the nighttime, and I paid for it. But I always like to finish with nothing at the end.”

For Tostado, it is his third 24-hour national title in a row. “I feel super lucky to have won a national championship three times. I count my blessing every day that I could have won it three times — and three times in a row! It’s such a hard race; 24-hour racing is just brutal. Every time I do it I’m like ‘Man, I don’t ever want to do that again!’ But you forget the pain and go ahead and do it again.”

Mata’s victory caps a successful season that includes topping the 2011 USA Cycling Pro Ultra-Endurance Tour standings and a national title at the 2011 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships in September. It also marks a triumphant return to 24-hour racing.

“I really wanted to prove it to myself and win the title back,” explained Mata, referring to her 24-Hour Nationals win in 2008. “It becomes a mental game. The mind is such a powerful tool that you have to use it. Everyone is suffering out there, and everyone goes through those rough times. You just have to keep in mind what your goal is.”

Watch a post-race interview with Mata on YouTube

Solo Singlespeed

After spending an entire day riding in one gear, Evan Plews (Salem, Ore.) and Danielle Musto (Grand Rapids, Mich.) rode into the Stars-and-Stripes jerseys as the solo singlespeed champions. Plews earned his title after just missing one as the singlespeed runner up at this year’s Mountain Bike Marathon Nationals.

Duo Categories

Receiving one of the bigger podium cheers of the day were Cameron Chambers (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Daniel Matheny (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who as the team of Honey Stinger/CTS took home the men’s duo Stars-and-Stripes jerseys. Chambers continued his winning ways at 24-Hour Nationals after claiming the solo men’s singlespeed championship in 2010.

The Daves’ Slaves duo of Michelle Slingsby (Arvada, Colo.) and Coreen Wright (Evergreen, Colo.) combined to win the women’s race. The two were part of a 4-person team that won last year, as well.

Winning the mixed duo competition by four laps was NoTubes Elite/Bike n Sport, made up of Nina Baum (Albuquerque, NM) and Cameron Brenneman (Santa Fe, NM).

Rebecca Rusch and her SRAM team captured the women's 4-person team open race.

4-Person Team Categories

Similar to the solo races, first-lap leads led to overall victory in the open 4-person team races. Jennifer Smith (Gunnison, Colo.) led the SRAM squad off. She was followed by Rebecca Rusch (Ketchum, ID), Sonya Looney (Boulder, Colo.) and Kelly Boniface (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), who crossed the finish line close to noon on Sunday to secure the three-lap win.

In the men’s open 4-person team category, Russell Finsterwald (Boulder, Colo.) was the first rider overall to come into transition after lap one. Along with his Pro Cycling teammates Kalan Beisel (Colorado Springs, Colo.), JJ Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Brady Kappius (Littleton, Colo.), the foursome completed 23 laps in the shortest amount of time of all the teams at the event.

The CA-AZ DEVO team of Tyler Coplea (Fountain Hills, Ariz.), Ryan Geiger (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Shane Skelton (Shadow Hills, Calif.) and Casey Williams (Big Bear City, Calif.) rode to a 10-lap victory over Goatheads Jr. Devo in the men’s junior 4-person team race.

The Light and Motion squad rode to the men’s 35+ 4-person team category win, earning Stars-and-Stripes jerseys for Ezekiel Hersh (Frisco, Colo.), Dax Massey (Boulder, Colo.), Thane Wright (Keystone, Colo.) and Jeff Zurakowski (Nederland, Colo.).

Mark Gouge (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Russell Kappius (Littleton, Colo.), Kelly McGrew (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Michael Trimble (Littleton, Colo.) put five laps between them and the competition to earn a national title for their Dirt WattAge team in the men’s 45+ 4-person team event.

For complete results, photos, news and event information, visit the 2011 USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships webpage.

The 24-Hour National Championships will return to Colorado Springs in 2012.

2011 USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships
October 1-2, 2011
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Photos  |  Full Results

Men’s Solo Open

1. Josh Tostado (Breckenridge, Colo./Bach Builders) 18 laps, 22:12:21
2. Nate Ginzton (Boise, ID) 18 laps, 23:26:57
3. Jonathan Davis (Boulder, Colo./Trek Bike Store Boulder) 18 laps, 23:50:57
4. Steve Gallo (Auburn, Calif.) 16 laps, 23:39:08
5. Garrett Peltonen (Fort Collins, Colo.) 16 laps, 23:45:16

Women’s Solo Open

1. Pua Mata (Anaheim, Calif./Team Sho-Air) 15 laps, 22:34:57
2. KT DeSantis, 13 laps, 23:27:00
3. Laureen Coffelt (Memphis, Tenn.) 13 laps, 23:37:21
4. Kerry White (Vail, Colo.) 12 laps, 22:09:03
5. Timari Pruis (Northridge, Calif.) 10 laps, 23:47:50

Men’s Solo Singlespeed

1. Evan Plews (Salem, Ore.) 18 laps, 23:02:55
2. AJ Linnell (Victor, ID) 17 laps, 23:03:53
3. Andrew Carney (Fort Collins, Colo.) 15 laps, 22:34:14
4. Nick Thelen (Colorado Spring, Colo.) 12 laps, 22:08:15
5. Jeff Wu, 12 laps, 23:12:36

Women’s Solo Singlespeed

1. Danielle Musto (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 12 laps, 22:29:45
2. Noemi Estella (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 8 laps, 22:18:54

Men’s Duo

1. Cameron Chambers (Colorado Springs, Colo./ Honey Stinger/CTS) 22 laps, 23:03:34
1. Daniel Matheny (Colorado Springs, Colo./ Honey Stinger/CTS)
2. Michael Scott (Trek Bicycle Store) 21 laps, 22:54:17
2. Jeremy Young (Denver, Colo./Trek Bicycle Store)
3. Paul Tanguay (Fort Collins, Colo./Echelon Energy) 19 laps, 23:56:39
3. Tommy Taylor (Echelon Energy)
4. Brian O’Connor (B.O.T.T.C.H. Job) 18 laps, 23:59:45
4. Trevor Thomson (B.O.T.T.C.H. Job)
5. Matt Perkins (Castle Rock, Colo./Pedal Forward) 14 laps, 20:52:57
5. Ellison Platt (Westminster, Colo./Pedal Forward)

Women’s Duo

1. Michelle Slingsby (Arvada, Colo./Daves' Slaves) 10 laps, 22:05:34
1. Coreen Wright (Evergreen, Colo./Daves’ Slaves)

Mixed Duo

1. Nina Baum (Albuquerque, NM/ NoTubes Elite/Bike n Sport) 20 laps, 23:19:47
1. Cameron Brenneman (Santa Fe, NM/ NoTubes Elite/Bike n Sport)
2. Erick Lord (Denver, Colo./Trek Bicycle Store) 16 laps, 23:14:55
2. Jill Hueckman (Morrison, Colo./Trek Bicycle Store)
3. Charlotte Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Townie & Mom) 12 laps, 23:19:00
3. Edward Miller (Townie & Mom)
4. Amy Edwards (Woodland Park, Colo./Sonderman-Edwards) 8 laps, 19:11:58
4. Kurt Sonderman (Sonderman-Edwards)

Men’s 4-Person Team Open

1. Kalan Beisel (Colorado Springs, Colo./Pro Cycling) 23 laps, 23:15:42
1. JJ Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo./Pro Cycling)
1. Russell Finsterwald (Boulder, Colo./Pro Cycling)
1. Brady Kappius (Littleton, Colo./Pro Cycling)
2. Brad Bingham (Steamboat Springs, Colo./ Honey Stinger/Trek) 23 laps, 23:31:40
2. Peter Kalmes (Steamboat Springs, Colo./ Honey Stinger/Trek)
2. Trevor Walz (Steamboat Springs, Colo./ Honey Stinger/Trek)
2. Patrick Valentine (Colorado Springs, Colo./ Honey Stinger/Trek)

Women’s 4-Person Team Open

1. Kelly Boniface (Steamboat Springs, Colo./SRAM) 20 laps, 23:32:08
1. Sonya Looney (Boulder, Colo./SRAM)
1. Rebecca Rusch (Ketchum, ID/SRAM)
1. Jennifer Smith (Gunnison, Colo./SRAM)
2. Julie Glenn (Monument, Colo./WMBA of COS) 17 laps, 23:40:01
2. Stephanie Ward (Colorado Springs, Colo./WMBA of COS)
2. Lindsey Watson (Monument, Colo./WMBA of COS)
2. Kerri Mosman (Colorado Springs, Colo./WMBA of COS)

Men’s Junior 4-Person Team

1. Tyler Coplea (Fountain Hills, Ariz./CA-AZ DEVO) 23 laps, 23:24:23
1. Ryan Geiger (Flagstaff, Ariz./CA-AZ DEVO)
1. Shane Skelton (Shadow Hills, Calif./CA-AZ DEVO)
1. Casey Williams (Big Bear City, Calif./CA-AZ DEVO)
2. Aaron Andler (Albuquerque, NM/Goatheads Jr Devo 1) 13 laps, 22:36:22
2. Ayden Hibner-Hereford (Albuquerque, NM/Goatheads Jr Devo 1)
2. Josh Keener (Albuquerque, NM/Goatheads Jr Devo 1)
2. Kaden Murdock (Las Cruces, NM/Goatheads Jr Devo 1)
3. Seamas Alessio (Albuquerque, NM/Goatheads Jr Devo 2) 13 laps, 22:58:08
3. John Algermissen (Albuquerque, NM/Goatheads Jr Devo 2)
3. Earl Gage (Albuquerque, NM/Goatheads Jr Devo 2)
3. Hailey Fortin (Albuquerque, NM/Goatheads Jr Devo 2)

Men’s 35+ 4-Person Team

1. Ezekiel Hersh (Frisco, Colo./Light and Motion) 22 laps, 23:31:14
1. Dax Massey (Boulder, Colo./Light and Motion)
1. Thane Wright (Keystone, Colo./Light and Motion)
1. Jeff Zurakowski (Nederland, Colo./Light and Motion)
2. Chris Brandt (Carbondale, Colo./ Basalt Bike & Ski/Honey Stinger) 22 laps, 23:56:01
2. Jason LaPointe (Carbondale, Colo./ Basalt Bike & Ski/Honey Stinger)
2. Scott Leonard (Carbondale, Colo./ Basalt Bike & Ski/Honey Stinger)
2. Joel Mischke (Basalt, Colo./ Basalt Bike & Ski/Honey Stinger)
3. Ron Castia (Livermore, Calif./InfoVista Cycling Team) 18 laps, 23:03:10
3. Robert Raymond (Hayward, Calif./InfoVista Cycling Team)
3. Ron Rel (Pleasanton, Calif./InfoVista Cycling Team)
3. Corey Scobie (Pleasanton, Calif./InfoVista Cycling Team)
4. Brad Smith (Team Flanders) 17 laps, 23:45:35
4. Jeff Stevens (Team Flanders)
4. Bobby Smith (Team Flanders)
4. David Webster (Team Flanders)
5. Matt Burton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Ed & Dave x 2) 13 laps, 21:19:20
5. David Slingsby (Arvada, Colo./Ed & Dave x 2)
5. Dave Wright (Evergreen, Colo./Ed & Dave x 2)
5. Edward Oliver (Ed & Dave x 2)

Men’s 45+ 4-Person Team

1. Mark Gouge (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dirt WattAge) 20 laps, 23:25:01
1. Russell Kappius (Littleton, Colo./Dirt WattAge)
1. Kelly McGrew (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dirt WattAge)
1. Michael Trimble (Littleton, Colo./Dirt WattAge)
2. Doug Chambers (Great Bend, Kan./Golden Belt Stryder Riders) 15 laps, 20:05:17
2. Chris Chambers (Denver, Colo./Golden Belt Stryder Riders)
2. Steve Dutton (Great Bend, Kan./Golden Belt Stryder Riders)
2. Mike Johnson (Great Bend, Kan./Golden Belt Stryder Riders)

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