2003 NORBA Series Showdown in Durango
DURANGO, Colorado (August 14, 2003) The historic mining town of Durango has, in recent years, become one of the most popular high-altitude training bases for elite off-road cyclists, including collegiate, national and world champions. Durango Mountain Resort will host the grand finale of the 2003 NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series, August 14-17, where both the Series and National champions will be crowned.
CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW
In the battle for the men’s overall Cross Country title, which will be run over the 1990 World Champion Course at altitude, Ryder Hesjedal (Victoria, BC - Subaru-Gary Fisher) has a good lead in the series, with 748 points from four rounds, ahead of the USA’s top male Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder - RLX Ralph Lauren), second with 680. Third is Seamus McGrath (Millgrove, Ontario - Haro Lee Dungarees) with Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va. - Trek Volkswagen) sitting in fourth and the second placed American. Hesjedal will be looking for a top seven place to secure the title, while Horgan-Kobelski will need to watch Bishop, who recently won gold at the Pan Am Games, in order to defend his national championship lead.
Pan Am Games gold medal winner Jimena Florit (San Diego, RLX Ralph Lauren) is sitting comfortably in the lead with 738 points, needing a top-seven finish to secure the women’s title from Chrissy Redden (Campbellville, Ontario - Subaru-Gary Fisher), who has 670 points. Mary McConnelloug (Fairfax, Ca. - Seven Cycles), the silver medallist at the Pan Am Games, lies third with 624 points, and is leading the national championship race from Susan Haywood (Davis, W.Va. - Trek Volkswagen) who has 574 points.
SHORT TRACK PREVIEW
Horgan-Kobelski holds the top overall spot in the men’s pro Short Track series with a point total of 762 over second place McGrath who has 716 points and Paul Rowney (Sydney, AUS, Sobe Cannondale) in third with 656 points. To win the National title Horgan-Kobelski needs only to finish in 40th place or better so he should remain the top American in the series ahead of Todd Wells (Durango, Co., Mongoose/Hyundai) who sits in fifth overall with 584 points. For the overall series championship if McGrath should have a super day and win then Horgan-Kobelski must finish in at least fourth place or better. Otherwise, Horgan-Kobelski should be a favorite to clinch both titles at Durango.
In women’s pro Short Track Haywood leads the series with 756 points and is also the top American. Katerina Hanusova (Truckee, Ca., Luna Women MTB) lies in second overall with 712 points ahead of Redden with 702 points. For Haywood to win the overall she must not give up more than 44 points to Hanusova. If Hanusova were to win at Durango then Haywood needs at least a third place finish. In the National championship race Haywood has a comfortable lead of 114 points over McConneloug, who is the second place American with 642 points.
MOUNTAIN CROSS PREVIEW
Eric Carter (Temecula, Ca., Mongoose/Hyundai) leads the pro men’s Mountain Cross series and is also the top American with 610 points. In second is veteran Mike King (San Diego, Ca., Haro Lee Dungaree) with 565 points. Australian Chris Kovarik (Intense/Fox) sits in third with 485 points and Gary Houseman (Temecula, Ca., Intense Tire Systems Santa Cruz) is in fourth with 360 points. Unless elimination comes in the early rounds, look for the overall title clinched by either Carter or King. Should either be eliminated early, which is unlikely, Kovarik may have a chance to take the title. The National title should come down to either of the top two Americans with a slight advantage going to Carter because of the 45 point advantage he has and will most likely depend on King being able to make it to the final and place first or second and ahead of Carter by at least two places.
The women’s pro Mountain Cross overall series is led by BMX crossover Jill Kintner (San Jose, Ca., Fox Shox) with 610 points ahead of second place Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Intense) who has 550 points. Katrina Miller (AUS, Jamis Bicycles) is in third with 540 points and Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Az., KHS) is in fourth with 380 points. The overall champion will come from the top trio of Kintner, Jonnier and Miller with the advantage to Kintner who leads by 60 points. For either Jonnier or Miller to take the top spot ahead of Kintner, they would most likely need to take first or second place at Durango. Kintner has already locked up the National Championship over Buhl with an insurmountable points lead.
DOWNHILL PREVIEW
Kovarik leads the men’s Downhill overall series with 646 points while Greg Minnar (RSA, Haro Lee Dungaree) is only 12 points back with 634. Australian Sam Hill (Iron Horse) sits in third with 608 points. Although Kovarik has been one of the most consistent riders this season, the overall series title is still fairly wide open as Downhill athletes must endure many variables during each run ranging from the conditions of the course (which may change throughout the day) to the particular tires a rider chooses. The National title will be a close battle between Temecula, Ca. neighbors Carter and the Houseman brothers (Intense Tire Systems Santa Cruz), Gary and Rich. Top placed American Carter sits in eighth overall with 528 points with a slight lead over the siblings with Gary in ninth overall with 494 points and Rich in tenth overall and 480 points. Shaums March (Anaheim, Ca., Red Bull/Chumba Wumba) and Colin Bailey (Yucaipa, Ca., Maxxis Tires) are the next top placed Americans in eleventh and fourteenth place respectively.
Marla Streb (Los Osos, Ca., Luna Women MTB) is experiencing one of her best years and leads the women’s overall Downhill Series with 714 points ahead of Fionn Griffiths (GBR, Foes Azonic) who has 668 points. In third place for the series is Tracy Moseley (GBR, Kona-Clarks) with 646 points. Streb has shown consistency and is the only rider to win two events this year. Her Luna Women MTB team continues to show momentum with teammate (and the third highest placed American with 540 points) Kathy Pruitt (Berkeley, Ca.) taking the recent victory at Idaho. Barring any mishaps, look for Streb to take the overall and the National title ahead of the second highest placed American Dawn Bourque (Campton, N.H., Dried Plums/Orbitz), sixth overall with 556 points. Should Streb falter, both Griffiths and Moseley are capable of flawless runs.
Durango has a rich historical tradition of culture, including being home to some of the earliest Native Americans, railroad expansion and the silver and gold rushes more than one hundred years ago. Durango attracts “hard-core recreationists” and has been rated one of the top 15 sports towns by a leading outdoor magazine. Championship bike racers, kayakers, skiers, runners and athletes live and visit year round. Schedule information and a link to online registration can be found at: http://www.durangofinals.com/
CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW
In the battle for the men’s overall Cross Country title, which will be run over the 1990 World Champion Course at altitude, Ryder Hesjedal (Victoria, BC - Subaru-Gary Fisher) has a good lead in the series, with 748 points from four rounds, ahead of the USA’s top male Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder - RLX Ralph Lauren), second with 680. Third is Seamus McGrath (Millgrove, Ontario - Haro Lee Dungarees) with Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va. - Trek Volkswagen) sitting in fourth and the second placed American. Hesjedal will be looking for a top seven place to secure the title, while Horgan-Kobelski will need to watch Bishop, who recently won gold at the Pan Am Games, in order to defend his national championship lead.
Pan Am Games gold medal winner Jimena Florit (San Diego, RLX Ralph Lauren) is sitting comfortably in the lead with 738 points, needing a top-seven finish to secure the women’s title from Chrissy Redden (Campbellville, Ontario - Subaru-Gary Fisher), who has 670 points. Mary McConnelloug (Fairfax, Ca. - Seven Cycles), the silver medallist at the Pan Am Games, lies third with 624 points, and is leading the national championship race from Susan Haywood (Davis, W.Va. - Trek Volkswagen) who has 574 points.
SHORT TRACK PREVIEW
Horgan-Kobelski holds the top overall spot in the men’s pro Short Track series with a point total of 762 over second place McGrath who has 716 points and Paul Rowney (Sydney, AUS, Sobe Cannondale) in third with 656 points. To win the National title Horgan-Kobelski needs only to finish in 40th place or better so he should remain the top American in the series ahead of Todd Wells (Durango, Co., Mongoose/Hyundai) who sits in fifth overall with 584 points. For the overall series championship if McGrath should have a super day and win then Horgan-Kobelski must finish in at least fourth place or better. Otherwise, Horgan-Kobelski should be a favorite to clinch both titles at Durango.
In women’s pro Short Track Haywood leads the series with 756 points and is also the top American. Katerina Hanusova (Truckee, Ca., Luna Women MTB) lies in second overall with 712 points ahead of Redden with 702 points. For Haywood to win the overall she must not give up more than 44 points to Hanusova. If Hanusova were to win at Durango then Haywood needs at least a third place finish. In the National championship race Haywood has a comfortable lead of 114 points over McConneloug, who is the second place American with 642 points.
MOUNTAIN CROSS PREVIEW
Eric Carter (Temecula, Ca., Mongoose/Hyundai) leads the pro men’s Mountain Cross series and is also the top American with 610 points. In second is veteran Mike King (San Diego, Ca., Haro Lee Dungaree) with 565 points. Australian Chris Kovarik (Intense/Fox) sits in third with 485 points and Gary Houseman (Temecula, Ca., Intense Tire Systems Santa Cruz) is in fourth with 360 points. Unless elimination comes in the early rounds, look for the overall title clinched by either Carter or King. Should either be eliminated early, which is unlikely, Kovarik may have a chance to take the title. The National title should come down to either of the top two Americans with a slight advantage going to Carter because of the 45 point advantage he has and will most likely depend on King being able to make it to the final and place first or second and ahead of Carter by at least two places.
The women’s pro Mountain Cross overall series is led by BMX crossover Jill Kintner (San Jose, Ca., Fox Shox) with 610 points ahead of second place Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Intense) who has 550 points. Katrina Miller (AUS, Jamis Bicycles) is in third with 540 points and Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Az., KHS) is in fourth with 380 points. The overall champion will come from the top trio of Kintner, Jonnier and Miller with the advantage to Kintner who leads by 60 points. For either Jonnier or Miller to take the top spot ahead of Kintner, they would most likely need to take first or second place at Durango. Kintner has already locked up the National Championship over Buhl with an insurmountable points lead.
DOWNHILL PREVIEW
Kovarik leads the men’s Downhill overall series with 646 points while Greg Minnar (RSA, Haro Lee Dungaree) is only 12 points back with 634. Australian Sam Hill (Iron Horse) sits in third with 608 points. Although Kovarik has been one of the most consistent riders this season, the overall series title is still fairly wide open as Downhill athletes must endure many variables during each run ranging from the conditions of the course (which may change throughout the day) to the particular tires a rider chooses. The National title will be a close battle between Temecula, Ca. neighbors Carter and the Houseman brothers (Intense Tire Systems Santa Cruz), Gary and Rich. Top placed American Carter sits in eighth overall with 528 points with a slight lead over the siblings with Gary in ninth overall with 494 points and Rich in tenth overall and 480 points. Shaums March (Anaheim, Ca., Red Bull/Chumba Wumba) and Colin Bailey (Yucaipa, Ca., Maxxis Tires) are the next top placed Americans in eleventh and fourteenth place respectively.
Marla Streb (Los Osos, Ca., Luna Women MTB) is experiencing one of her best years and leads the women’s overall Downhill Series with 714 points ahead of Fionn Griffiths (GBR, Foes Azonic) who has 668 points. In third place for the series is Tracy Moseley (GBR, Kona-Clarks) with 646 points. Streb has shown consistency and is the only rider to win two events this year. Her Luna Women MTB team continues to show momentum with teammate (and the third highest placed American with 540 points) Kathy Pruitt (Berkeley, Ca.) taking the recent victory at Idaho. Barring any mishaps, look for Streb to take the overall and the National title ahead of the second highest placed American Dawn Bourque (Campton, N.H., Dried Plums/Orbitz), sixth overall with 556 points. Should Streb falter, both Griffiths and Moseley are capable of flawless runs.
Durango has a rich historical tradition of culture, including being home to some of the earliest Native Americans, railroad expansion and the silver and gold rushes more than one hundred years ago. Durango attracts “hard-core recreationists” and has been rated one of the top 15 sports towns by a leading outdoor magazine. Championship bike racers, kayakers, skiers, runners and athletes live and visit year round. Schedule information and a link to online registration can be found at: http://www.durangofinals.com/
This Article Published August 13, 2003 For more information contact:
