Horgan-Kobelski, McConneloug National Champs
Vanlandingham, Hesjedal Seize the Day
Horgan-Kobelski, McConneloug Capture U.S. National Mountain Bike Titles
Durango, Colo. (Aug. 16, 2003) – In the final cross-country race of the NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series today in Durango, Colo., a familiar face graced the top step of the podium in the men’s race courtesy of Ryder Hesjedal (CAN; Subaru-Gray Fisher), as the women’s race witnessed a first time winner in Shonny Vanlandingham (Durango, Colo; Luna Chix).
Amidst the excitement of dominating performances, the unique format of a five-race series culminated with the coronation of the 2003 U.S. National Mountain Bike Champions as Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, CO; RLX-Ralph Lauren) and Mary McConneloug (Fairfax, CA; Seven Cycles) finished as the top Americans in the overall points standings to earn their respective men’s and women’s titles.
Horgan-Kobelski, the highest ranked American in the standings heading into today’s final, raced a conservative race after suffering from a stomach flu at last week’s Pan American Games. As Hesjedal set a strong and unmatchable pace early on in the race, Horgan-Kobelski rode in defense of his stars and stripes jersey, finishing third in the race behind Hesjedal and recent Pan Am Games gold medallist, Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, VA; Trek East Coast).
Competing on essentially a carbon copy of the 1990 World Championship course at Durango Mountain Resort, The men’s race began at a comfortable pace, but given the altitude of 8700 feet, things began to split up on the first major climb of the day. Hesjedal crested the climb alone and maintained a steady pace throughout the descent quickly opening up a gap of over a minute to the closest chasers, Todd Wells (Durango, CO; Mongoose, Hyundai) and Horgan Kobelski. For the remainder of the race, Hesjedal was untouchable as he motored to the finish in solo fashion. Behind, Bishop continued his amazing season, placing second ahead of Horgan-Kobelski.
The quest for the women’s National Championship would be a little closer as McConneloug and Sue Haywood (Davis, WV; Trek-Volkswagen) were separated by a mere 50 points at the start. As in the men’s race, a solo move early in race proved to be the difference as Vanlandingham powered away from the rest of the field and held off Alison Sydor (CAN; Trek-Volkswagen) and teammate Katerina Hanusova (CZE) for her first ever NORBA NCMBS victory.
Behind, McConneloug finished 16th, well ahead of Haywood, securing the title of U.S. National Champion.
With the 2003 NORBA NCMBS completed, overall champions were crowned in addition to today’s race winner and U.S. National Champions. Jimena Florit (ARG; RLX-Ralph Lauren) took her second consecutive overall title in the women’s standings ahead of Chrissy Redden (CAN; Subaru-Gary Fisher) and Hesjedal secured the men’s overall title over second place finisher, Horgan-Kobelski.
Horgan-Kobelski, elated with his repeat title, described his race. “It was hard out there. I felt decent at the start, but didn’t quite recover from my stomach flu I had last weekend. I didn’t have the legs to go with Ryder today, so I just rode for the stars and stripes. I knew exactly what I had to do to keep the jersey and I didn’t want to bury myself so I kept it steady and rode for the title.”
Overall series winner and today’s victor Hesjedal seemed equally pleased with his dominant ride today as he described his race. “After the first short lap, just as we started the first major climb, I just kept it in the big ring and rolled it. I felt fine and kept up the effort all the way up the climb. At the top I had a gap and thought if I could hold it on the downhill I could take the win.”
For Durango resident, Vanlandingham, winning on her home turf was a special accomplishment and racing in her own backyard possibly gave her the edge when considering the altitude factor and familiarity of the course. “I knew the downhill pretty well”, Vanlandingham mentioned. “I though if I could just get ahead on the climb, I could use that to my advantage.” Vanlandingham, who returned from a broken collarbone suffered earlier this season, stepped up for her Luna Chix team in the absence of injured teammate, Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, CO). “This was a long time coming”, she added.
McConneloug overcame a bit of bad luck on her way to the National Championship after dropping a chain and quickly losing ground in the field. “I was nervous on the first lap”, she admitted. “I put in a good effort to close the gap in front of me and that’s when I saw Sue Haywood, which was a relief because she was right behind me in the points.”
The cross country riders will get one more chance at the podium in the 2003 NORBA NCMBS as the action continues tomorrow with the short track event.
On tap for this afternoon is the Mountain Cross finals where favorites Eric Carter (Temecula, CA; Mongoose-Hyundai) and Sabrina Jonnier (FRA; Intense-Fox) locked up the top seeds in yesterday’s qualifying round.
Be sure to check out photos of all the action at www.usacycling.org/gallery.
The NORBA National Championships Mountain Bike Series is North America’s premier off-road cycling series. The series crowns USA Cycling’s Mountain Bike Champions. USA Cycling is the national governing body for cycle sport. GaleForce Sports Marketing is the series management and promotions company, and is recognized as the USA’s leading cycling and events management group.
About NORBA NORBA is the mountain bike member association of USA Cycling. Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 80,000 members and 2,000 annual events. For more information, visit www.usacycling.org, or contact Communications Manager Andy Lee at 719 866 4867.
Horgan-Kobelski, McConneloug Capture U.S. National Mountain Bike Titles
Durango, Colo. (Aug. 16, 2003) – In the final cross-country race of the NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series today in Durango, Colo., a familiar face graced the top step of the podium in the men’s race courtesy of Ryder Hesjedal (CAN; Subaru-Gray Fisher), as the women’s race witnessed a first time winner in Shonny Vanlandingham (Durango, Colo; Luna Chix).
Amidst the excitement of dominating performances, the unique format of a five-race series culminated with the coronation of the 2003 U.S. National Mountain Bike Champions as Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, CO; RLX-Ralph Lauren) and Mary McConneloug (Fairfax, CA; Seven Cycles) finished as the top Americans in the overall points standings to earn their respective men’s and women’s titles.
Horgan-Kobelski, the highest ranked American in the standings heading into today’s final, raced a conservative race after suffering from a stomach flu at last week’s Pan American Games. As Hesjedal set a strong and unmatchable pace early on in the race, Horgan-Kobelski rode in defense of his stars and stripes jersey, finishing third in the race behind Hesjedal and recent Pan Am Games gold medallist, Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, VA; Trek East Coast).
Competing on essentially a carbon copy of the 1990 World Championship course at Durango Mountain Resort, The men’s race began at a comfortable pace, but given the altitude of 8700 feet, things began to split up on the first major climb of the day. Hesjedal crested the climb alone and maintained a steady pace throughout the descent quickly opening up a gap of over a minute to the closest chasers, Todd Wells (Durango, CO; Mongoose, Hyundai) and Horgan Kobelski. For the remainder of the race, Hesjedal was untouchable as he motored to the finish in solo fashion. Behind, Bishop continued his amazing season, placing second ahead of Horgan-Kobelski.
The quest for the women’s National Championship would be a little closer as McConneloug and Sue Haywood (Davis, WV; Trek-Volkswagen) were separated by a mere 50 points at the start. As in the men’s race, a solo move early in race proved to be the difference as Vanlandingham powered away from the rest of the field and held off Alison Sydor (CAN; Trek-Volkswagen) and teammate Katerina Hanusova (CZE) for her first ever NORBA NCMBS victory.
Behind, McConneloug finished 16th, well ahead of Haywood, securing the title of U.S. National Champion.
With the 2003 NORBA NCMBS completed, overall champions were crowned in addition to today’s race winner and U.S. National Champions. Jimena Florit (ARG; RLX-Ralph Lauren) took her second consecutive overall title in the women’s standings ahead of Chrissy Redden (CAN; Subaru-Gary Fisher) and Hesjedal secured the men’s overall title over second place finisher, Horgan-Kobelski.
Horgan-Kobelski, elated with his repeat title, described his race. “It was hard out there. I felt decent at the start, but didn’t quite recover from my stomach flu I had last weekend. I didn’t have the legs to go with Ryder today, so I just rode for the stars and stripes. I knew exactly what I had to do to keep the jersey and I didn’t want to bury myself so I kept it steady and rode for the title.”
Overall series winner and today’s victor Hesjedal seemed equally pleased with his dominant ride today as he described his race. “After the first short lap, just as we started the first major climb, I just kept it in the big ring and rolled it. I felt fine and kept up the effort all the way up the climb. At the top I had a gap and thought if I could hold it on the downhill I could take the win.”
For Durango resident, Vanlandingham, winning on her home turf was a special accomplishment and racing in her own backyard possibly gave her the edge when considering the altitude factor and familiarity of the course. “I knew the downhill pretty well”, Vanlandingham mentioned. “I though if I could just get ahead on the climb, I could use that to my advantage.” Vanlandingham, who returned from a broken collarbone suffered earlier this season, stepped up for her Luna Chix team in the absence of injured teammate, Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, CO). “This was a long time coming”, she added.
McConneloug overcame a bit of bad luck on her way to the National Championship after dropping a chain and quickly losing ground in the field. “I was nervous on the first lap”, she admitted. “I put in a good effort to close the gap in front of me and that’s when I saw Sue Haywood, which was a relief because she was right behind me in the points.”
The cross country riders will get one more chance at the podium in the 2003 NORBA NCMBS as the action continues tomorrow with the short track event.
On tap for this afternoon is the Mountain Cross finals where favorites Eric Carter (Temecula, CA; Mongoose-Hyundai) and Sabrina Jonnier (FRA; Intense-Fox) locked up the top seeds in yesterday’s qualifying round.
Be sure to check out photos of all the action at www.usacycling.org/gallery.
The NORBA National Championships Mountain Bike Series is North America’s premier off-road cycling series. The series crowns USA Cycling’s Mountain Bike Champions. USA Cycling is the national governing body for cycle sport. GaleForce Sports Marketing is the series management and promotions company, and is recognized as the USA’s leading cycling and events management group.
About NORBA NORBA is the mountain bike member association of USA Cycling. Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 80,000 members and 2,000 annual events. For more information, visit www.usacycling.org, or contact Communications Manager Andy Lee at 719 866 4867.
This Article Published August 16, 2003 For more information contact:
