Carter, Kintner Mountain Cross Victors
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BIG BEAR LAKE, CA. (May 17, 2003) Capping off an exciting day at the NORBA NCMBS this evening was the fierce and aggressive competition known as Mountain Cross. On the heels of a hotly contested Cross Country event, which saw Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, CO, LunaChix) and Ryder Hesjedal (Victoria, BC, Subaru Gary Fisher) take the women's and men's titles respectively, the Mountain Cross proved to be equally entertaining. After yesterday's qualifying rounds, Brian Lopes (Laguna Beach, CA, GT Hyundai) snagged the top seed ahead of Mick Hannah (San Diego, CA, Haro Lee Dungarees) in the men's event, while Jill Kintner (San Jose, CA, Staats Fox) captured the top spot over Tara Llanes (Corona, CA, Giant Pearl Izumi). Overall, there would be 64 men and 16 women moving on to today's competition. After the field was narrowed down to the final four throughout the course of the finals, the stage was set for a showdown between Lopes, Chris Powell (Atherton, CA, Profile Racing), Eric Carter (Temecula, CA, Mongoose Hyundai), and Neal Wood (Huntington Beach, CA Tioga Orange). With all the makings for a competitive final run, the four did not disappoint. Out of the gate, it was Carter with a perfect start immediately opening up a bike length lead in the first straight. His lead was bolstered by a tight turn one which saw the other three get tangled causing Wood to hit the dirt, nearly taking Lopes with him. Lopes dropped back to third position but quickly rectified the problem with a classic display of power that distinctly belongs to Lopes. In the end it was enough to move him only into second place as Carter finished with a flawless run, capturing the honors. Asked about his tremendous start, Carter replied "I was a bit bummed by my qualifying position because third is not a good gate, but I caught Lopes sleeping and took his line". I had some unfinished business to take care of from world's last year, so I took care of it", Carter said in reference to the competitive final run at last year's World Championships. The women's event would prove to be just as hot, as Kintner, Llanes, Tracey Moseley (Great Britian, Kona), and Katrina Miller (San Luis Obispo, Jamis Bicycles) displayed their Mountain Cross grit on the way to qualifying for the final. Showing why she earned the top spot, Kintner led from the gun and never looked back as she cruised to victory over Llanes and Miller who took an extremely close second and third respectively. Kintner, who is coming out of 13 years as a BMX racer, is rapidly growing into a major Mountain Cross force. After winning at the Sea Otter Classic in April, and then here today, she has now has turned her sights onto next week's World Cup event. "This is only my second season on a mountain bike, I rode this series last year, but I was just getting used to the bike, I've practiced a lot and feel real good right now. I feel that being so new, I bring a fresh intensity to the sport." Kintner said of her relative newness to the scene. Leading the headlines tomorrow will be the Short Track events and the Downhill competion. Stay tuned for www.usacycling.org for continued coverage and photos of all the action. Be sure to check out the photos of today’s action at the new on-line photo gallery at http://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 About GaleForce |
This Article Published May 17, 2003 For more information contact:
