U-23 National MTB Team Debuts in Waco
Waco, Texas (March 12, 2004)—The first round of the 2004 NORBA National Mountain Bike Series continued today as most of the top-level pros christened their 2004 race season with a time trial, the first stage of a multi-day event which also includes Saturday’s cross country race and Sunday’s short track contest. Held in Cameron Park along the Brazos River in downtown Waco, familiar faces returned at the start of an Olympic year to warm up for the weekend’s increasingly important events where valuable UCI points are on the line. With three Olympic spots up for grabs this season for American athletes, UCI points are a key factor in determining those nominations.
Leading up to the race, plenty of attention was focused on the return of Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, Colo.) arguably the nation’s best female mountain biker, who would saddle up for her first mountain bike race since last June after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. The two-time Olympian showed she was back to her usual form after riding to a third place finish with a time of 14 minutes, 36 seconds over the 3 mile course. Ahead of Dunlap was a pair of Canadians as Alison Sydor claimed the win in 14:23 and Kiara Bisaro placed second in 14:26.
U.S. Olympic hopeful and current leader in the race for the sole Olympic spot, Sue Haywood (Davis, W.Va.), also rode to a spot on the podium in fifth place with a time of 14:49. Noticeably absent today was Mary McConneloug (Fairfax, Calif.) who has decided to remain in Europe to contest several other UCI sanctioned events prior to the World Cup season which begins in late May.
Dunlap, also in contention to make the U.S. Olympic Team, opted to focus on the NORBA series opener and valuable World Cup races in her quest for a trip to Athens. “I rode well and I just want to show everybody that I want to be in Athens this August,” Dunlap said afterwards. “I have a plan and I’m sticking to it.”
In familiar fashion, the men’s race also featured a Canadian on the top step of the podium as Seamus McGrath won ahead of compatriot and last year’s overall NORBA National Championship Series winner, Ryder Hesjedal. McGrath clocked a 12:23, besting Hesjedal by three seconds for the win. U.S. Olympic hopeful, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo.) placed fourth with a time of 12:36 while Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, W.V.) rode to a conservative 18th place in a race where no UCI points were awarded.
Riding in its inaugural event, USA Cycling’s U-23 National Mountain Bike Team made an impressive debut as it posted the best four finishes amongst U-23 riders.
Alan Obye (Mendon, Vt.) finished in a remarkable time of 12:47, a time that placed the 21-year-old tenth overall in a field of established and talented pros. 18-year-old John Devine (Dixon, Ill.) rode the course in 12:51 and came in right behind Obye in the final standings at 11th. Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont.) took 15th place with a final time of 13:04 and Nick Waite (Davis, W. Va.) was 21st in 13:12.
The U-23 National Team was created by USA Cycling and the USA Cycling Development Foundation with the purpose of developing top espoir athletes for world-class competition. Their first performance in Waco today illustrates that these racers are well on their way to some gold medal performances.
Leading up to the race, plenty of attention was focused on the return of Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, Colo.) arguably the nation’s best female mountain biker, who would saddle up for her first mountain bike race since last June after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. The two-time Olympian showed she was back to her usual form after riding to a third place finish with a time of 14 minutes, 36 seconds over the 3 mile course. Ahead of Dunlap was a pair of Canadians as Alison Sydor claimed the win in 14:23 and Kiara Bisaro placed second in 14:26.
U.S. Olympic hopeful and current leader in the race for the sole Olympic spot, Sue Haywood (Davis, W.Va.), also rode to a spot on the podium in fifth place with a time of 14:49. Noticeably absent today was Mary McConneloug (Fairfax, Calif.) who has decided to remain in Europe to contest several other UCI sanctioned events prior to the World Cup season which begins in late May.
Dunlap, also in contention to make the U.S. Olympic Team, opted to focus on the NORBA series opener and valuable World Cup races in her quest for a trip to Athens. “I rode well and I just want to show everybody that I want to be in Athens this August,” Dunlap said afterwards. “I have a plan and I’m sticking to it.”
In familiar fashion, the men’s race also featured a Canadian on the top step of the podium as Seamus McGrath won ahead of compatriot and last year’s overall NORBA National Championship Series winner, Ryder Hesjedal. McGrath clocked a 12:23, besting Hesjedal by three seconds for the win. U.S. Olympic hopeful, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo.) placed fourth with a time of 12:36 while Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, W.V.) rode to a conservative 18th place in a race where no UCI points were awarded.
Riding in its inaugural event, USA Cycling’s U-23 National Mountain Bike Team made an impressive debut as it posted the best four finishes amongst U-23 riders.
Alan Obye (Mendon, Vt.) finished in a remarkable time of 12:47, a time that placed the 21-year-old tenth overall in a field of established and talented pros. 18-year-old John Devine (Dixon, Ill.) rode the course in 12:51 and came in right behind Obye in the final standings at 11th. Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont.) took 15th place with a final time of 13:04 and Nick Waite (Davis, W. Va.) was 21st in 13:12.
The U-23 National Team was created by USA Cycling and the USA Cycling Development Foundation with the purpose of developing top espoir athletes for world-class competition. Their first performance in Waco today illustrates that these racers are well on their way to some gold medal performances.
This Article Published March 12, 2004 For more information contact:
