Plaxton and Davison remain 2011 Pro XCT leaders after Mellow Johnny's Classic

USA Cycling's Pro Mountain Bike Cross-country calendar (Pro XCT) resumed on Saturday, April 30, with Mellow Johnny's Classic at the Juan Pelota Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas.

Familiar names topped the men's leaderboard as Max Plaxton (Specialized Racing USA) won ahead of Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) and Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont./Subaru-Trek).

On a 90-degree day that saw several riders wearing ice vests at the starting line, Plaxton used a surge on the last lap to overtake Wells for the win. Plaxton started the last lap with a deficit of approximately five seconds.

"I let Todd push the pace at the start and just kind of sat on Sid (Taberlay) and Sam," Plaxton said. "But when Todd got that gap, I knew I couldn't wait too long to catch him. When I got on my own, I found that I was riding that stuff faster than anyone."

As a result, Plaxton has opened a 40-point margin over Wells in the USA Cycling 2011 Pro MTB Cross-Country Tour Standings. Schultz, Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va./Cannondale Factory and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Trek) round out the top five. Stephen Ettinger (Cashmere, Wash./BMC Mountainbike Development) is the top U23 rider, sitting in ninth place.

In the women's race, Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna Pro) finished five seconds ahead of Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt./Specialized Racing USA) and Daniela Campuzano (Turbo Bike Team).

Gould opened an early lead and never relented.

"I wanted to be in front and pick my lines," Gould said. "I just rode my own race."

Davison tried to stay with Gould in the early stages of the race, but changed her strategy at the midpoint.

"It was important to relax and ride your own race because when I was focused on catching Georgia, I was all over the place," Davison said.

Gould has narrowed Davison's lead in the women's USA Cycling 2011 Pro MTB Cross-Country Tour Standings to 10 points. Chloe Forsman (Tucson, Ariz./BMC Mountainbike Development), who finished fifth in the race, is 170 points behind Davison in third. Erica Zaveta (Erwinna, Pa./BMC Mountainbike Development) is the top American U23 women's rider, in 13th place.

In the USA Cycling 2011 Pro MTB Cross-Country Tour Standings, Specialized USA Factory Racing has a 36-point edge on Subaru-Trek. Luna Pro sits in third place, 10 points ahead of BMC MTB Development Team. Specialized Factory Racing complete the top five.

USA Cycling's Pro XCT calendar resumes on June 25 with the Subaru Cup in Mt. Morris, Wisc.

PRO XCT standings

PRO GRT resumes on May 14 with Highland Bike Park

The next USA Cycling Pro Gravity Mountain Bike Tour (Pro GRT) event will be in under two weeks. The Highland Bike Park race in Northfield, N.H., takes place on May 14-15. Following the NW Cup, Danny Hart (Newbury Park, Calif./Giant Factory Off Road Team) and Jill Kintner (Ferndale, Wash./Transition Racing) lead the men's and women's standings.

For the complete Pro GRT rankings click here.

Manny Prado, Pua Mata lead Pro UET after race 1

The USA Cycling Professional Mountain Bike Ultra-Endurance Tour (Pro UET) will resume on July 4 with the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge, Colo.

After one event, Pua Mata (Huntington Beach, Calif./OkoleStuff.com) leads the pro women's field ahead of Andrea Wilson (Cordova, Tenn./Mid South Velo). Manny Prado (Huntington Beach, Calif) paces the men ahead of Lee Unwin (Verona, Wis.) and Nathan Rice (Jonesboro, Ark./Gearhead Outfitters).

For the complete Pro UET rankings click here.

PHOTOS: Max Plaxton used a late surge to overtake Todd Wells on the last lap of Mellow Johnny's Classic.

Georgia Gould took an early lead and never looked back at Mellow Johnny's Classic.

(Photos by Dave McElwaine)

Back to top