Pro UET: Grant and Mata Top Opener
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Print (May 21, 2013) -- Alex Grant (Salt Lake City, Utah/Sho-Air - Cannondale) and Monique "Pua" Mata (Yucaipa, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) both came away victorious at Sunday's opening round of the USA Cycling Pro Mountain Bike Ultra-Endurance Tour (Pro UET), the US Cup - Sagebrush Safari 50 held in Lake Morena, Calif. Racers were met with a fast, flowing and undulating 10-mile loop, while warm temps added to the degree of difficulty of the day’s race.
Alex Grant leads Tinker Juarez early in the race (courtesy US Cup)Grant made the race look easy as he pulled away to a comfortable lead late in the race to win the men’s Pro/Open division and take the early lead in the Pro UET men's standings.
Grant and David "Tinker" Juarez (Whittier, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) broke away early on the day’s first climb and were never seen again by the rest of the men’s field. Both Sho-Air/Cannondale riders continued to build their early advantage, as they worked together over the course of a couple of hours. But then there were some chinks in the armor, and Juarez was first to feel the pace set by Grant.
Heading out onto the third lap of four laps, Grant began to distance himself from Juarez by more than three minutes, while Juarez and Grant had nearly 15 minutes on third place finisher Eric Bostrom (Westlake Village, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale).
From there Grant was on cruise control and rolled home for the win, while Ryan Clark (Laguna Hills, Calif./Audi - Felt) and Kip Biese (Colorado Springs, Colo./KJ Bike Coaching) rounded out the final spots on the men's podium.
Mata, who is just returning to racing after breaking her fibula in March, led the 50- mile women's race wire-to-wire and looks to be hitting her stride in taking the top spot in the Pro UET women's standings. At one point in the race, Mata was placed in the top five overall out of all Pro UET riders, including the men.
In the end, Mata won by nearly 25 minutes over second-place rider Jessica Cerra (Encinitas, Calif./Focus Bikes) and third-place finisher Serena Gordon (Bend, Ore./All Access Racing).
Full results from the US Cup - Sagebrush Safari 50
Check out a photo gallery from the US Cup - Sagebrush Safari 50
USA Cycling Pro UET Standings:
Men's Standings
1. Alex Grant (Salt Lake City, Utah/Sho-Air - Cannondale) - 60
2. David "Tinker" Juarez (Whittier, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) - 40
3. Eric Bostrom (Westlake Village, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) - 30
4. Ryan Clark (Laguna Hills, Calif./Audi - Felt) - 25
5. Kip Biese (Colorado Springs, Colo./KJ Bike Coaching) - 20
Women's Standings
1. Monique "Pua" Mata (Yucaipa, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) - 60
2. Jessica Cerra (Encinitas, Calif./Focus Bikes) - 40
3. Serena Gordon (Bend, Ore./All Access Racing) - 30
For complete standings visit the Pro UET's official webpage at www.usacycling.org/prouet
The Pro UET continues with the second of three stops on June 2 at the US Cup - Big Bear Classic in Big Bear Lake, Calif.
Alex Grant leads Tinker Juarez early in the race (courtesy US Cup)
Grant and David "Tinker" Juarez (Whittier, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) broke away early on the day’s first climb and were never seen again by the rest of the men’s field. Both Sho-Air/Cannondale riders continued to build their early advantage, as they worked together over the course of a couple of hours. But then there were some chinks in the armor, and Juarez was first to feel the pace set by Grant.
Heading out onto the third lap of four laps, Grant began to distance himself from Juarez by more than three minutes, while Juarez and Grant had nearly 15 minutes on third place finisher Eric Bostrom (Westlake Village, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale).
From there Grant was on cruise control and rolled home for the win, while Ryan Clark (Laguna Hills, Calif./Audi - Felt) and Kip Biese (Colorado Springs, Colo./KJ Bike Coaching) rounded out the final spots on the men's podium.
Mata, who is just returning to racing after breaking her fibula in March, led the 50- mile women's race wire-to-wire and looks to be hitting her stride in taking the top spot in the Pro UET women's standings. At one point in the race, Mata was placed in the top five overall out of all Pro UET riders, including the men.
In the end, Mata won by nearly 25 minutes over second-place rider Jessica Cerra (Encinitas, Calif./Focus Bikes) and third-place finisher Serena Gordon (Bend, Ore./All Access Racing).
Full results from the US Cup - Sagebrush Safari 50
Check out a photo gallery from the US Cup - Sagebrush Safari 50
USA Cycling Pro UET Standings:
Men's Standings
1. Alex Grant (Salt Lake City, Utah/Sho-Air - Cannondale) - 60
2. David "Tinker" Juarez (Whittier, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) - 40
3. Eric Bostrom (Westlake Village, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) - 30
4. Ryan Clark (Laguna Hills, Calif./Audi - Felt) - 25
5. Kip Biese (Colorado Springs, Colo./KJ Bike Coaching) - 20
Women's Standings
1. Monique "Pua" Mata (Yucaipa, Calif./Sho-Air - Cannondale) - 60
2. Jessica Cerra (Encinitas, Calif./Focus Bikes) - 40
3. Serena Gordon (Bend, Ore./All Access Racing) - 30
For complete standings visit the Pro UET's official webpage at www.usacycling.org/prouet
The Pro UET continues with the second of three stops on June 2 at the US Cup - Big Bear Classic in Big Bear Lake, Calif.
This Article Updated June 4, 2013 @ 07:46 PM For more information contact:
