Now considered the top Mountain Bike Stage Race in the world, the 2005 edition includes Super Cross-Country, time trial, short track and cross-country endurance stages. The Stage 1 Super XC is a 5 mile, half dirt and half road circuit. Starting and finishing on Laguna Seca Raceway, the course climbs pavement to the top of the corkscrew, then exits back into the infield near the dual slalom and short track. After some dirt descents, climbs, and twin track, racers re-enter Laguna Seca Raceway for a 1 mile paved return to the start/finish. Stage length for both the men and women is 60 minutes. Time bonuses are awarded to the top three finishers.
SO WHO ARE THE OLD GUYS?
Other than being tops on UCI points, Bart Brentjens hasn't been in the news much as late. But after riding away from the lead group he will be talked about once again in 2005. The 36-year old Dutchman is an ex Olympic, World and Sea Otter Champ.
Alison Dunlap won the field sprint. After last year's Olympic fiasco, and also the fact that she's already accomplished everything one could hope, Dunlap toyed with retirement last year. Dunlap is the current U.S. National Champion in both XC and ST, plus already has World, World Cup, and Pan Am Games Championships, two NORBA XC and three NORBA ST titles, four Sea Otter Champs, and six Cyclocross National Championships to her name. Alison is 36 years old.
The Gravity Omnium downhill 3-stage race kicks off Saturday with the dual slalom.
STAGE 1 SUPER CROSS-COUNTRY
1. Bart Brentjens (Ndl)...Giant...55:46
2. Florian Vogel (Swi)...Swisspower...at 0:28
3. Sid Taberley (Aus)...Specialized
4. Trent Lowe (Aus)...Subaru-Gary Fisher
5. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski...Subaru-Gary Fisher
6. Todd Wells...Giant-Hyundai
7. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)...Lapierre
8. Geoff Kabush (Can)...Maxxis
9. Jeremiah Bishop...Trek-VW
10. Adam Craig...Giant...all at same time.
WOMEN
1. Alison Dunlap...Luna Chix...55.52
2. Alison Sydor (Can)...Rocky Mountain-Business Objects
3. Lyne Bessette (Can)...Louis Garneau
4. Wendy Simms (Can)...Frontrunners
5. Susan Haywood...Trek-VW
6. Katerina Hanusova (Cze)...Luna Chix
7. Mical Dyck (Can)...Terrascape Racing
8. Kiara Bisaro (Can)...Gears Racing
9. Patricia Sinclair (Can)...Scott
10. Dara Marks-Marino...Ford...all at same time.
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