Taking place yearly, the Pan American Championships is the International
Cycling Federation's designated continental championship. It's open only
to the countries on the American continents.
As a continental championship, the Pan Am Champ's rate way up the UCI
points payout scale. That made this a do-or-die event for any U.S. rider
who has a serious shot of making the start at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Race report from USA Cycling
The United States Mountain Bike Team captured a Continental Championship
courtesy of Mary McConneloug and scored 12 top ten finishes at the 2006
Pan American Mountain Bike Championships in Santa Catarina, Brazil.
McConneloug clocked a winning time of 1 hour, 35 minutes and
36 seconds over the 13.17-mile course to beat silver medalist Catherine
Pendrel of Canada and bronze medalist Jimena Florit of Argentina.
McConneloug's American teammates, Willow Koerber and Heather Irmiger,
placed sixth and seventh respectively to contribute valuable UCI points
to the United States's overall ranking; the key component in determining
how many start positions a nation receives at the 2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing. The Continental Championships follow only the World
Championships and World Cup events in terms of races that offer the most
UCI points on an annual basis.
The men also made significant progress with four top ten finishes.
Jeremiah Bishop led the U.S. with a fourth place effort in the
19.76-mile race behind gold medalist Hector Paez of Colombia, silver
medalist Mathieu Toulouse of Canada, and bronze medalist Cristobal Silva
of Chile. Jeremiah Bishop placed fourth for the U.S., followed by Jeremy
Horgan-Kobelski in fifth and Todd Wells in seventh.
Strong performances were also had by Michael Broderick and Adam Craig,
who placed 10th and 12th respectively.
Under-23 National Team rider Sam Schultz gave the U.S. another spot on
the podium, placing third in the men's U23 race behind Max Plaxton of
Canada and Dario Alejandro Gasco of Argentina. Schultz's teammate Sam
Jurekovic was the only other American competitor in that race, placing
20th.
Jenna Zander earned a third medal for the U.S. with a second place
effort behind Francisca Campos of Chile in the women's U23 race.
Other U.S. finishes at the Continental Championships included a fourth
place ride by Rachel Throop in the junior women's event while Tristan
Uhl placed seventh and Chris Barton placed 14th in the junior men's
event.
PAN AM CHAMP's RESULTS
Race distance: 19.76 miles
1. Hector Paez (Col)...1:52:41...10.5 mph av
2. Mathieu Toulouse (Can)...Maxxis...at 5:01
3. Cristobal Silva (Chi)...5:12
4. Jeremiah Bishop...Trek-VW...5:40
5. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski...Sub
aru-Gary Fisher...6:14
6. Edvando De Souza Cruz (Bra)...7:07
7. Todd Wells...GT-Hyundai...7:49
8. Gonzalo Aravena (Chi)...8:16
9. Thiago Carvalho Aroeira (Bra)...8:30
10. Michael Broderick...Kenda-Seven...8:38
12. Adam Craig...Giant...10:27
WOMEN
Race distance: 13.17 miles
1. Mary McConneloug...Kenda-Seven...1:35:36...8.1 mph av
2. Catherine Pendrel (Can)...Norco...at 2:34
3. Jimena Florit (Arg)...Luna Chix...4:35
4. Laura Lorenza Morfin (Mex)...Rky Mtn-Biz Obj...5:28
5. Jaqueline Mourao (Bra)...6:45
6. Willow Koerber...Subaru-Gary Fisher...9:26
7. Heather Irmiger...Subaru-Gary Fisher...11:00
8. Carla Salgado (Mex)...13:38
9. Roberta Kelly Stopa (Bra)...15:15
10. Daniella Bunzli (Chi)...16:44
UNDER 23 RESULTS
Race distance: 14.60 miles
1. Max Plaxton (Can)...1:36:37...9.1 mph av
2. Dario Alejandro Gasco (Arg)...at 1:38
3. Sam Schultz...U23 National...1:56
20. Sam Jurekovic...U23 National...17:58
WOMEN UNDER 23
Race distance: 13.17 miles
1. Francisca Campos (Chi)...Chili Nat
ional...1:44:21...7.6 mph av
2. Jenna Zander...Cannondale...at 5:21
JUNIOR RESULTS
Race distance: 13.17 miles
1. Henrique Da Silva Avancini (Bra)...1:30:41...8.9 mph av
7. Tristan Uhl...Balance Bar-Devo...at 9:04
14. Christopher Barton...Bicycles of Ojai...15:56
WOMEN
Race distance: 9.9 miles
1. Paula Gimena Quiros (Arg)...1:41:30...5.8 mph av
4. R
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