usacycling.org
The Pan American Games, or the American continental "mini Olympics", just took place at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Adam Craig (Bend, OR) rode to the gold medal in the menÃ.‚¬™s mountain bike contest at the 15th edition of the Pan American Games, while Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, MA) earned the silver medal in the womenÃ.‚¬™s event.
Craig, who was ranked 18th in the world going into todayÃ.‚¬™s contest, took the Outeiro Hill
mountain bike course by storm. The first time Pan American Games participant attacked the field to create a gap of over two minutes on his nearest threat-Ã.‚¬"a gap he sustained until
the finish. Collecting the silver and bronze medals were Brazilian Rubens Valeriano and
ArgentinaÃ.‚¬™s Dario Alejandro Gasco.
Ã.‚¬Å"It was great to come down here and win the first time around,Ã.‚¬ Craig said after his
victory. Ã.‚¬Å"Maybe thatÃ.‚¬™s good luck for next year. It is great to be competing with the best
athletes in the Americas.Ã.‚¬
In the womenÃ.‚¬™s event, McConneloug, who was ranked seventh in the world this morning,
repeated her second place performance from four years ago despite suffering two
mechanicals. The American managed to overtake eventual winner Catherine Pendrel (Can) on the final lap, but Pendrel recovered in one of the last curves to finish just over a minute
ahead of McConneloug. MexicoÃ.‚¬™s Laura Morfin rode in about three minutes later for the final
spot on the podium.
Ã.‚¬Å"I did not have a perfect race due to several mechanical problems but my body felt great
and my head was into it,Ã.‚¬ McConneloug remarked later. Ã.‚¬Å"I am happy to have taken home the
silver, but it makes me hungry for more. I had great support here and it is an honor to
line up against all of these top women. Ã.‚¬Å"
TodayÃ.‚¬™s performances will play a significant role in keeping the U.S. near the top of
international rankings, a primary factor in determining the number of start positions it
receives at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing next summer. Going into todayÃ.‚¬™s contests, the U.S. was ranked sixth in the world in menÃ.‚¬™s mountain biking behind France, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium and Canada, and first in the world in womenÃ.‚¬™s mountain biking.
PAN AM RESULTS
1. Adam Craig...Giant...2:05:21
2. Rubens Valeriano (Bra) 2:07:081
3. Dario Alejandro Gasco (Arg) 2:07:37
WOMEN
1. Catherine Pendrel (Can)... 1:46:06
2. Mary McConneloug...Kenda-Seven...1:47:44
3. Laura Morfin (Mex)... 1:51:15