You could say they came for the $10,000 purse. Or maybe they just want to be the best. Following a week after NORBA 1 in Boerne, the Highlander Outback Blowout in Waco was the perfect race to train through. So while many from the NORBA caravan headed home, 2004 Champ Geoff Kabush, U.S. Champ Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, and ex Junior World Champ Trent Lowe stuck around town. Local hero Jason Sager wasn't putting up for any of it though. There was going to be a showdown.
RACE REPORT FROM SDG'S STEVE CUOMO
By winning four races over the past two weekends, Team Maxxis' Geoff Kabush once again set the tone for 2005. This past Saturday, at the Highland Outback Blowout in Waco, TX, Kabush won the UCI E1 cross-country event. The NORBA Champ pulled away from Fisher's Trent Lowe and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski on the last lap, finishing about 30 seconds off the front. The 6.2-mile course was unrelenting, featuring 1020 feet of climbing per lap with thrilling bobsled-style descents. Kabush's newly signed Maxxis teammate, Mat Toulouse, nabbed the #4 spot.
On Sunday the race was opened up to the amateurs. The course was similar, but with even more climbing and fewer laps. Hometown hero and Texas Champ Jason Sager (San Jose Hotel) gave it all to stop the pro's from overtaking the town. Setting the pace up the tough climbs and down the sketchy descents, Jason slipped off the front toward the end of the event and looked to be the quickest draw. Kabush and JHK throttled up their speed, however, and outgunned Sager at the finish. Kabush held off JHK by 50 meters to take the win.
The Maxxis Team only rides on the new SDG I-BEAM seat and post system. Says Geoff Kabush, "I love this saddle. The SDG I-Beam is far and away the best and lightest system out there."
Jason Sager's full list of sponsors include Solar Eclipse-BHRC-Cannondale-San Jose Hotel. He currently holds a 23 point lead over Trek-VW Regional rider Raymond Hall in the Texas Mountain Bike Championship Series.
SATURDAY UCI E1 RESULTS
1. Geoff Kabush (Can)...Maxxis
2. Trent Lowe (Aus)...Subaru-Gary Fisher
3. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski...Subaru-Gary Fisher
4. Mathieu Toulouse (Can)...Team Maxxis
5. Jason Sager...San Jose Hotel
SUNDAY REULTS
1. Geoff Kabush (Can)...Maxxis...01:47:24
2. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski...Subaru-Gary Fisher...01:47:27
3. Jason Sager...San Jose Hotel...01:48:43
4. Mathieu Toulouse (Can)...Maxxis...01:50:31
5. Takahiro Ogasawara (Jpn) Subaru-Gary Fisher...01:52:18
6. Billy Kurtz...Team Orthopedic Store...01:57:15
7. Raymond Hall...Trek-VW Regional Team...01:57:57
8. Bryan Fawley...Mad Duck Adventure Sports...01:58:04
9. Brian Kuehl...Bicycle Sport Shop...02:02:06
10. Lucas Brusseau...Mad Duck Adventure Sports...02:02:42
Women
1. Shonny Vanlandingham...Luna Chix...01:26:23
2. Sarah Faulkner...Trek-VW...01:34:40
3. Rebecca Gross...Sun and Ski...01:45:38
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