Windham, New York (June 30, 2012) —– Americans scored three medals and nine top five results in Saturday’s cross-country contests at the RockyRoads.net UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Presented by Shimano in Windham, N.Y. After leading much of the elite women’s race, Olympian Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo. /Luna Pro Team) finished in bronze medal position with fellow Olympic teammate Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt. /Specialized Racing) close behind in fifth. Soon-to-be three time Olympian Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) recorded the best world cup finish of his career in fourth and his London Olympic teammate Samuel Schultz (Missoula, Mont. /Subaru-Trek) finished 10th in the elite men’s event.
“All of the 2012 Olympians rode very well on a hot, dry day today,” said USA Cycling’s Mountain Bike Programs Director Marc Gullickson. “Each finished inside the top 10 and Georgia had the win in the bag until a mechanical in the last half lap. Wells also raced to his best World Cup ever. It was also a breakout day for many of our junior and U23 riders. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the way we performed on home soil.”
American juniors Kate Courtney (Kentfield, Calif./Whole Athlete-Specialized) and Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale Factory Racing) also showed the future is bright for American mountain biking with gold and silver medal performances in the junior women’s and men’s races respectively.
Elite Women
Gould jumped out the early lead and seemed destined to win her first-ever world cup title in front of the N.Y. crowd. Just as race announcers claimed she had the win in the bag barring any major mishaps, Gould suffered an untimely flat that left her struggling to finish the final lap. Only her Luna Chix teammates Catharine Pendrel (CAN/Luna Pro Team) and Katerina Nash (CZE/Luna Pro Team) were able to catch and pass Gould before she completely lost her rear tire and carried her bike across the line for third. Davison soon crossed the line in fifth to equal her best world cup finish.
“Lowlight today was spectating on the final turns of the women’s race,” said fellow American mountain biker and 2004 Olympian Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski via Twitter. “I wish I could have given Georgia my bike.”
Elite Men
American veteran Wells finished just 34 seconds off the pace of gold medalist Burry Stander (RSA/Specalized Racing) of South Africa to record his best-ever world cup result. The 26 year-old Schultz also landed inside the top 10 at a world cup for the first time in his career as the Americans showed they are ready for London.
“First world cup top 10 today!” shared Schultz via Twitter. “I’m pumped! Also, great to see North America represent with four riders in the top 10 and Todd Wells on the podium!”
Juniors
After finishing sixth at last week’s Mont-Sainte-Anne World Cup, Courtney stepped on to the podium’s top step this week in the junior women’s event. Supported by USA Cycling’s National Development Program, Courtney rode to a comfortable win of more than a minute over last week’s winner Frederique Trudel (CAN). Grace Alexander (Boise, Idaho/BYRDS) pulled off a strong ride for fourth place less than two minutes back and Shayna Powless (Roseville, Calif./BMC Mountain Bike Development Team) also landed inside the top five for the U.S.
Swenson helped reiterate future American strength with his silver-medal performance in the junior men’s event; finishing three minutes behind New Zealand’s Anton Cooper (NZL/Trek World Racing). Lucas Newcomb (Nicasio, Calif./Whole Athlete-Specialized) added another top-five finish to the American tally and joining Swenson on the podium in fifth place.
U23
After becoming the first American junior in history to win a world cup at this event last year Howard Grotts (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) pulled off a podium spot by finishing fifth in the U23 men’s event. Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Subaru-Trek) also recorded a strong ride, finishing just outside the top 10 in 11th.
Also moving up to the U23 ranks after a medal-winning performance as a junior at this race last year, AliciaRose Pastore (Durango, Colo./BMC Mountain Bike Development Team) led the U23 women’s effort in 11th, with fellow American Kaila Hart (Durango, Colo./Stan’s NoTubes Elite Women’s Team) on her heels in 12th.
Racing will continue on Sunday with the men’s and women’s downhill finals. Live streaming coverage can be seen at live.redbull.tv.
UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Windham Mountain, N.Y.
June 30 – July 1, 2012
Elite Women
1. Catharine Pendrel (CAN/Luna Pro Team) 1:37.53
2. Katerina Nash (CZE/Luna Pro Team) +0:01
3. Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo. /Luna Pro Team) +0:10
5. Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt. /Specialized Racing) +1:50
13. Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-NoTubes) +5:07
19. Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Trek) +07:54
28. Erin Huck (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joes Cycling Team) +12:54
34. Amy Dombroski (Boulder, Colo./Crank Brothers) -1 lap
40. Sarah Kaufmann (Ogden, Utah/Stan’s NoTubes Elite Women’s Team) -1 laps
41. Nina Baum (Albuquerque, N.M./NoTubes) -2 laps
42. Bryna Blanchard (Troy, N.Y./Windham) -2 laps
Elite Men
1. Burry Stander (RSA/Specalized Racing) 2:38.90
2. Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (ESP/Wildwolf-Trek Pro Racing) +0:17
3. Marco Aurelio Fontana (ITA/Cannondale Factory Racing) +0:31
4. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) +0:34
10. Samuel Schultz (Missoula, Mont. /Subaru-Trek) +1:39
19. Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va./Cannondale Factory Racing) +4:15
29. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo. /Subaru-Trek) +6:07
37. Adam Craig (Bend, Ore. /Rabobank Giant Off-Road Team) +7:51
49. Mitchell Hoke (Boulder, Colo./Team Clif Bar) +10:08
50. Alex Grant (Salt Lake City, Utah/Cannondale Factory Racing) +10:10
56. Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-NoTubes) +15:13
59. Justin Lindine (New Salem, Mass.Redline) -1 lap
62. Pete Ostroski (Intervale, N.H./Wild Things/Rocky Mountain) -1 lap
65. Nathan Guerra (Oconomowoc, Wis.) -2 laps
67. Thomas Sampson (Plymouth, N.H./Alpine Clinic POC) -2 laps
U23 Men
1. Michiel Van der Heijden (NED/Rabobank Giant Offroad Team) 1:23:37
2. Markus Schulte-Luenzum (GER/Focus Mig Team) +0:48
3. Reto Indergand (SUI/BMC) +1:06
5. *Howard Grotts (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) +1:36
11. Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Subaru-Trek) +3:58
24. Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C./BMC MTB Development Team) +7:40
29. *Skyler Trujillo (Fort Collins, Colo./Team Niner-Stan’s-Ergon) +8:46
33. *Seamus Powell (Round Top, N.Y./Giant) +10:08
35. *Payson McElveen (Durango, Colo./Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory) +11:34
40 *Cameron Dodge (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Scott) +13:46
46. *Cole Oberman (Philadelphia, Pa./Breakawaybikes.com) +18:47
U23 Women
1. Jolanda Neff (SUI/Wheeler-IXS Team) 1:23:03
2. Rebecca Henderson (AUS) +1:24
3. Candice Neethling (RSA) +2:49
11. *AliciaRose Pastore (Durango, Colo./BMC Mountain Bike Development Team) +13:14
12. Kaila Hart (Durango, Colo./Stan’s NoTubes Elite Women’s Team) +13:25
15. Jill Behlen (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joe’s -Whole Foods/Primal) +14:12
Junior Men
1. Anton Cooper (NZL/Trek World Racing) 1:08:12
2. Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale Factory Racing) +3:18
3. Nicolas Sessler (BRA) +5:06
5. *Lucas Newcomb (Nicasio, Calif./Whole Athlete-Specialized) +6:07
10. *Casey Williams (Big Bear, Calif./Whole Athlete-Specialized) +7:18
14. *Bryan Duke (Salinas, Calif./Ritte Elite) +8:31
15. *Jacob Albrecht (Soquel, Calif.) +9:02
19. Taylor Smith (Navoto, Calif.) +10:13
21. *Skyler Taylor (Mill Valley, Calif./Ritte Elite) +11:16
23. *Tyler Coplea (Fountain Hills, Ariz./BMC) +13:13
25. *Tyler Berliner (Richmond, Vt.) +14:37
26. *Connor Bell (Harrisonburg, Va.) +15:56
28. *Forrest Conrad (Lambertville, N.J./Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA) -1 lap
Juniors Women
1. *Kate Courtney (Kentfield, Calif./Whole Athlete-Specialized) 1:06.48 beat winner of Quebec WC
2. Frederique Trudel (CAN) +1:25
3. Amber Johnston (NZL) +2:39
4. *Grace Alexander (Boise, Idaho/BYRDS) +1:48
5. *Shayna Powless (Roseville, Calif./BMC Mountain Bike Development Team) +3:14
9. *Kaylee Blevins (Durango, Colo./Durango Devo) +7:14
*A slew of both junior and U23 riders were supported by USA Cycling’s National Development Program. Visit usacdf.org to make a donation to USA Cycling’s Development Foundation and support the future of American cycling today.
