August 24, 2008 - Starting Stage Four with just six seconds separating them in the overall classification, American Mountain Classic race leader Jeremiah Bishop and second ranked Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski set themselves apart from the rest of the professional men's field in yet another heated battle to the finish line. Today it would be Horgan-Kobelski to cross the finish line first, though Bishop would retain his stronghold on the leader's jersey and become the first champion of the American Mountain Classic. The event, which has boasted fierce professional competition and provided an exceptional race experience for amateurs, has undoubtedly lived up to its title.
Early on in Stage Four, it was Bishop who appeared motivated to push the pace in attempt to further his overall lead on Horgan-Kobelski, but it was the later who matched the leader's relentless attacks. After more than 45 miles of racing, Horgan-Kobelski retaliated with a move that put him nearly 20 seconds ahead of Bishop on the course's descent of Dark Hollow.
The new leader was unable to gauge the time back to his chaser, but Bishop was motivated by the swirling dust cloud that grew ahead of him - Horgan-Kobelski was just ahead as the two riders approached a 5-minute climb that would be followed with a rolling descent to the finish line. Bishop refined his riding position to that of a time trialist and powered toward the base of the climb, regaining contact with Horgan-Kobelski who continued his brutal effort to overtake the race lead.
Riding behind Horgan-Kobelski, Bishop appeared to gather a little rest on the downhill and briefly pulled ahead into the lead before relaxing the pace and returning to a comfortable position behind Horgan-Kobelski as the pair rode into a headwind. Horgan-Kobelski resumed a driving pace while Bishop, 6 seconds ahead in the overall classification, followed carefully as they approached the final stretch. Horgan-Kobelski lead the pair into a sprint and for the first time was able to cross the finish line first, one tenth of a second ahead of Bishop, to take the stage, while Bishop sealed his lead in the overall classification to become the first champion of the American Mountain Classic.
Full results and links to event coverage will be updated below as available:
(Some discrepancies in coverage. The AMC considers each day's event a proper "Stage," some coverage refers to the first Stage as a "prologue" and begin numbering subsequently.)
MTBRaceNews.com Stage Four (titled "Three") preliminary results here.
MTBRaceNews.com Stage Four (titled "Three") Greg Gibson report is here.Labels: American Mountain Classic, Race Headlines
August 23, 2008 - For a third day, racing was neck and neck at the American Mountain Classic, with race leader Jeremiah Bishop crossing the finish line four tenths of a second ahead of Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski. The stage victory increased Bishop's overall race lead to just six seconds over second ranked Horgan-Kobelski.
From the start of Stage Three, Ryan Trebon made it clear that he wanted to move up in the overall classification. Trebon attacked early and separated himself from the front chase group that included Bishop, Horgan-Kobelski, Ben Sonntag, Colin Cares and Manuel Prado. Unfortunately for Trebon, the smooth fire road that allowed him to power away provided the terrain on which his chasers could easily work together to reel him in.
Catching Trebon on the course's steepest section and just before entering the single track, Horgan-Kobelski set a fierce pace and was followed by Bishop and a string of chasers. Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, Horgan-Kobelski would seem best suited to compete in the day's ultra high altitudes, and unleashed a furry of attacks at the front of the race. Bishop seemed content to respond to Horgna-Kobelski's accelerations, biding his time until putting in a major effort of his own.
Bishop's acceleration separated him from Horgan-Kobelski only briefly as the two climbed the Peak Trail approaching the final single track descent. The riders continued to match each other's pace as they ripped down the course's last descent. Looking ahead at the final turns before the finish chute, Bishop and Horgan-Kobelski sprinted hard, each powering for the lead around the first corner. The two riders came into the corner hard, but while Horgan-Kobelski momentarily stumbled, it was Bishop who powered through and was first to cross the finish line.
A third stage victory and retention of the leader's jersey mark Bishop going into Sunday's final stage where 54 miles of racing will determine the outcome of the inaugural American Mountain Classic.
Full results and links to event coverage will be updated below as available:
(Some discrepancies in coverage. The AMC considers each day's event a proper "Stage," some coverage refers to the first Stage as a "prologue" and begin numbering subsequently.)
MTBRaceNews.com Stage Three (titled "Two") results are posted here.
MTBRaceNews.com Stage Three (titled "Two") Greg Gibson report and photos are here.Labels: American Mountain Classic, Race Headlines
August 22, 2008 - Fierce racing continued today at the American Mountain Classic, where Stage One race leader Jeremiah Bishop defended his leader's jersey.
At 9 a.m., racers rolled out for a 55-mile epic, which would feature 5,000 feet of elevation gain and over 30 miles of pure single track on the Virgin River Rim Trail. As promised, the course tested each rider's fitness.
As in Stage One, race leaders included Bishop, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Ryan Trebon and Ben Sonntag, who again was eager to set a fast pace from the gun. The elite men traded turns at the front, each pushing the pace, and seeming equally matched on the challenging route.
Ascending the final steep climb of the course, the leaders narrowed their group, dropping Trebon as the intensity of the pace continued. At the summit, Bishop, Horgan-Kobelski and Sonntag knew the remaining four miles - a wide-open, loose and sketchy Super D-like downhill - would ultimately determine the day's champion.
Horgan-Kobelski and Bishop charged ahead of Sonntag matching each other through the rough descent. At the sudden hairpin 90-degree left turn to the 400-meter finish stretch, both riders slid out hard around the turn - Bishop slightly over-geared and Horgan-Kobelski skipping his chain. Both riders quickly corrected and surged ahead to the finish line, where a lunging Bishop bested Horgan-Kobelski to the line by a mere six-tenths of a second to take the win and retain the American Mountain Classic leader's jersey going into Stage Three.
In the women's event, the tables turned with endurance specialist Monique Sawicki pulling ahead of Stage One's leader Lea Davison, who seemed to be feeling the effects of the course's high altitude. Sawicki captured the win, while Trek/Volkswagen's Jenny Smith rode a strong race to finish in second place, and Davison held on for forth. With two major stage's remaining, the women's event is wide open and should prove to be an exciting race to watch.Labels: American Mountain Classic, Race Headlines
Trek/Volkswagen teammates Jeremiah Bishop and Lea Davison claimed a pair of victories in Stage One of the American Mountain Classic. Bishop and Davison will take to the start line of Stage Two wearing the race leaders' jerseys.
The American Mountain Classic started with a 6-mile Prologue using the town trail in Brian Head. The 6-mile loop is a mix of fire road, single track and double track and will gave racers a taste of what it will be like racing at over 9,000 feet for the next three days!
In the men's race, a fast pace was set from the gun by German Ben Sonntag. Sonntag and race favorites Jeremiah Bishop and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski separated from the chasing field. Ultimately, the win was decided in an all-out sprint to the line between Bishop and Horgan-Kobelski. Bishop claimed the victory and was awarded a $500 cash prize for the effort. Bishop's teammate Brian Smith also took a stand on the podium with a fifth place finish.
The women's field – stacked with the nation's top endurance racers – had to contend with the likes of cross-country stars Lea Davison and Heather Irmiger and professional triathlete Jenny Smith. This trio of racers was able to charge ahead of the field and cross the finish line for first through third places, respectively. Davison's win came 27 seconds ahead of Irmiger, with Smith only 48 seconds back. Davison also claimed a $500 cash prize for the day.
Amateur racers used the prologue to establish starting positions for tomorrow's stage.
Links to coverage of A.M.C. Stage One will be updated below, as available:
MTBRaceNews.com has Pro Men's and Women's Results
MTBRaceNews.com Greg Gibson's A.M.C. Stage One ReportLabels: American Mountain Classic, Race Headlines
The American Mountain Classic is shaping up to be a who's who in the U.S. cross-country and endurance-racing scene. The event format and course layouts should make for an even playing field as the stars of mountain bike racing converge on the resort town of Brian Head, Utah, August 21-24 to stake their claim at a combined $20,000 pro purse.
In only its first year and already touted as "America's richest mountain bike stage race," the American Mountain Classic is drawing some of the sport's top cross-country talent, including 2008 U.S. Marathon Mountain Bike and Short Track Cross Country National Champion Jeremiah Bishop (Trek/Volkswagen), along with his teammates Lea Davison, Jenny Smith and Brian Smith. Also slated to compete is duo of Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Heather Irmiger (both of Subaru/Gary Fisher), and Ryan Trebon (Kona), who won the Deer Valley National XC in June. Additionally, Tim Allen, America's top U23 racer at the 2008 World Championship, along with Sue Butler (Monavie/Cannondale) throw their names into the hat as some of top talent set to compete in this years event.
Adding to the events international flavor is five time Australian National Champion and Santa Ynez National XC winner Sid Taberlay, along with his Sho-Air/Specialized teammate Costa Rican Manuel Prado, who is fresh off a third place at the 2008 Leadville Classic.
Joining the cross-country stars are endurance queen and 24 Hours of Adrenaline Solo World Champion Rebecca Rusch (Specialized) and three-time La Ruta de los Conquistadores winner Louise Kobin (Sho-Air/Specialized).
The American Mountain Classic offers amateur competitors a chance to ride some of America's most pristine trails and a shot at winning fantastic prizes, including custom champion and race finisher jerseys.
For more information about the American Mountain Classic, visit the event's site by clicking here.Labels: Race Announcements
COLORADO SPRINGS - USADA announces the launch of its My Victory campaign aimed at helping America's athletes understand and embrace the ideals of competing clean. True to USADA's mission, this campaign is another step toward protecting the integrity of fair and clean competition, and ensuring the health of America's athletes.
USADA's My Victory campaign was developed in collaboration with a number of America's inspirational Olympic athletes. The name My Victory symbolizes the ideal that all athletes fully dedicate themselves and make sacrifices for the love of their sport, in the interest of reaching the pinnacle of success, which is personal achievement through honest effort and ability, and without performance-enhancing drugs. The My Victory campaign is an ongoing effort by USADA to revitalize the true purpose of athletic competition, and refers to all athletes striving to achieve their own victories, whether that means placing first, third, fifth, tenth... or simply participating for the joy of competition.
"As athletes, we feel strongly about having a platform to demonstrate that hard work and 365-day-a-year dedication, combined with natural ability can lead to the achievement of the Olympic dream," says Michael Phelps. "We want to be living proof and an inspiration for those athletes who come behind us that there are no short cuts to achieving results."
The athlete-members appearing in this public service campaign serve as role models for the mission of protecting clean sport, and have voluntarily committed their participation in order to demonstrate their allegiance to the principle of fair play. As a part of the My Victory campaign, these athletes have pledged to formally uphold this commitment to clean sport. In this role, these athletes serve as representatives of their sports and the overwhelming number of America's athletes who compete clean and pursue true achievement. USADA is encouraging all athletes to make a pledge for clean sport by visiting the My Victory section of the USADA website at www.USADA.org/MyVictory.
The athlete-members participating in My Victory include:
Kristin Armstrong (Cycling)
Jeremiah Bishop (Cycling)
Bryan Clay (Track & Field)
Natalie Coughlin (Swimming)
Allyson Felix (Track & Field)Tyson Gay (Track & Field)
Sarah Hammer (Cycling)
Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Christine Thorburn (Cycling),
Dara Torres (Swimming)
Dee Dee Trotter (Track & Field)
Lauryn Williams (Track & Field)
USADA is pleased to have support and collaborative relationships for this campaign with a number of entities who embrace the anti-doping movement, including the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
John P. Walters, Director, National Drug Control Policy stated: "Educating young athletes about the health dangers and ethical consequences of drug use in sport is an essential component in our anti-doping efforts. With the Beijing Games rapidly approaching, USADA's My Victory campaign delivers a timely and candid message about the importance of competing drug-free. As a nation, we owe these athletes tremendous gratitude for their leadership, not only on the playing field, but for their willingness to step forward and speak with passion and commitment on this important topic. Their efforts will directly touch many aspiring young athletes and send a powerful message about the true value of sport and competition."
The My Victory multi-media campaign speaks directly to athletes and athlete-supporters, and includes audio, video, print, and online components, as well as promotional materials. In addition, a comprehensive mini-site at www.USADA.org/MyVictory will provide an interactive platform for viewers to engage with the athlete-members and to take the pledge for clean sport. A YouTube interface will also allow viewers to post and share their own “My Victory” video experiences.
USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.Labels: Advocacy, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
Early on in Stage Four, it was Bishop who appeared motivated to push the pace in attempt to further his overall lead on Horgan-Kobelski, but it was the later who matched the leader's relentless attacks. After more than 45 miles of racing, Horgan-Kobelski retaliated with a move that put him nearly 20 seconds ahead of Bishop on the course's descent of Dark Hollow.
