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
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.
