Todd Wells(Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) was able to win the Fontana City National cross country event after Bishop suffered a broken chain while leading the race in the event’s final minutes. Bishop regrouped to finish second after leading the majority of the race before suffering the mechanical mishap. Rounding out the top five in Fontana were Cameron Jette (CAN/Scott-3ROXRacing) in third place, Benjamin Sonntag(Durango, Colo./American Interbanc) in fourth, and Mitchell Hoke(Boulder, Colo./Kenda-Felt) in fifth.
Bishop Continues to Lead the 2013 Pro XCT Series
Bishop remains in the lead of the Pro XCT men’s standings with 600 points, with Wells in second place with 525 points. Sonntag enters the top five in third place with 310 points, ahead of Sam Schultz(Missoula, Mont./Trek Factory Racing) in fourth with 280 points and Ryan Woodall(Ocala, Fla.) in fifth with 275 points.
San Dimas, California – Jeremiah Bishop (SHO-AIR/CANNONDALE) moved into the USA Cycling Pro XCT Series lead on Saturday, with a commanding win in the Cannondale US Cup Triple Crown/Bonelli Park Pro XCT event. Bishop earned the silver medal in the event’s Short Track Cross Country race and took the overall victory in the Triple Crown competition.
Next weekend, Bishop will instruct at a 2-day racing camp in conjunction with the Tuscarora Off-Road Challenge/Mid-Atlantic Super Series Endurance opener March 22-24.
The hill country of Texas was the backdrop to an awesome battle that had some of the world’s best mountain bikers torching it full-blast – many for the first time this season. With every bit of ammo they had, the men and women fought it out on the 6-kilometer technical corral strewn marbled course. Rocks were flying, sand and dust swirled, as riders put in maximum efforts in the sweaty dogfight.
As I was warming up, news came over the radio that my teammate Pua was with the medics and had broken something. I cringed at the thought, tuning this out and racing a smooth strong race took all my concentration.
As is the case for the first race of the season, none of us North Americans had a clue how much we really had in the tank – myself included. This however did not stop me from spending every match in the book and putting attacks down in an effort to stretch the field.
Zanstra and Kabush went.
I covered.
Wells dug deep.
We chopped each other through turns and it got aggressive out there. However, the course’s short punchy climbs and brief straightaways kept the pack together. I did have a good answer to most of the heat put on by Zanstra, Kabush and Wells, but it was Aussie Dan McConnell finishing off his summer who had just a little more kick than I. I lead the KOM and was on the front feeling strong most of the race.
It wasn’t until a harsh attack with two-to-go that had us on full pace. Kabush was railing the turns, McConnell was in tow, and so was Wells. I heard some commotion in the back there. A wreck – I think – may have held him up a little? Now it was just we three: Kabush and me with McConnell on the attack! Full speed, but my lines allowed me to roll up on him.
I did put a surprise few attacks on the technical section but the rock slab line only proved to put me into the lead for the sprint for which I had no practice since last season.
Alas, a perfect approach to the finale except my legs had one-less match than required to best a world-class rider in summer fitness.
A very good race!
About as fit and sharp as I wanted to be with twenty days left of winter! So I’m excited about the coming races. My teammate Alex Grant too was on-point for a snow bird – rocking the top-ten! I think his season will be his best yet, given this first race was a mere sprint.
After the race, we had a little ice cream party with M&M’s cookies and treats to celebrate the weekend and to keep the mojo going post-race. A drink and some quality hanging out, watching bad YouTube videos that Alex found and voila: laughs and good times! It was a memorable weekend that had many highlights like the 1,600-acre ranch with a mountain top castle that was our home for the week. There’s nothing like an endless pool that looks out over an entire county!
The View from the SHO-AIR/Cannondale Castle
There was even a grotto; a blue lagoon a couple miles away on the property that had an outdoor hot tub built next to it. SHO-AIR is all about pimpin’ it out.
All in all, I’m very happy with my strong effort and form for this early and with having a great run to hold the torch for the team. I wish Pua a speedy recovery from her fractured fibula. I think by the time Sea Otter rolls around, we will all be back in full attendance with Max back on his game. Sometimes a little rest does a body good, so take it when you got it, be mellow when you don’t.
Thanks to the SHO-AIR/Cannondale staff Ty, John, Paul, and Jordi for keeping the Scalpel sharp, the logistics smooth, and the weekend fun!
– Jeremiah
[Recap, video interviews, and links to photo galleries from the event are available here. – Editor]
Dripping Springs, Texas – On Saturday, March 2, Flat Creek Crossing Ranch was the venue for the season-opening race of the Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Series (Pro XCT) – the Subaru of Georgetown Mellow Johnny’s Classic. The spring weather welcomed racers to test their fitness against the best riders from North America. But, it was a surprise showing from Australian Dan McConnell that had racers up against another with late-summer fitness instead!
Aboard his 2013 Cannondale Scalpel 29, Jeremiah Bishop showed he’s the North American to emerge from the winter with the best early-season racing form. The race played out to be Bishop vs. everyone else. One at at time, and often in teams of two, the other racers took turns trying to end Bishop’s dominance at the front of the race. In the end, Bishop was able to leave the entire field in the Texas dust – with the exception of McConnell. With 400-meters to go, the Australian had more kick left in his legs and got the best of Bishop in a sprint across the finish line.
As McConnell departs the U.S., Bishop will enter the next round of the Pro XCT Series as the virtual leader.
Today I came to several groundbreaking realizations:
1. If you are wearing a down coat, no one suspects you could be shirtless underneath. This feels very sneaky and fun.
2. A cornered possum does not have that much it can do to defend itself from predators.
3. If you have not raced in several months, it’s tough to tell how you will do in your first race despite hard days on the bike.
Perhaps these things don’t have much in common; such are thoughts as they cascade on a cold winter day.
Yesterday’s jaunt in the snow was (I hope) one of my last nasty winter rides for the year. Next week I line up with the rest of the probably-more-tan-than-me pros at Mellow Johnny’s Pro XCT for a test of who’s done their homework.
The sky today was in conflict: snow one minute, and the curiously warm rays of the golden afternoon sun the next. I was content just to get anything in today – the last week has been miserable. Two days of trainer rides; a cold windy motor-pace day; and today seemed to have me in pajama-mode not wanting to ride bikes. I found motivation in that I will be in sunny Texas soon and the winter is nearing an end here in Virginia – the warmer conditions to come are the rewards for the hard winters days.
I was SO glad I made it out to the mountains because it was beautiful. There was some exploration to be had and I even got in some tempo climbing on one of my remote go-to training grounds. The sky swirled one minute with snow curtains and ink colored clouds. Then as if by script I ascended a south-facing climb of shale and long gold grass and the heat was twice what I expected – my own personal desert. The fire in the sky has come back and it was not to be denied.
I enjoyed the rest of the ride; the rain sprinkles, a new logging track I have never seen before, and the general feeling of working outdoors is invigorating especially given how busy the coming month will be. After the ride, I changed out of my clothes and realized I’d forgot a shirt. So, jeans and a parka it was. As I went in to pick up some spicy Indian carryout, I smiled knowingly.
The pre-season has been a good one; with a lot of tough training, good times with friends and family over the holidays, and camps in Cali and SC.
It is always better out there than you think it will be and you’ll be glad to be outside feeling alive. So, when in doubt: get out!
Perhaps no one else knows what’s under the parka, but I do and it’s a lot of bike rides and some solid good times outside.
JB
Jeremiah Bishop: Adventurer – Coach – Consultant – X Pro Mountain Bike Racer
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