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Kabush, Sydor take short-track wins in Texas

Published: Mar. 5, 2005

Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) and three-time world champion Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) continued to dominate the NORBA National opener on Saturday, winning the short-track race in Boerne, Texas.

Sydor, who easily found victory in Friday’s time trial, proved she was not only the fittest woman in the pack, but also the best tactician. After American Olympian Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles-Kenda) pushed the pace through the first three laps of the hilly course, an elite group of six riders formed, with Sydor, McConneloug, Katerina Hanusova (Luna), Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna), Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) and Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkswagen) making the selection. Sydor stayed put in the second spot as Hanusova and Haywood took turns at the front revving the pace, though neither could break away.

On the second-to-last lap, Sydor attacked on the steepest section, opening up a gap that neither Hanusova nor Haywood could close.

“Before the race I thought I would go at the last lap, but I figured it would be a better idea to go early because of the tricky finish,” said Sydor. “The finish was pretty slick, and I didn’t want it to come down to a sprint.”

In the men’s short track, race favorite Kabush, the 2004 NORBA overall champion, led out of the gate, setting the pace at the front of the pack through the first three laps. The lanky Canadian would open a gap during the steep ascent, but the chasers closed on the course’s final slick corner.

Midway through the third lap, however, Australian Trent Lowe (Subaru-Gary Fisher) laid down a hard attack on the course’s flat section. Kabush responded, and the two established a sizable lead through the middle portion of the race, with both riders launching regular attacks – Kabush on the hill and Lowe on the flat. Adam Craig (Giant) nearly bridged up on the sixth lap, but Lowe and Kabush pulled away on the ensuing climb.

Lowe put forth a strong effort to start the final lap, and nearly dropped the 28-year-old Kabush, who caught him at the base of the steep section and powered ahead. Kabush held his slight lead through the descent, and plowed across the line first, beating the Aussie by a second.

“When Adam was trying to bridge, I think Trent got a little nervous and punched it pretty hard. I just hung out and waited for that last climb,” said Kabush. “I figured the first guy to make it into that last off-camber turn would win the race, so I just gunned for that corner.”

Race note
A second day of timing problems meant that official times for the men’s short track and men’s and women’s GC could not be calculated by late Saturday night.

Shimano NORBA National Mountain Bike Series #1
Short track
Boerne, Texas. March 5

Men
1. Geoff Kabush, Maxxis
2. Trent Lowe (Aus), Subaru-Gary Fisher
3. Adam Craig, Giant Bicycles
4. Barry Wicks, Kona Bicycles
5. Brent Miller (Aus), WTB-Fox Shox-Santa Cruz

Women
1. Alison Sydor (Can), Rocky Mountain-Business Objects, 24:23
2. Katerina Hanusova (Cz), Luna, at 0:28
3. Mary McConneloug, Seven Cycles/Kenda, at 0:30
4. Shonny Vanlandingham, Luna, at 0:33
5. Susan Haywood, Trek-Volkswagen, at 0:34