NOVA DESERT CLASSIC RACE REPORTMARCH 24,
NOVA DESERT CLASSIC RACE REPORTMARCH 24,
The Nova Desert Classic is in Fountain Hills, Arizona. This is the first opportunity of the year for the top pros to test their race fitness. Friday’s racing began with an eight-mile TT loop. The pros will race a short track that is 20 minutes plus one lap. In Sunday’s cross-country race, the pro men will race a distance of 30 miles and the women 24.
TIME TRIAL RESULTS
It seems that there are a few bugs in the early season race computer software. The time trial results weren’t posted until Saturday, and they were then removed (and then posted again). This is what I consider the semi-official results of the time trial.
STAGE 1. TIME TRIAL
1. Jeremy Horgan–KobelskiRLX Ralph Lauren8 Miles in 2 2. Chris Sheppard (Can)Haro-Lee Dungarees2 3. Andreas Hestler, Can)Rocky Mountain2 Roland Green (Can)Trek-Volkswagen2 5. Travis BrownTrek-Volkswagen2 6. Derek WilkersonHillenbrand2 7. Ryder Hesjedal (Can).Subaru-Gary Fisher2 Ryan Trebon2 Jay HenrySpecialized2 Liam Killeen (GB).Subaru-Gary Fisher2
WOMEN
1. Sue HaywoodTrek-Volkswagen3 2. Mary Grigson (Aus),Subaru-Gary Fisher3 Lanie MasonCane Creek3 4. Kelli EmmettHillenbrand3 5. Jimena FloritRLX Ralph Lauren3 6. Alison Sydor (Can)Trek-Volkswagen3 7. Chrissy Redden, (Can)Subaru–Gary Fisher3 8. Melanie McQuaid (Can)Ford Outfitters3 9. Rhonda Quick3 10. Willow KoerberRLX Ralph Lauren3
DAY 2: SHORT TACK
The short track race today was not a regular dirt criterium on a dirt road or jeep trail. The course was run on a narrow, wash-crossing, slippery singletrack, which was more like a mini-cross country course than any other short track course. No one I heard complained. The truth is that both men and women in elite races seemed to love the course.
Because they were identical, I can describe both the mens and the womens races simultaneously. Both classes were so fast that there was no way for a racer to get off the front. The race was a battle between the Racers and the Racers until a group of five to six racers reached the finish. Put a blanket on top. This is how race officials scored their finish.
STAGE 2 – SHORT TACK
1. Jeremy Horgan-KobelskiRLX Ralph Lauren
2. Roland Green (Can-Trek)Volkswagen
3. Derek WilkersonHillenbrand
4. Chris Sheppard (Can)Haro-Lee Dungarees
5. Andreas Hestler (Can.)Rocky Mountain
6. Travis BrownTrek-Volkswagen
7. Ryan TrebonKrystal
8. Liam Killeen (GB).Subaru-Gary Fisher
9. Jason Tullous
10. Brian Matter
WOMEN
1. Kim AndersonT-Mobile
2. Mary Grigson (Aust)Subaru–Gary Fisher
3. Jimena Florit (Arg)RLX Ralph Lauren
4. Lanie MasonCane Creek
5. Sue HaywoodTrek-Volkswagen
6. Chrissy Redden (Can.Subaru-Gary Fisher
7. Rhonda Quick
8. Alison Sydor (Can)Trek-Volkswagen
9. Melanie McQuaid (Can)Ford Outfitters
10. Shonny VanlandinghamLuna
NOVA DEERT CLASSIC ROAD TRAVEL
Day Three
The NOVA Desert Classic’s final stage was a cross country race that featured a unique figure eight configuration. Racers rode through a large drainage tunnel, and then later on the lap they would go through it. The laps were six miles in length (women rode four, men five). For elite athletes, the climbs were all middle-ringers. The course had a lot of fun turns and rollers.
Susan Haywood, Jeremy Hogan Kolbelski and other local racers did their best to win overall in their respective classes. However, two local racers made the most out of the final stage to ensure that Arizona riders had something to cheer for. Kelli Emmett, and Derek Wilkerson, both riders for Hillenbrand Racing Team finished second and third, respectively. Roland Green jokingly asked Derek Wilkerson, who had been following him throughout the race, « Who are you? » Roland laughed because they had been riding together at the Redlands Classic years ago.
Cross-country results
Women
1. Mary Grigson (Aust)Subaru–Gary Fisher24 Miles in 2. Kelli EmmettHillenbrand Racingat Sue HaywoodTrek-Volkswagenat 4. Alison Sydor (Can)Trek-Volkswagenat 5. Jimena Florit (Arg)RLX Ralph Laurenat
Men
1. Roland Green (Can)Trek-Volkswagen30 miles in 2. Jeremy Horgan-KobelskiRLX Ralph Laurenat 3. Derek WilkersonHillenbrand Racingat 4. Andreas Hestler (Can),Rocky Mountainat 5. Travis BrownTrek-Volkswagenat
Total results
Women
1. Grigson 2. Haywoodat 3. Emmettat 4. Floritat 5. Sydorat
Men
1. Horgan-Kobelski 2. Greenat 3. Wilkersonat 4. Hestlerat 5. Brownat
