Epic Racing around the World

You’d think by now the nature of Monavie/Cannondale’s racing and travels would seem second nature to us, but each week I struggle to keep up!

We’ll start with the ladies:

Four Cross and Down Hill Huckster Leana Gerrard blazed another victory in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. She’s too fast for photos…so far.

Next up, Triathlon action in Southern California. Temecula, to be more specific. Monavie/Cannondale’s Utah regional Xterra triathlete Rachel Cieslewicz traveled to Socal for the Xterra World’s qualifier, held in 100 degree plus temps!

Never one to shy away from brutal conditions, Jamie Whitmore came down to support Rachel and the offroad triathlon community during her cancer recovery period. Maybe it was the desire to hurry up and get the event over with, or quite possible the motivation of having Jamie out on the course supporting her, but Rachel won her category and solidified her spot for Xterra Worlds in Hawaii this Fall.

In conditions not too dissimilar to Rachel’s, but about 250 miles to the north west, outside of Santa Barbara, CA, Pro XC chica Sue Butler attended the NMBS series event in Santa Ynez. A hot, dry, and dusty course held in a field of hills and grass, it was a far cry from the European World Cup circuit, but if you host it, they will come.

Short Track, Cross Country, and Super-D, its the horse shoes of mountain bike racing…keep trying until you hit the podium. Sue only needed 3 shots until she hit the mark in the Super D.

Meanwhile, Blake Harlan found his mark with a 3rd place in the men’s semipro STXC, Bart, inspired by last winter’s XC skiing memories at the 2000 Olympic Cross Country ski venue, won a round of the Intermountain Cup series at Soldier Hollow in Heber City, Utah. Or maybe it was baby Stella hurrying him back to the fort?

Last, and certainly least, I contested, with marginal satisfaction, the Mt Hood Classic NRC road stage race. Let’s just say the training was good, but, I’ll take the views from the trail over the road, any day.