USA Cycling MTB Nationals July 15-18

Race Recap by Chris Bentley:

For me, this year's National Mountain Bike Championships in Granby Colorado at the Sol Vista Mountain Resort was even more special than last year's. Last year I had a calf injury early in the season and didn't get to race much but decided to attend the Nationals as I was getting a bit stronger at the time. I was thrilled with 2nd Place. This year my racing has gone well all season and while I've seen three of my strongest competitors in the CAT 1 40+ class fall by the wayside due to injuries, I've still had to work for every tenth of a second in order to see the podium.

Another 'plus' to this year's National race was the race course itself. I've always ridden well on rocks, and the upper course had Rocks, Rocks and more Rocks...firmly planted and surrounded by very light sand...what non-locals call "moondust". The kind of sand that you'd never put into a child's sandbox because it generates too much dust with any sort of stir. The lower course was spectacular, and this year 2 new gap-jumps were built up for the Amateur Bravehearts. And, this year the gap jumps had a landing that my healthy calf could handle. At age 46, and not wanting even a slight injury, I solicited the younger Experts to let me pace their speed into the 2 jumps that both lofted you a minimum of 25 feet across the thirsty grasses. I quickly became comfortable with the air-time that is never demanded of us at the local NW DH events. To quote a favorite Pink Floyd song "There's no sensation to compare with this - Suspended animation, a state of bliss"

On Saturday a.m. and after pushing my pancakes and maple syrup on the Davis Family, I headed up early. My Downhill bike was dialed for the course now with the assistance of the Fox Racing support crew (on Friday they went through my FOX 40 and revived my dampening valve). I had a great pre-race run and the new softer MN tread tire was working great in the moondust. Ann and Mitch were also very comfortable with their bike set up. We all had pretty clean race runs and great competition. I must have remembered "to practice like it's a race and race like it's practice." A spectacular weekend in Granby Colorado helped me bring home another silver medal - losing only to a former Pro National DH Champion by 1/2 second. I was also happy to survive and obtain a podium spot in the Super-D Race event Sunday.

-cb
tread282@msn.com


TEAM TAI Results:

Cross Country Men CAT 1 (45-49)
5 Matt Lynch 1:54:57

Downhill Men CAT 1 (45-49)
2 Chris Bentley 3:00.85

Downhill Men CAT 2 (15-18)
29 Mitch Davis 3:43.75

Downhill Women CAT 2 (40-99)
1 Ann Davis 4:15.91


Super DMen Open (40-49)
4 Chris Bentley 11:42.04

Super D Men Open (1-18)
37 Mitch Davis 14:34.03

Super D Women Open (40-99)
3 Ann Davis 16:28.06

Photos VAST::vastaction.com and the podium and finish line by Jenny Allyn