The 20 Minute Red Line - Short Track Racing at Sea Otter Classic

Apr 17, 2015
by Colin Meagher  
Sea Otter has always been a celebration of everything on bikes. Nowadays it'almost more trade show than racing, and while the DH track is something of a circus side show, the XC racing is full on legit. The Short Track races held today had little to no dirt at all--basically they were fat tire crits ala the glory days of the NORBA races back in the day--but even with the lack of anything remotely technical, they were full on anaerobic suffer fests. Just imagine going full gas for 20 minutes plus three laps... It means burying yourself in a pain cave so deep that the clanging of the bell signaling the final lap is nothing but sweet, sweet music to the contenders.


From the first pedal stroke of the race this was Luna s to lose. On nearly every lap there was a Luna team member driving the pace.
  From the first pedal stroke of the race, this was Luna's to lose. On nearly every lap there was a Luna team member driving the pace.

Luna Pro leading out the field in the early laps of the women.

There isn t much dirt on the short track here at the otter. Here is one of four small sections. Most of the track this year is on Tarmac.
  There isn't much dirt on the short track here at the otter. Here is one of four small sections. Most of the track this year is on Tarmac.

Gould driving the front again near the end of the race. Trek had snuck a few riders into the lead group by this point and Scott had a few riders within striking range of the front as well.
  Gould driving the front again near the end of the race. Trek had snuck a few riders into the lead group by this point, and Scott had a few riders within striking range of the front as well.

Going aero on the straightaways...
  Going aero on the straightaways....

Lea Davison fought her way to a solid third place finish.
  Lea Davison fought her way to a solid third place finish.

Catherine Pendrel Just didn t have the legs today. She placed 9th.
  Catherine Pendrel Just didn't have the legs today. She placed 9th.

Ausssie XC national champ Bec Henderson took second today.
  Ausssie XC national champ Bec Henderson took second today.

Tactics in the second to the last corer paid off for Jenny Rissveds. A quick tap of the brakes to slow down Henderson and Davison let her get away clean to the finish.
  Tactics in the second to the last corer paid off for Jenny Rissveds. A quick tap of the brakes to slow down Henderson and Davison let her get away clean to the finish.

The race was 20 minutes plus three laps. The sound of this bell indicating one lap to go is nothing but sweet music to the ears of racers going full gas for that long.
  The race was 20 minutes plus three laps. The sound of this bell indicating one lap to go is nothing but sweet music to the ears of racers going full gas for that long.

Jenny Rissveds making the trip across the pond worth it by taking the win for the ladies short track race.
  Jenny Rissveds making the trip across the pond worth it by taking the win for the ladies short track race.

 Yaaaaaaaaaar ..... I hear there be some Short track racing action today Let me take a pull off me booze and have a look see.
  "Yaaaaaaaaaar ..... I hear there be some Short track racing action today, Let me take a pull off me booze and have a look see."

Herding cats with an airhorn--coralling the men s elite racers for the call up and the start.
  Herding cats with an airhorn--coralling the men's elite racers for the call up and the start.

The current boss of the Elite Men s Mountain Bike XC race world Nino Schurter.
  The current boss of the Elite Men's Mountain Bike XC race world: Nino Schurter.

Means Start. While the track here at Sea Otter may not be pretty it is plenty tough for twenty minutes and three laps at red line.
  Mens Start. While the track here at Sea Otter may not be pretty, it is plenty tough for twenty minutes and three laps at red line.

From the gun Scott was driving this race but Specialized wanted a piece of the action--this race is basically their home turf and anyone coming to town to kick in their front door better be ready for a battle. Derek Zandstra just holding off Simon Andreassen.
  From the gun, Scott was driving this race, but Specialized wanted a piece of the action--this race is basically their home turf and anyone coming to town to kick in their front door better be ready for a battle. Derek Zandstra just holding off Simon Andreassen.

Sam Gaze working hard with 4 laps to go to maintain that Specialized feeling.
  Sam Gaze working hard with 4 laps to go to maintain that Specialized feeling.

Max Plaxton took twelfth today in short track.
  Max Plaxton took twelfth today in short track.

Sergio Mantecon got out early and got away to lead for several laps before being taken over by Wells.
  Sergio Mantecon got out early and got away to lead for several laps before being taken over by Wells.

Todd Wells tactics played to his favor bridging the gap to Mantecon about 16 minutes in. then taking over and holding off all comers except Schurter.
  Todd Wells tactics played to his favor, bridging the gap to Mantecon about 16 minutes in. then taking over and holding off all comers except Schurter.

Schurter rubbing elbows with Sam Gaze. Sam finished fourth but Schurter took the win.
  Schurter rubbing elbows with Sam Gaze. Sam finished fourth, but Schurter took the win.

Mantecon had a strong lead for a solid half of the race he took thirteenth today.
  Mantecon had a strong lead for a solid half of the race, he took thirteenth today.

Nino Schurter proved the worth of that number one plate on his bike.
  Nino Schurter proved the worth of that number one plate on his bike.

View full results here.


MENTIONS: @trek, @SCOTT-Sports, @Specialized



Author Info:
meagerdude avatar

Member since Jun 8, 2010
94 articles

44 Comments
  • 85 11
 THANK YOU PB FOR COVERING XC TOO. I don't understand the hate and criticism that xc gets in here. Sure I like to pretend I get rad on my endubro rig like all of us, but the pain of trying to go as fast as possible uphill is something very unique and beautiful.
  • 63 30
 That wasn't xc, that was road and cyclocross on an inappropriate bike. That looked like shit. It's no wonder xc racing doesn't have the appeal to the kids if this is how the lazy, greedy, stupid bike industry presents it.
  • 16 61
flag Callum-H (Apr 18, 2015 at 0:19) (Below Threshold)
 XC is just boring. It is all about fitness not skill, and is nowhere near as fun or exciting to watch as DH. Plus the atmosphere inside XC racing circles is toxic.
  • 13 4
 I've never raced xc, but I've raced road and cyclocross ( ok, 25-30 years ago). Both disciplines can be really good scary fun. This short course was not xc, so don't write that discipline off just because of this bullshit presentation of the sport. I guess it depends on where you live and the trails available for xc racing, but it can be pretty rowdy, and I know from experience that riding with the guys in lycra on big wheels doesn't mean you won't get schooled on dh skills at some point.
  • 17 1
 When someone says that road biking is all fitness and no skill, is that out of ignorance or because they haven't seen it/experienced it? These guys are hitting 80-90 km/h on their way down the Alps in races such as the Giro or the Tour. If you now tell me you don't need skills to hit the corners and still keep upright in those conditions, well...BTW I ride both MTB and road and love both of them.
  • 8 17
flag Callum-H (Apr 18, 2015 at 1:24) (Below Threshold)
 I have raced in XC and even have a State Title for it, and I found it boring, because it did not technically challenge me slightly. And road descent skills are easy to learn and develop, there are less skills to learn, and it is easier to transfer skills from one situation to the next because there are less variables in each corner.
  • 14 0
 I hear you, but xc in BC isn't xc in Australia or NZ.
  • 3 5
 Thanks man, and that is definitely true, you can ride every single one of Australia's trails on a bike with 160mm of travel. Just not steep enough. And the Government is afraid of people getting hurt so XC courses are dumbed down a lot, since they are most inviting to people getting into the sport or transitioning from Road.
  • 2 0
 You can ride pretty much every trail in coastal BC on a 160 bike too. I guess my point is that riding some of the better trails in Aus on a racey HT with a seat stuck up your arse isn't everyone's idea of fun, but I enjoyed it when I lived in Melbourne from 2003-05. How's the Youies looking these days? It was always more fun than Lysterfield.
  • 9 2
 Pinkbike chooses to cover mostly DH and freeride and I appreciate that. There are other websites that focus on XC. Thank you Pinkbike for being the best site for the gravity disciplines.
  • 6 0
 XC doesn't appeal to kids? The Colorado High School Cycling League is a XC league with over 600 participants in one season, let alone the rest of the high school cycling leagues through NICA.
  • 3 0
 Nino is king
  • 3 1
 Youies is like a super highway man, Cressy has been updated, specifically the middle rock garden. Lyeaterfield is still pretty boring but Aneurysm has been remade, bigger doubles. The gravity side of MTB in Australia is gaining momentum now and that is great, more legal trails and more recognisation of just how big of an industry MTB is becoming. That means more support from the local councils!
  • 18 3
 "The current boss of the Elite Men's Mountain Bike XC race world: Nino Schurter."

Last I checked, Absalon is current World Cup Champ and World Champ...and would've won World Cup year before too if it weren't for mechanicals in two races. The GOAT is still king.
  • 8 2
 Yeah but this is Pinkbike. Don't expect them to pay attention to facts.
  • 6 0
 Rather than being critical of an event I've never done, BIG props to Todd Wells for finishing 2nd. This guy can win short track races, the Leadville Trail 100 and everything in between. Nice effort Toddy, good luck today.
  • 7 3
 Question...

If you had the cyclocross champ put strait bars on his bike, would he be competitive with these guys?

That track looks pretty smooth! I know it's not a typical track. And I've also cyclocross guys on my regular "trail bike" trails. Seems like XC & CC so similar minus suspension and wider tires. Roadies on dirt.
  • 3 0
 Sven Nys has done some mountain bike racing, and has done quite well.
  • 6 0
 The current UCI Cyclocross Junior Men World Champion got 6th today. He's 17 years old...
  • 4 15
flag Callum-H (Apr 18, 2015 at 0:21) (Below Threshold)
 XC should be a form of road riding, like CX is, because both are more focused on fitness more than skill.
  • 3 0
 @Callum-H I believe you have a very naive view on the skill of XC riders. This track is a pretty piss poor example of skill, as is most of the Sea otter classic.
check this out www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zWrAHgqdt0
  • 3 0
 Good video, but shit can't GoPro make a camera that "doesn't" rattle around like a maraca in its housing by now! Hahahaha I hate that noise when watching a video.


I can still see the CX guys riding that course, maybe not as fast through the rock gardens though.
  • 1 5
flag Callum-H (Apr 18, 2015 at 1:33) (Below Threshold)
 Dude I used to race Cross Country, I have a state title and the state overall for that year to prove it. I recognize that this track was piss poor and am talking from experience not judging from the video. www.cycling.bvit.com.au/site/cycling/vic/downloads/VSCC2013/MTB%20State%20Final%20Results%202013.pdf
Second page, Junior 15 Novice. (Did not have a racing licence)
  • 5 1
 loving the cross country coverage (even if half the short track took place on a race track)!
  • 5 0
 So, is this what these new wheelsizes where for?
  • 2 0
 yeah
  • 1 0
 Callum-H - Stop - just stop. reading your comments just makes me want to alternate between whacking my head against the wall and laughing myself stupid. You are an U15 novice - this does not make you a state champion or even the chamois sweat of the state champion. You have about as much experience in elite XC riding as I do in bobsled... perhaps less as I have actually seen a bobsled! Go back to your pokemon and playing with yourself or whatever you do between writing comments on pinkbike because all the laughing is starting to hurt my guts.
  • 1 0
 I love how everyone hates on XC and Short Track based off this ONE COURSE. Yes, I raced it and was extremely disappointed. It was 90% tarmac. But hell, I hit every feature on this years DH course at Sea Otter on my 90 mm hardtail....
  • 1 0
 There should be a mandatory wheelie ala Roberts vs Mamola if they are going to make them ride on the track.
  • 2 0
 Steve Peat with a beard Smile
  • 1 0
 Looking at all the pictures just had me shaking my head, race seems suited for a cross bike...
  • 1 0
 Are they all wearing new oakley's?
  • 3 0
 Apparently they were giving them away at the starting line.
  • 1 0
 Among Iakley sponsored riders, the men are almost all wearing Jawbreakers while the women are wearing the new Radar EV.
  • 1 1
 I want to run my fingers over their skin tight leathery lyrcra hugging outfits whilst bashing my bishop
  • 1 0
 I love how Fraser just pops up everywhere! See you soon bud
  • 1 0
 Jenny Rissveds yeah the swede with speed!
  • 1 0
 course looked boring as hell. Cyclocross bike FTW!
  • 1 0
 Ummmm… Where's the dirt? Ha!
  • 1 0
 Yes! Yes! Yes?
  • 1 0
 Fraser for president !
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