MSC - Chilli Challenge 2009
Source: Long Nguyen
With the U.S. Open happening on the East Coast this past weekend, in Angel Fire, New Mexico, you had the 3rd round of the Mountain States Cup series, and 3rd round for the ProGRT (Pro mountain bike Gravity Tour).The turn out for the Chile Challenge was quite impressive with over 500 riders showing up from all over the country. Even though many of the World's best riders were in New Jersey, the competition was still fierce in Downhill and 4X giving all the pros a run for their money.
Sunday May 24, Mountain Cross Finals
At around 2:45pm on Sunday afternoon, forty-six pro men and woman line up at the top of the 4X course to prepare to set off the fire works. JD Swanguen was your #1 qualifier at .41 seconds and was the man to look out for.
First gate
Even though JD Swanguen was your #1 qualifier and looking strong in the moto turn, he went down in the next turn enabling others to advance to the next round.
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Winners
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Top Ten Mountain-Cross Finishers-
1 MITCH ROPELATO Ogden UT Cafe Rio / Canfield Brothers
2 TIM SHARP Boulder CO Yeti Fox National
3 CHRIS BOICE Albuquerque NM Yeti Fox National
4 ERIK NELSON Gilbert AZ Commencal USA
5 JAKE KINNEY San Diego CA Avent/Bombshell/Maxxis/Shimano
6 COLE BANGERT Twin Lakes CO Sram / Specialized
7 ARTHUR DALEY Durango CO 175102 43.77 144
8 GEORGE STEPHENSON Folsom CA Yeti Fox Regional
9 MICHAEL HADERER Concord CA Fox Shox/Orange Bikes/Easton/Bell
10 HEIKKI HALL Durango CO E13
Podiums
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Monday, May 25 Downhill Finals
The weather conditions in Angel Fire, New Mexico had been up and down all weekend raining everyday. The Monday weather was beautiful until around 2 o’clock and then the rain started to come down. With pro men only an hour away, many started to get nervous.
The pro men downhill course has had its fair share of victims this weekend. The World Cup downhill course is arguably the most physical, and mentally the toughest course around. Testing all aspects that are necessary to win a downhill race.
Luckily when race time came the rain had past and made for a dry course. People started their hike up the hill to claim their spot to cheer for their favorite riders.
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Top Ten Finishers
1 CHRIS HEATH Durango CO
2 CHRIS BOICE Albuquerque NM Yeti Fox National
3 KAIN LEONARD Gunnison CO Crested Butte Academy/TLD/Maxxis
4 PHILLIP WIERING Beaverton OR
5 RYAN SUTTON Gunnison CO Me
6 COLE BANGERT Twin Lakes CO Sram / Specialized
7 BEN FURBEE Los Osos CA WTB / Fox / Gamut 215234
8 ELI KRAHENBUHL Cheyenne WY Trek / Hayes / Manitou / Sun / Gamut / Arrow
9 DANIEL WEINMAN Taos,NM Paradisepower.net/taosCyclery/ monster/azonic/maxxis
10 JOHN SWANGUEN San Diego CA 175203 5:23.48 132
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ProGRT Downhill Overall leaders:
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-Long Nguyen
-MSC Photo Gallery
-www.racemsc.com
With the U.S. Open happening on the East Coast this past weekend, in Angel Fire, New Mexico, you had the 3rd round of the Mountain States Cup series, and 3rd round for the ProGRT (Pro mountain bike Gravity Tour).The turn out for the Chile Challenge was quite impressive with over 500 riders showing up from all over the country. Even though many of the World's best riders were in New Jersey, the competition was still fierce in Downhill and 4X giving all the pros a run for their money.
Sunday May 24, Mountain Cross Finals
At around 2:45pm on Sunday afternoon, forty-six pro men and woman line up at the top of the 4X course to prepare to set off the fire works. JD Swanguen was your #1 qualifier at .41 seconds and was the man to look out for.
First gate
Even though JD Swanguen was your #1 qualifier and looking strong in the moto turn, he went down in the next turn enabling others to advance to the next round.
Chris Boice finding the open hole to pull away
TJ Sharp ahead of the pack.
Moto Turn
JD Swanguen holding it down the mini mega phone
After the races everyone heads to awards
Leana Gerrard dominating the pro woman mountain-cross
17-year-old Mitch Ropelato coming out on top winning the pro men mountain-cross.
Top Ten Mountain-Cross Finishers-
1 MITCH ROPELATO Ogden UT Cafe Rio / Canfield Brothers
2 TIM SHARP Boulder CO Yeti Fox National
3 CHRIS BOICE Albuquerque NM Yeti Fox National
4 ERIK NELSON Gilbert AZ Commencal USA
5 JAKE KINNEY San Diego CA Avent/Bombshell/Maxxis/Shimano
6 COLE BANGERT Twin Lakes CO Sram / Specialized
7 ARTHUR DALEY Durango CO 175102 43.77 144
8 GEORGE STEPHENSON Folsom CA Yeti Fox Regional
9 MICHAEL HADERER Concord CA Fox Shox/Orange Bikes/Easton/Bell
10 HEIKKI HALL Durango CO E13
Podiums
Pro Women
Pro Men
ProGRT 4X winners
Monday, May 25 Downhill Finals
The weather conditions in Angel Fire, New Mexico had been up and down all weekend raining everyday. The Monday weather was beautiful until around 2 o’clock and then the rain started to come down. With pro men only an hour away, many started to get nervous.
The pro men downhill course has had its fair share of victims this weekend. The World Cup downhill course is arguably the most physical, and mentally the toughest course around. Testing all aspects that are necessary to win a downhill race.
Luckily when race time came the rain had past and made for a dry course. People started their hike up the hill to claim their spot to cheer for their favorite riders.
Nick Van Dine
JD Swanguen on the final stretch placing 10th place 5:23.48
Chris Boice looking mean and coming in 2nd place with a 5:10.88
Chris Heath Shocking the crowed with a 1st place finish and a time of 5:06.88
1 CHRIS HEATH Durango CO
2 CHRIS BOICE Albuquerque NM Yeti Fox National
3 KAIN LEONARD Gunnison CO Crested Butte Academy/TLD/Maxxis
4 PHILLIP WIERING Beaverton OR
5 RYAN SUTTON Gunnison CO Me
6 COLE BANGERT Twin Lakes CO Sram / Specialized
7 BEN FURBEE Los Osos CA WTB / Fox / Gamut 215234
8 ELI KRAHENBUHL Cheyenne WY Trek / Hayes / Manitou / Sun / Gamut / Arrow
9 DANIEL WEINMAN Taos,NM Paradisepower.net/taosCyclery/ monster/azonic/maxxis
10 JOHN SWANGUEN San Diego CA 175203 5:23.48 132
Pro Women
Pro Men
ProGRT Downhill Overall leaders:
Pro Woman
Pro men
-Long Nguyen
-MSC Photo Gallery
-www.racemsc.com
Author Info:
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