XC Battle - Sea Otter Classic 2016

Apr 17, 2016 at 12:38
by Colin Meagher  
Friday's Short Track Cross Country race was all fun and games compared to Saturday's Elite Cross Country races. In the Women's race, it was the Luna Pro Team bringing the pain by utterly dominating the rest of the field. In the men's race, it was a 40-year-old Todd Wells claiming the title after an 8 lap bare knuckle brawl.

For most of the past decade, the Sea Otter XC race has been a two lap race, meaning the racers take two big, long laps into the backcountry of Fort Ord and the fans pretty much get a 30 second look at their favorite racers on lap one, and then they're gone for the second lap; fans really only get to see the start and the finish of the race. But this year the race organizers opted to change that by looping the XC course out onto the Laguna Seca race track, up behind the Dual Slalom track, and then across the face of the hill that holds the DS course. This new track was in clear view of all the fans and even allowed fans to migrate from point to point to follow the action leading up to the finish.

The Elite Women's XC race was first on the card today, and right from the start, the Luna team was driving the pace. By lap two, Luna was more of less in control, with Katerina Nash, Georgia Gould, and Catharine Pendrel all hovering in the front group, and Eva Lechner in the chase group. By the mid point of the 6 lap race, Luna had a strangle hold on the race, and in the finish, it was a three up Luna sprint for the win.

The Men's Elite XC race didn't see the same kind of Team domination that determined the outcome of the women's race, but the eight lap event saw a selection of five riders happen around the fifth lap. That front group would work hard to drive the pace and keep away from the rest of the bunch, and while they may not have been teammates, the three biggest guns came down the finishing stretch in a sprint finish every bit as exciting as the women's race.

The start of any XC race consists of a pell mell dash to the hole shot the first section of single track. Usually wherever you are in the field when that happens is likely about where you re going to finish--give or take about 5 places. So how bad do you want it when the first section of single track is a good kilometer away and about a 250 vertical foot elevation gain Evidently bad enough to go full gas for a long ways.
  The start of any XC race consists of a pell-mell dash to the hole shot: the first section of single track. Usually, wherever you are in the field when that happens is likely about where you're going to finish--give or take about 5 places. So how bad do you want it when the first section of single track is a good kilometer away and about a 250 vertical foot elevation gain up a steep hill? Evidently bad enough to go full gas for a long way.

<Deleted photo>

You know it s an Olympic race season when you see the Chinese big guns out on the track looking for precious UCI points. In off years one rarely sees the Chinese at any elite XC race.
  You know it's an Olympic race season when you see the Chinese big guns out on the track, looking for precious UCI points. In off years one rarely sees the Chinese at any elite XC race.

<Deleted photo>

Larissa Connors on lap five. After spending most of the race within striking distance of the front. it was here that the Luna team got away leaving Larissa dangling some 20 seconds back. That gap would grow to a 36 second deficit by the time Connors was able to get across the line.
  Larissa Connors on lap five. After spending most of the race within striking distance of the front. it was here that the Luna team got away, leaving Larissa dangling some 20 seconds back. That gap would grow to a 36-second deficit by the time Connors was able to get across the line.

Pivot s Rose Grant was also cirlcing near the front of the race but once the Luna team put on the afterburners in lap 5 Grant was adrift as well coming home 53 seconds off the winning time to round out the top five.
  Stans No Tubes-Pivot's Rose Grant was also circling near the front of the race, but once the Luna team put on the afterburners in lap 5, Grant was adrift as well, coming home 53 seconds off the winning time to round out the top five.

<Deleted photo>

<Deleted photo>

The Elite Women s XC podium L-R Larissa Connors 4 Georgia Gould 2 Katerina Nash 1 Catharine Pendrel 3 and Rose Grant 5 .
  The Elite Women's XC podium (L-R): Larissa Connors (4), Georgia Gould (2), Katerina Nash (1), Catharine Pendrel (3), and Rose Grant (5).

In addition to the Sea Otter XC title Nash also claimed the lead in the US National XC series with her win.
  In addition to the Sea Otter XC title, Nash also claimed the lead in the US National XC series with her win.

Ralph Gagne taking the piss out of the rock garden. There were plenty of wheel wrecking square edge hits in the two stage rock garden race organizers created in the upper section of the track.
  Ralph Gagne taking the piss out of the rock garden. There were plenty of wheel wrecking square edge hits in the two-stage rock garden race organizers created in the upper section of the track.

Simon Andreasson simply did not have the horsepower in the XC race that he had in the short track the previous day and finished nearly a seven minutes off the pace.
  Simon Andreasson simply did not have the horsepower in the XC race that he had in the short track the previous day, and finished nearly seven minutes off the pace.

The rock garden was crazy dusty coming through in the mid pack re-defined eating dust .
  The rock garden was crazy dusty; coming through in the mid pack re-defined "eating dust".

It looked like this was Nicola Rohrbach s race to lose the tall Czech rider was consistently in the lead on the top section of the track and was completely unfazed by the high pace the rock garden or the wicked off camber turn immediately after the rock garden.
  It looked like this was Nicola Rohrbach's race to lose; the tall Czech rider was consistently in the lead on the top section of the track and was completely unfazed by the high pace, the rock garden, or the wicked off camber turn immediately after the rock garden.

On lap five Geoff Kabush tried a bit of a get away but there was no where to hide on the long tarmac climb back to the singletrack. The four riders working together quickly chased down the Canadian.
  Near the end of lap four, Geoff Kabush tried a bit of a getaway, but there was nowhere to hide on the long tarmac climb back to the singletrack. The four riders behind him quickly chased down the Canadian.

Todd Wells surfing the off camber dust on lap 5.
  Todd Wells surfing the off camber dust immediately below the rock garden on lap 5.

Engineer by day XC hard man by night. Spencer Paxton leading the chase group in the later stages of the race.
  Engineer by day, XC hard man by night. Spencer Paxton leading the chase group in the later stages of the race. He may have come in 19th on the day, but the fact that Paxson holds down a full-time job and more or less races for fun says a lot about the depth of his talent.

Kabush on the rivet on lap 7.
  Kabush on the rivet on lap 7.

The three up sprint for the win after 8 hard laps. Todd Wells would cross the line just a hair ahead of the hard charging Rohrbach who was clearly disappointed to finish second.
  The three-up sprint for the win after 8 hard laps. Todd Wells would cross the line just a hair ahead of the hard charging Rohrbach, who was clearly disappointed to finish second.

40 years old Hell yeah. The tall Durango CO racer was all smiles after the win.
  40 years old? Hell yeah. The tall Durango, CO racer was all smiles after the win.

The elite men s podium L-R Derek Zandstra 4 Nicola Rohrbach 2 . Todd Wells 1 Stephen Ettinger 3 Leandre Bouchard 5 .
  The elite men's podium (L-R): Derek Zandstra (4), Nicola Rohrbach (2). Todd Wells (1), Stephen Ettinger (3), Leandre Bouchard (5).

Todd Wells taking the lead in the US National XC series with his win here at Sea Otter.
  Todd Wells taking the lead in the US National XC series with his win here at Sea Otter.


MENTIONS: @konaworld / @Specialized



Author Info:
meagerdude avatar

Member since Jun 8, 2010
94 articles

18 Comments
  • 66 0
 When xc gets a rock garden but dh doesnt...
  • 15 0
 That was far more entertaining to read than I expected. Probably has a lot to do with the course being visible... Somehow that made xc more exciting for me to read....
  • 12 2
 I'm sorry, but there should not be any asphalt in a XC mtb race!
  • 5 0
 Some asphalt is OK but when it creates drafting opportunities lap after lap that's road racing. And fake rock gardens are just bad.
  • 3 1
 There shouldn't be team tactics either, like blocking at the front so your teammates can ride off.
  • 9 0
 Ralph Gagne *(Raphael Gagne)
Spencer Paxton *(Spencer Paxson)
  • 4 0
 Fun to see Spencer getting a little press. Fabulous rider, and great mentor for our team up here in Whatcom County, Washington! Way To Go Spencer!!!!!
  • 9 0
 Orange forks everywhere!
  • 4 0
 Looking at the riding posture of the three ride sprint to the finish line you can tell that Todd Wells will win the race
  • 5 0
 Wells is a beast. And 40! Love that.
  • 4 0
 Nicola Rohrbach isn't a Czech rider. He's Swiss.
  • 2 0
 i want to see that road bike lol
  • 2 0
 Hometown Hero bringing home the win! Fuck yeah Todd!
  • 1 0
 awesome coverage thanks!!
  • 1 0
 *Simon Andreassen*
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.029868
Mobile Version of Website