Canadians push the pace at Sea Otter Short Track XC

Canada's best animate racing as World Class field tackles dusty Laguna Seca course

Terry McKall April 23, 2018

Along with all the latest and greatest gear on display from mountain biking’s biggest names, Sea Otter weekend hosts a steady stream of pro level races from Friday to Sunday. Short track cross country is possibly the most spectator friendly event, being held directly adjacent to the main display area and featuring short laps of a high speed course. With World Cup cross country adding a short track component for 2018, there were plenty of big names lining up to get a little extra experience with the race format before the next round at Albstadt, Germany in May.

Danish XC star Annika Langvad, currently leading the UCI standings, made the most of her visit to Specialized HQ, playing the tactical game to perfection to take the win. Langvad was a quiet presence in the race, surviving a flurry of Clif Pro Team attacks and waiting to show her face at the front until she crossed the line first to take the win.

Sea Otter 2018 — It was hard work staying on the front, but with tight crowds and an unrelenting flat out pace, it was a good way to stay out of trouble. Sean Fincham (Forward Racing) stays in front of a narrow miss by Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Trek Factory Racing)

A large crowd of Canadian men were at the front of the Men’s race all day, including Short Track XC veteran Geoff Kabush, but it was Nicola Rohrbach who would claim the win over Commonwealth Games silver medallist Anton Cooper. Kabush snuck onto the podium in fourth aboard his new Yeti SB 100 C bike, possibly the only Fox 34-sized front fork in the race.

Haley Smith (Norco Factory Racing) leads out Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) at the start of the Pro Women's race

Constant attacks would stretch out the field, dropping riders in ones and twos all race

Clif Pro Team had numbers and raced aggressively, but late crashes cost the team and only Katerina Nash landed on the podium

Haley Smith keepnig a close eye on Catharine Pendrel

New Trek Factory Racing signing Ellen Noble was in the front group before a crash caused her to lose touch. The American toughed it out to the finish, jersey covered in blood, to finish 19th

Forward Racing were pushing the pace all day. Here Andrew L'Esperance and Sean Fincham sit on the wheel of Trek Factory Racing's Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez

Canadians push the pace at Sea Otter Short Track XC

Canada's best animate racing as World Class field tackles dusty Laguna Seca course

Haley Smith (Norco Factory Racing) leads out Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) at the start of the Pro Women's race

Constant attacks would stretch out the field, dropping riders in ones and twos all race

Clif Pro Team had numbers and raced aggressively, but late crashes cost the team and only Katerina Nash landed on the podium

Haley Smith keepnig a close eye on Catharine Pendrel

New Trek Factory Racing signing Ellen Noble was in the front group before a crash caused her to lose touch. The American toughed it out to the finish, jersey covered in blood, to finish 19th

Forward Racing were pushing the pace all day. Here Andrew L'Esperance and Sean Fincham sit on the wheel of Trek Factory Racing's Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez

And were the only two to follow Mantecon Gutierrez's accelleration. They would be caught, but the trio had pushed out a solid gap

Geoff Kabush used all his Short Track experience to finish fourth in Monterey

Canadian National Champion Peter Disera attacked off the front mid way through the race

Anyone not in the first couple riders was engulfed in a rising cloud of dust

Cooper wins the sprint for second