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Geoff Kabush hunting for a hat trick at Moab Rocks

Canadian takes early advantage while Nash leads women and Canadians swarm masters race

March 31, 2019
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Geoff Kabush is back in Utah and looking for a third straight win at the three-day Moab Rocks stage race.

Kabush’s quest for the hat trick of race wins at the Transrockies event got off to a smooth start on Saturday. The veteran Canadian cross country racer won the opening stage by 42 seconds over his closest competitor.

Fast racing and big views in Utah for the Moab Rocks three-day stage race. Image: John Gibson

Starting from downtown Moab, the opening stage headed out of town and into the Porcupine Rim trail networks. With this years massive volume of late season snow, the course was a little different than usual as the snow pack was still lingering on the peaks above the desert rocks below.

Geoff Kabush leads the group at the top of the climb. Image: John Gibson
Kabush corrals early lead

With racers keen and confident in their early season fitness, a group of 20 rolled out on the 13 mile (21 km for Kabush) climb to the Lazy Man 4×4 route. The rugged jeep road would be the entry point into Porcupine Rim for racers, with the usual entry cut off by snow.

Geoff Kabush pours on the pressure. Image: John Gibson

As the race approached the summit, and the lengthy, legendary Porcupine Rim descent that would follow, Kabush made his move. The Canadian strung out the field on a steep, paved section to try get a front position for the downhill. Cal Skilsky (CZ Racing), the runner up last year, Taylor Lideen (Pivot), and Nick Gould followed.

Ben Sonntag is fifth after one day of racing. Image: Jean McAllister

On the steep 4×4 track, Rotem Ishay moved into second behind Kabush, followed by Justin Lindine, runner up at 2018 Singletrack 6 in the B.C. interior region, Cooper Wiens (Topeak Ergon) and Ben Sonntag (Clif Pro Team). At the end of the day, Kabush landed his first stage win, followed by Skilsky in second and Lindine another 23 seconds behind in third. It gives the Canadian a slim advantage, meaning the next two days of racing should remain exciting.

Kabush isn’t the only Canuck in the race. Inside the top-20, Marc-André Daigle of Montreal, Que. sits 12th after one stage of racing, with Andre Landry of Cap-pele, N.B. in 16th.

Katerina Nash on the front of the women’s pro race. Image: John Gibson
Nash takes early lead in women’s Moab Rocks

In the pro women’s race, World Cup veteran Katerina Nash (Clif Pro Team) led out the race. The perpetually speedy Czech rider quickly set out to distance herself from women chasing behind. Karen Jarchow (Topeak Ergon) set out in pursuit, followed by Marlee Dixon (Pivot / Pearl Izumi) and Suzie Synder (Cannondale).

The chasing duo caught Jarchow as the race approached the 4×4 track, with Dixon taking the initiative to go off the front in pursuit of Nash.

Nash would win the stage, with Dixon second and Jarchow third. Whistler’s Chloe Cross sits in ninth in the pro women’s race. Josée Heppell (Blainville, Que) is in 12th, Stephanie Green of Nanaimo, B.C. 15th, Calgary’s Jacqueline Jenkins in 17th, and Tiffany Wong of Ladysmith in 22nd.

Big views on a big descent at Moab Rocks. Image: Jean McAllister
Canadian Migration in the 40+ races
With most of Canada still clawing out from a colder than usual winter, it’s not surprising that there’s a flock of racers that have made their way down to Utah from the north. Tara Pollock (Ladysmith, B.C.) is racing in 4th in the 40+ women’s event, while Nelson, B.C.’s Travis Hauck is second in the 40+ men’s race.
Keven Lee sends the descent down Porcupine Rim. Image: John Gibson
Behind Hauck, a cluster of Canadians are sitting around the top-20. Christian Gauvin (Bromont, Que), Guillaume Nadeau (St. Joseph du Lac, Que.) and Benoit Larocque (Prevost, Que) crossed 17th, 18th, and 19th, with Nanaimo’s Robin Dutton close behind in 21st.
Highlights from Stage 1 of the Moab Rocks stage race