Home > News

Kabush crowned US Cup Champ

July 2, 2014
Share on SMS

Geoff Kabush rode a solid final round of the US Cup XC Mountain Bike series to take the overall title at the series finale in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Scott-3Rox rider came into the race a strong favourite for the title, having to finish outside of the top 10 to give up his grip on the title.

Kabush started the race with a conservative pace, slowly building speed and working his way through the field. On the final lap, Kabush sprinted against fellow Canadian Raphael Gagne (Rocky Mountain) to take second place.

“I felt pretty steady but not super so I was being conservative for a few laps but by the middle of the race I felt stronger and stronger. I was surprised the gap got out to over a minute but I knew I could keep those guys in sight and I’d be ok,” said Kabush.

Max Plaxton crossed in fourth place, the top rider for the Cannondale Factory team.

The race was won by Todd Wells, of Specialized. Wells was strong from start to finish, but knew any hopes of beating Kabush for the title were slim. “I knew Kabush needed to finish 11th or worse and he doesn’t finish 11th on even his worst day,” sad Wells. Kabush earned the champion’s belt, finishing the US Cup with 121 points, 12 better than Wells. Plaxton and Derek Zandstra finished third and fourth in the series, with Gagne the fourth Canadian in the top six.

“I’m really excited for my Scott 3 Rox Racing Team to take home the belt for this first US Cup,” said Kabush. “It’s great to see the excitement building for cross country racing here in the US, and I’m also excited to take home this title. It’s definitely great to take home a big check as well, so big thanks to Scott Tedro for putting all of this together.”

The women’s race was hotly contested as a battle mostly between members of the LUNA team.

Catharine Pendrel and teammate Katerina Nash shared the early lead with strong starts. The lead changed hands over the downhill section of the first lap and at the end of the first lap, LUNA race Georgia Gould and Nash got away from the main group. Pendrel joined her LUNA teammates and fellow Canadian Emily Batty of Trek Factory Racing also made the break.

The riders at the front battled back and forth, with Gould making early moves to take the lead. Nash responded, working past Batty and Pendrel and leading to the finish. Nash not only cemented the race victory, but the US Cup title as well.

“The overall win is kind of emotional for me,” said Nash. “I’ve raced for a really, really long time and it’s the very first time I’ve won an overall cross country series… After all these years, it’s kind of humbling to come back and have an awesome series with a great payout and to hopefully do my job to inspire young racers.”

Gould managed to stay on pace to finish in second place, crossing the line just two seconds back from Nash.

Batty finished in third place, three seconds ahead of Pendrel. Evelyn Dong rounded out the podium in fifth.

The races also counted towards the Pro XCT Standings in the US. With two races left in that series, Canadians are very well positioned.

Wells leads the men’s standings ahead of four Canadians – Kabush, Plaxton, Zandstra, and Gagne. The women’s standings feature a wider points spread with Nash well out in front. Canadians Pendrel and Batty are second and third respectively.

Categories: News |