Kabush looks for third straight win at Whiskey 50

Canadian mountain biker Geoff Kabush is aiming to score a three-peat at the Whiskey 50 race in Prescott, Arizona. The Scott-3Rox racer is one of the favourites heading into the race, but a strong field of entries are certain to make the event a challenge.

“I really like the Whiskey 50 race,” said Kabush, who will be joined by teammates Derek Zandstra and Cameron Jette. “It’s developed into a great event, and it has a big cash purse, which is always nice, and that draws out some strong competition.”

Kabush and American Todd Wells broke free of the rest of the field last year, trading the lead until one of the final descents, when Kabush made the best use of his full suspension, leaving the hard-tail riding Wells behind.

This year, Wells is back and is among the top riders on Kabush’s radar. Another strong racer who is certain to mix things up is Christoph Sauser. The Swiss rider holds two overall World Cup titles, and was the 2008 World Champion. Sauser is also a three time marathon mountain bike world champion.

The Whiskey 50 race runs longer than World Cup races, with Kabush winning in just under three hours in 2012. Tempering your efforts to last through the duration is a key tactic needed to win the race.

“You can’t go all out from the start like you would in a World Cup,” said Kabush. “You need to pace yourself for the whole race because it’s longer and because there are some good technical challenges, and you don’t want to wear yourself out so much that you make a mistake.”

The pro women’s race starts just after the men and features equal prize money. Two Canadians are set to start the race. Fellow Scott-3Rox rider Amanda Sin and Kabush’s sister Danielle, who races for Luna will both take to the start line.

The Whiskey 50 is also much more than a race, with a party scene that centres around Whiskey Row in Prescott, and a weekend full of events that are aimed at riders of all kinds. Every finisher gets an engraved beer glass, and those who finish on the podium get a custom flask.

The pros race on Sunday, Apr 27.