April 27, 2009 (Los Olivos, CA) – On Sunday, April 26 was USA MTB Cup #5 in the Santa Ynez Valley, the weekend following Sea Otter. In contrast to the scorching heat in Monterey, Los Olivos was a much more comfortable racing climate with the high being around 20 degrees and lots of wind. The course took riders on a rolling eight-mile loop through ranch land with two longer climbs and no rocks or roots making the course extremely fast and quite different from anything in Canada.

Twenty-five riders started the men’s race which would consist of three laps. On the first climb a small group consisting of Sid Taberlay, Aaron Olsen, Andy Schultz, Manny Prado, Craig Ritchey and Daniel Sessford left the rest of the field with Taberlay attacking the group getting away and Schultz and Olsen Chasing.

The next person to launch an attack was Ritchey who got clear and ended up soloing for the three laps finishing fourth almost catching Schultz at the line. Sessford rode for most of the race in fifth fading a little at the end and being caught by Dana Webber to finish sixth just off the podium.

The next race for the Blue Boys (Craig Ritchey, Daniel Sessford) will be the Canada Cup #1 in Baie St Paul May 17th.