May 5, 2007 (Fontana, California) — Conditions are excellent in California for round three of the Nationals Moountain Bike Series. The Elite Men’s XC is underway”¦ the men will race four laps, a total of 44.8 kms (28 miles).

Lap 1
Barry Wicks (USA) Kona has a 9-sec. lead as the men finish the first of four laps and begin Lap 2. A chase group of five riders includes Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher, Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona, Adam Craig (Giant) and Todd Wells (USA) Targetraining.

At 50 seconds a second chase group includes Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Trek, Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona, Sam Schultz (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher and Ross Schnell (USA) Trek.

Mat Toulouse (Can) Team is in 16th, Seamus McGrath (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood is in 17th and Roddi Lega (United Cycles) is in 18th. Neil Kindree (Kona) is riding in 27th and Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood is in the top 40s and seems to have had some initial problems but looks back on track now.

Lap 2
A group of four riders is together as the men finished lap 2 – Trebon, Horgan-Kobelski, Wicks and Wells. A few seconds back is Canada’s Kabush on his own in 5th.

Chasing another 30 sec. back is Craig in 6th, Sneddon in 7th, Bishop in 8th, Schultz in 9th and Schnell in 10th.

Canada’s Plaxton has made up some ground and is now in 16th with Toulouse dropping back to 18th and McGrath in 20th. Kindree has moved up into 23rd and Roddi Legga is in the 40s.

Lap 3
At the top of the climb on lap 3 Kabush has caught the leaders and is in 4th with Trebon leading – Wicks is in 5th and Craig is in 6th, Sneddon 7th, Schultz is now in 8th overtaking Bishop in 9th”¦ and Canada’s Plaxton has moved ip into 11th place.

Lap 4 Final
As the riders begin the final lap it’s the same five leaders in charge followed by Adam Craig in 6th at 1:35 back, Canada’s Sneddon is in 7th another 35 sec behind, with Bishop trailing him by 40 sec in 8th.

Canada’s Plaxton continues to gain and is now in 9th. Both McGrath and Toulouse have dropped out as Neil Kindree moves up into 20th. Roddi Legga is still in the 40s.

Kabush played his cards well again staying with the lead group and attacking on the final section to take his third consecutive NMBS win.

Results (unofficial)

1. Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis
2. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher
3. Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona
4. Todd Wells (USA) Targetraining.
5. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona
6. Adam Craig (Giant)
7. Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona
8. Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood
9. Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Trek

19. Neil Kindree (Kona)
32. Roddi Lega (United Cycles)

DNF Mat Toulouse (Can) Team Maxxis
DNF Seamus McGrath (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood