May 7, 2006 – Shonny Vanlandingham (USA, Luna Women’s Team) overpowered a 62-woman field in the U.S. National Series opener Saturday in Fontana, California. Canada’s Alison Sydor (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) couldn’t close the gap, which was 57 seconds in the end. Jimena Florit (ARG, Luna Women’s Team) finished third, hot on Sydor’s heels. The women rode three laps of an 11-kilometre course, which included a significant 450 vertical metres of climbing per lap. Wendy Simms (CAN, Kona-Velo Bella) made it into the top 10 with a ninth-place finish.

Geoff Kabush’s (CAN, Maxxis) win on Saturday proved the Canadian is back in form after a troubled early season. He rode most of the 45-kilometre men’s race with Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher) and Todd Wells (USA, G.T.-Hyundai), but was spared a risky sprint finish when Horgan-Kobelski and Wells tangled and fell in the final corner. Kabush was able to avoid the mishap and coasted across the finish line with the win. Horgan-Kobelski hung on for second, but Barry Wicks (USA, Kona-Les Gets) passed Wells and took third spot, with Wells having to settle for fourth. Canada’s Max Plaxton (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) and Ricky Federau (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) had strong races, finishing eighth and 10th, respectively.

Results

Women (3 laps, 33.8 km)
1. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA, Luna Women’s Team) 1:47:58
2. Alison Sydor (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) at 0:57
3. Jimena Florit (ARG, Luna Women’s Team) 0:58
4. Heather Irminger (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher) 2:36:16
5. Willow Koerber (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher) 3:12
6. Dara Marks-Marino (USA, Titus-Kenda) 3:47
7. Susan Haywood (USA, Trek-VW) 4:16
8. Katerina Nash (CZE, Luna Women’s Team) 4:48
9. Wendy Simms (CAN, Kona-Velo Bella) 5:11
10. Kathy Sherwin (USA, Ford Cycling) 6:48

11. Mical Dyck (CAN, Terrascape Racing) 6:51
31. Christine Misseghers (CAN, Mountain Bike City) 22:57
35. Leah Guloien (CAN, Sugoi-Giant) 23:53
38. Jean Ann McKirdy (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 26:37
52. Mary-Ellen Ash (CAN, 3 Rox Racing) 36:15
DNF Trish Sinclair (CAN, Scott USA-Kenda)
DNF Catharine Pendrel (CAN, Norco)

Men (4 laps, 45 km)

1. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 2:02:58
2. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher) at 0:33
3. Barry Wicks (USA, Kona-Les Gets) 1:07
4. Todd Wells (USA, G.T.-Hyundai) 1:41
5. Jeremiah Bishop (USA, Trek-VW) 1:54
6. Carl Decker (USA, Giant) 2:15
7. Adam Craig (USA, Giant) 3:25
8. Max Plaxton (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 4:04
9. Emmanuel Valencia (MEX, Turbo) 4:51
10. Ricky Federau (CAN, Team R.A.C.E.) 5:58

12. Kris Sneddon (CAN, Kona-Les Gets) 6:37
17. Troy Misseghers (CAN, Mountain Bike City) 9:08
DNF Roddi Lega (CAN, Norco)
DNF Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis)