April 16, 2005 (Monterey, CA) – Canadians Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) and Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) were tops yesterday at Sea Otter’s second stage, a short, two-mile technical mountain bike time trial that required keen bike handling skills and the ability to go all-out for only a few short minutes.

Sydor nabbed the overall lead in the women’s general classification with her 6:48 ride, which was 12 seconds faster than former leader Alison Dunlap’s (USA, Luna Women’s Team). Sydor, who is ahead by only three seconds, admits keeping her slim advantage will be tough.

Three other Canadian women, Lyne Bessette (CAN, Louis Garneau), Mical Dyck (CAN, Terrascape Racing) and Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Gears Racing) also hammered into the top 10 with sixth, eighth and ninth-place performances, respectively.

Kabush’s winning ride of 5:40, four seconds quicker than Bart Brentjens’s (NED, Giant), was still not fast enough to overcome the gap opened up by the Dutchman in the first stage. Brentjens leads the general classification by 42 seconds over second place, Florian Vogel (SUI, SwissPower), and 54 seconds over third place, Kabush. Chris Sheppard (CAN, Haro) also had a strong time trial with a fifth-place finish.

Men

1. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) 5:40.6
2. Liam Killeen (GBR, Specialized) 5:42.4
3. Bart Brentjens (NED, Giant) 5:44.5
4. Ryan Trebon (USA, Kona-Les Gets) 5:45.0
5. Chris Sheppard (CAN, Haro) 5:48.6
6. Rudi Van Houts (NED, Merlanduo-BeOne) 5:48.7
7. Florian Vogel (SUI, SwissPower) 5:48.9
8. Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA, Lapierre) 5:50.5
9. Sid Taberley (AUS, Specialized) 5:50.8
10. Trent Lowe (AUS, Subaru-Gary Fisher) 5:51.0

Other Canadians:
14. Seamus McGrath (CAN, Haro) 5:57.4
20. Roland Green (CAN, Kona-Les Gets) 6:03.7
21. Mathieu Toulouse (CAN, Maxxis) 6:04.3
23. Andreas Hestler (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 6:04.5
24. Kris Sneddon (CAN, Kona-Les Gets) 6:05.2
26. Roddi Lega (CAN, Norco) 6:05.8
29. Ricky Federau (CAN, Gears Racing) 6:06.5

Women

1. Alison Sydor (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) 6:48
2. Susan Haywood (USA, Trek-VW) 0:00
3. Kelli Emmett (USA, Ford Cycling) 0:12
4. Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna Women’s Team) 0:12
5. Katerina Hanusova (CZE, Luna Women’s Team) 0:14
6. Lyne Bessette (CAN, Louis Garneau) 0:14
7. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA, Luna Women’s Team) 0:16
8. Mical Dyck (CAN, Terrascape Racing) 0:18
9. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Gears Racing) 0:21
10. Willow Koerber (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher) 0:21

Other Canadians:
11. Wendy Simms (CAN, Frontrunners) 0:23
12. Patricia Sinclair (CAN, Scott USA) 0:27
27. Melanie McQuaid (CAN, Orbca) 0:45