April 15, 2005 (Monterey, California) – Canadians were shut out of the topmost podium spots ont yesteday, when Bart Brentjens (NL, Giant) and Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna Women’s Team) grabbed gold in the men’s and women’s Super XC, the first of four stages in the Sea Otter Classic mountain bike stage race.

The Canadian women still managed to get noticed, however, when six placed in the top 10, including Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects), Lyne Bessette (Louis Garneau) and Wendy Simms (Frontrunners) in second, third and fourth place.

Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) was top Canuck in the men’s race with an eighth-place finish.

It was 36-year-old Brentjens who dominated the competition, however, when he got into an early break and then made a decisive attack in the third lap of the 7.25-kilometre half dirt, half pavement course, which started and ended on the Laguna Seca Raceway. Brentjens consistently increased his solo lead, and the chase group just couldn’t get organized. The Dutchman rode over the finish line with a 27-second lead.

Elite Men
1. Bart Brentjens (NL, Giant) 55:17:002.
2. Florian Vogel (SUI, SwissPower) at :274.
3 . Trent Lowe (AUS, Subaru-Gary Fisher) s.t.6.
4. Sid Taberlay (AUS, Specialized) s.t.8.
5. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA, Subaru-Gary Fisher) s.t.10.
6. Todd Wells (USA, Giant-Hyundai) s.t.12.
7. Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA, Lapierre) s.t.14.
8. Geoff Kabush (CAN, Maxxis) s.t.16.
9. Jeremiah Bishop (USA, Trek-VW) s.t.18.
10. Adam Craig (USA, Giant) s.t.20.

Elite Women
1. Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna Women’s Team) 55:54:002.
2. Alison Sydor (CAN, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) s.t.4.
3. Lyne Bessette (CAN, Louis Garneau) s.t.6.
4. Wendy Simms (CAN, Frontrunners) at 0:00.88.
5. Susan Haywood (USA, Trek-VW) 0:00.910.
6. Katarina Hanusova (CZE, Luna Women’s Team) s.t.12.
7. Mical Dyck (CAN, Terrascape Racing) 0:01.314.
8. Kiara Bisaro (CAN, Gears Racing) 0:01.516.
9. Trish Sinclair (CAN, Scott USA) 0:01.818.
10. Dara Marks Marino (USA, Luna Women’s Team) 0:01.920.