September 24, 2004 – Alan Obye (Mendon, Vt.) dominated the cross-country
course this morning at Mammoth Mountain to win the first ever U23 National
Cross-Country Championship race. Twenty men lined up for three laps
totaling 27 miles, and one lone woman – Caitlyn Tuel (Lyndell, Pa.) – toed
the line for two laps to become the Women’s U23 National Champion.

A determined Obye took a commanding lead in the first lap and set a fast
pace, causing the field to quickly spread out. Obye’s teammate on the U23
National squad – Nick Waite (Davis, W.Va.) joined Alex Hagman (Durango,
Colo.) and Andy Schultz (Missoula, Mont.) to form a talented and
determined group of chasers. As Obye went through the feed zone going into
lap two, he had at least a one minute gap over the three.

“I got to the bottom of the first descent and couldn’t see anybody,” Obye
commented after his win. “I was a little nervous on the first lap because
it seemed early in the race to have a gap that big.”

Behind the village, spectators could see the riders ascending the climb
that would bring them back around the west loop and into the start/finish
area. Obye was seen increasing his lead as Waite and Hagman dropped Schultz
in their continued pursuit of the leader. At the end of lap two, Obye
still had a substantial lead while Hagman had gotten away from Waite, who
was trying to hold onto third. Andy Schultz was not far behind in fourth.
“I felt like I was climbing strong and riding the descents clearly,” the
leader remarked.

The riders were very spaced out going into the switchbacks on the final
lap, illustrating the incredible pace Obye was setting at the front for
the entire race. The 21-year-old Vermont native maintained his amazing gap
and crossed the line to claim top honors ahead of Hagman, who made a very
strong effort today. Schultz passed Waite during lap three to claim the
bronze, while Waite and Brent Bookwalter (Comstock Park, Mi.) secured the
final spots on the podium in fourth and fifth respectively.

Obye’s win today brings a remarkable end to the debut year of the U23
National Mountain Bike Team. This week also marks Obye’s final races in
the U23 category, as he will turn 23 in 2005.

Men’s U23 Cross-Country Results

1. Alan Obye
2. Alex Hagman
3. Andy Schultz
4. Nick Waite
5. Brent Bookwalter