August 10, 2003 (Jarabocoa, Dominican Republic) – Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, VA) and Mary McConneloug (Fairfax, CA) continued their successful seasons this afternoon each taking home medals in the cross-country mountain bike event at the XIV Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic. Bishop scored a gold medal for the Americans amongst a small but competitive field while McConneloug took silver behind seasoned pro, Jimena Florit (ARG).

Set in the mountains of Jarabacoa, the unique course that wound its way through the local villages, consisted of a 4.4km loop of which the men churned out 10 laps for 44km, and the women eight laps for 35.2km. In addition to a taste of the local culture, the course offered a variety of challenges beginning with a brief but technical descent followed by a few tough climbs situated in between the otherwise rolling terrain. With no single-track, the race would be a test of fitness more so than technical abilities, and the hot and humid conditions helped create what would be a race of attrition for both the men and the women.

In the men's race, the fast pace created a natural selection of three riders, Bishop, Dieber Esquivel, (CRC) and Edivandro Cruz (BRA) that formed four laps into the race. As Esquivel and Cruz took turns attacking, Bishop simply maintained a steady but strong pace, saving his energy for the few technical sections. Eventually, Esquivel dropped off the pace as Bishop and Cruz stuck together until the final lap. With the tricky downhill section approaching, Cruz attacked, but Bishop answered, overtaking Cruz on the downhill and ultimately attacking on the following climb. That move proved to be the game-winner as Bishop soloed across the line, taking home the gold medal for Team USA.

The women's event was predicted to be a battle between McConneloug and Florit, and shortly after the race began it was clear that the winner would indeed be one of the two. A first lap crash by Jacqueline Mourao (BRA) created a gap in the field benefiting both McConneloug and Florit. Afterwards, Florit attacked and the chase by McConneloug was on. After Florit increased her lead to a minute, McConneloug settled into a strong pace behind, but wouldn't see her challenger for the remainder of the race. With the rest of the field shattered far behind, McConneloug securely had the silver in her grasp, cruising across the line in second wearing her trademark smile.

Bishop, who was mobbed by the local village people and volunteers seeking autographs and pictures, offered his insight on the race. “This is one of the strangest races I ever did. There was a selection of a few riders and from then on it was like a hilly circuit race on the road. We kept a slow pace and guys were putting in full effort attacks but I just slowly and steadily increased my speed and conserved myself for the technical sections because I knew I was better there and could make up time. On the last lap, just before the downhill, Cruz attacked but I managed to hang on and pass him and by the time we finished the descent I had about 10 seconds on him and just put in a ballistic effort on the following climb and kept a smooth, maximum pace to the finish.”

McConneloug was thrilled with her silver medal performance even though she fell victim to the course design. “The course was not technical enough for me”, McConneloug said afterwards. “On the first lap, Jackie crashed on the downhill and we were gapped off. From there, Jimena attacked first and I went with her. I was just trying to hang with her, but she opened up a gap of a minute and I figured she was gone so I just paced myself the rest of the way. I'm definitely happy with silver.”

Bishop's gold medal was the 76th of the Pan American games for the United States, while McConneloug's silver added to the overall medal total of 141.

Next up for the three members of Team USA is the NORBA National Championship Series Final in Durango, Colo. August 14-17.

Photos of today's action in the Pan Am Games mountain bike event can be viewed at: www.usacycling.org/gallery. For additional news and results on the XIV Pan American Games, check out www.usocpressbox.org

Men's Results
1. Jeremiah Bishop (USA)
2. Edivandro Cruz (BRA)
3. Deiber Esquivel (CRC)

Women's Results
1. Jimena Florit (ARG)
2. Mary McConneloug (USA)
3. Francisco Campos (CHI)