Two new champions come out on top at singlespeed worlds
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Fourth place finisher Ned "The Lung" Overend chose to race in a very colorful moomoo.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Durango local and 2006 Single speed World Champion, Travis Brown, is at the head of affairs in the neutral parade start down Main Street.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Local favorite Matt Shriver of Fort Lewis College rode cleanly into second place.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Travis Brown looked to be on his way to another singlespeed world championship with a large lead coming down the Ridge, but a bad crash ended his race.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Giant racer Carl Decker rode a smooth race to finish third.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Heather Irmiger built on her lead into the dirt and won by a fair margin.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
H-Ball, Greg Herbold, still has his downhill world champion skills.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Costumes were encouraged for racers and fans.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
After riding in second place for most of the race, Kelly Emmett finished third to Shonny Vanlandingham.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Ross Schnell used his smooth, fast style to easily win the 2009 Single Speed World Championships.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
2009 Champion Ross Schnell put his Trek through the paces on the very technical course.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Women's winner Heather Irmiger gets inked at the post-race party.(Image credit: Eddie Clark)
Singlespeed affecionados from around the globe flocked to Durango, Colorado, for a few days of riding and racing in celebration of the Single Speed World Championships this weekend.
Die-hard, costume-clad everyday riders and well-known current and former pros lined up side-by-side to take on a challenging course in this non-UCI sanctioned World Championship event. All that was required was a singlespeed mountain bike and a good attitude. As usual, the winners would take home not only bragging rights, but some fresh ink in the form of the mandatory winner's tattoo.
In the men's race, pro cross country racer Rad Ross Schnell defeated Durango local Matt Shriver and last year's champion Carl Decker. Long-time racer and Durango resident Ned Overend took fourth ahead of US national cross country and marathon champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski in fifth.
Horgan-Kobelski's wife was the best-placed finisher of the family, though, as she won the women's race ahead of retired mountain bike pro Shonny Vanlandingham and Giant's Kelli Emmett. Australia's Dellys Star was fourth and Coloradoan Jen Gersbach completed the top five.
Beer and whiskey stops en route were reported to alleviate some of the racers' pain after they walked challenging hike-a-bikes and treacherous ridges.
The privilege of hosting next year's championships was won by New Zealand. Look out for the race to be held in Rotorua on the North Island on a date TBD.
Results
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Men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
1
Ross Schnell
2
Matt Shriver
3
Carl Decker
4
Ned Overend
5
Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
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Women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
1
Heather Irmiger
2
Shonny Vanlandingham
3
Kelli Emett
4
Dellys Star
5
Jen Gersbach
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Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.
