Lost in the Woods | Cyclingnews

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The attacks started(Image credit: Chris Davidson)

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We are pitted in the tech area right next to the big Specialized trailer. I feel a little funny as we have the Genius bikes onboard our trailer - Specialized has the patent on the rear end of the bikes so Scott can't sell them in the US; we end up speaking to them very little anyway. The Specialized European-based team is here in preparation for the WC next week in Canada. Their riders Christophe Sauser and Liam Killen add world cup class to field.

Mike West and Ariel Lindsey (Maverick) blew by me on the downhill during the pre-ride of the XC course over a really rough section. That certainly lent weight to the dual suspension choice. I felt like I was track-standing trying to get safely down some of the sections. By and large the pro riders really like this course; I have heard it described by many of the pro riders as the best on this year's NORBA circuit.

I have to give the shout out to one rider on the way up. Mike Raney (NAU) is a semi-pro and today he recorded his first top-five finish. This won't be his last, as this guy has the goods. Watch for him in the pro class soon.No Team Blue Dart here at Mt Snow this year; I kinda miss having those guys around as the gravity racers always seem to have a different take on the venues and the courses. They add some flavour to the events for me.

Today is XC race day. There is a little chaos going on with the start times. NORBA wants to have more racing going on at the same time, so they are starting the Pro men at 3:00pm, the JuniorX men at 3:02pm and the Pro women at 3:04pm - all racing the same course. This leads to lots of bottlenecks on the course and in the feed/tech zone. I witnessed a few occasions when less experienced junior XC men caused accidents in the feed zone when they failed to realize that faster riders were coming behind them. Also, the main feed zone on the climb was far too short to allow enough room for all the feeders in the three racing classes. Feeders were literally on top of each other in the zone. Hopefully this situation will get ironed out at future venues.

The Specialized Euro riders killed it on the day and took the top of the podium, only JHK came close to a place. I have to give props to Barry Wicks (Kona) for being a crowd pleaser. Barry rode a wheelie through the feed zone on the second lap to keep all of us amused. His team-mate Ryan Trebon was having a difficult day and withdrew from the XC after the first lap; a result that would come into play the next day.

The highlight of the afternoon was the men's race. It started fast, but began to bunch up at the front at the end of the first lap. Ryan Trebon took advantage of this and launched a massive out-of-the-saddle attack to start the second lap. All the other pro men looked at the Specialized riders, Killen and Sauser, to chase but they hesitated. Trebon worked the lead out to 40 seconds during the next lap and a half, equal to almost half a lap. The race was over. Trebon continued to march out front while the others took turns chasing but it was too late. Trebon took the most decisive victory I can remember in short track history. When in doubt, attack!