Kabush and Nash aim to defend US Cup leads at Fontana

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Katerina Nash leading Luna team-mate Catharine Pendrel up the longest climb during lap two(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)

Coming just one week after round 2 of the 2014 USA Cycling US Cup Series presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group in Bonelli Park, Fontana will host round 3 of the world-class mountain bike race series. Top racers, such as Bonelli Park winners Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox Racing) and Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team), will be on the start line in Fontana, California, on Saturday, March 22.

Nash is ranked number one among the women with 80 points after winning both the Mellow Johnny's Classic and Bonelli Park. Her teammate Catharine Pendrel is second with 64 points while Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing) has moved up to third overall with 57 points. Daniela Campuzano (Mexican National Team) has 49 points in fourth while Geogia Gould (Luna Pro Team) rounds out the top five with 47 points.

Among the other North Americans to watch are Canadian Max Plaxton (Cannondale Factory Racing), American Todd Wells (Specialized Racing) and American Stephen Ettinger (BMC). Wells won in Fontana in 2010 and 2013 while Plaxton earned the victory there in 2011. Both riders are highly motivated to do well in the series, with Plaxton now sitting in second place overall after his third place Bonelli Park finish and Wells in third place overall after his fourth place Bonelli Park finish. US Cross Country National Champion Ettinger missed round 1, but came on strong in round 2 as the second-best placed American.

After winning both the cross country and short track races at Bonelli Park and the USA Cycling US Cup series opener at Mellow Johnny's, Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) is undoubtedly the woman to beat in round 3 in Fontana. She'll again have the support of her super strong teammates Catharine Pendrel of Canada and Geogia Gould of the United States. Between the three Luna ladies, they've got three of the top five spots in the USA Cycling US Cup Pro Series covered.

Though it is essentially an urban race, the venue at Southridge Park in Fontana is much closer to the edge of the Los Angeles metropolis - nearly in the desert. The "classic" mountain bike course covers 3.5 miles and has 650 feet of climbing per lap and features smooth, flowing singletrack on a bald, treeless hill. It also includes lots of rocks and roots, which creates a racing experience unlike any other presently found within the US Cup circuit.

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Elite men US Cup Series standings after two rounds
#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result	Header Cell - Column 3
1	Geoff Kabush(Scott 3 Rox Racing)	77	pts
2	Max Plaxton(Cannodale Factory Team)	64	Row 1 - Cell 3
3	Todd Wells(Specialized Factory Racing)	56	Row 2 - Cell 3
4	Jeremiah Bishop(Sho-Air/Cannondale)	45	Row 3 - Cell 3
5	Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez(Trek Factory Racing Team)	37	Row 4 - Cell 3
6	Derek Zandstra(Scott 3 Rox Racing)	37	Row 5 - Cell 3
7	Benjamin Sonntag(Stans No Tubes Elite Racing)	33	Row 6 - Cell 3
8	Marco Aurelio Fontana(Cannondale Factory Racing)	28	Row 7 - Cell 3
9	Spencer Paxson(Kona)	28	Row 8 - Cell 3
10	Manuel Fumic(Cannondale Factory Racing)	26	Row 9 - Cell 3
11	Payson Mcelveen(USA U23)	25	Row 10 - Cell 3
12	Adam Morka(WFP Coaching/Trek Bikes)	25	Row 11 - Cell 3
13	Stephen Ettinger(BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team)	24	Row 12 - Cell 3
14	Russell Finsterwald(Sram/Troy Lee Designs Race Team)	21	Row 13 - Cell 3
15	Kris Sneddon(Kona)	20	Row 14 - Cell 3
16	Alex Grant(Sho-Air/Cannondale)	20	Row 15 - Cell 3
17	Troy Wells(Team Cliff Bar)	18	Row 16 - Cell 3
18	Raphael Gagne(Rocky Mountain Factory)	18	Row 17 - Cell 3
19	Tony Aguirre(Platinum X)	17	Row 18 - Cell 3
20	Cameron Jette(Scott-3 Rox Racing)	17	Row 19 - Cell 3
21	Sam Schultz(Sho-Air/Cannondale)	16	Row 20 - Cell 3
22	Carl Decker(Giant Factory Team)	15	Row 21 - Cell 3
23	Jason Sager(Backcountry.Com)	14	Row 22 - Cell 3
24	Ryan Trebon(Sho-Air/Cannondale)	14	Row 23 - Cell 3
25	Kerry Werner(BMC Project Dirt)	13	Row 24 - Cell 3
26	Casey Williams(Whole Athlete/Specialized)	13	Row 25 - Cell 3
27	Mitchell Hoke(The Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes MTB)	13	Row 26 - Cell 3
28	Rotem Ishay(Team Jamis Bikes)	12	Row 27 - Cell 3
29	Hector Fernando Riveros	11	Row 28 - Cell 3
30	Miguel Valadez Ortiz(Bear Valley Bikes)	10	Row 29 - Cell 3
31	Skyler Taylor(Bear Development Team)	10	Row 30 - Cell 3
32	Elliot Reinecke(Velo Hangar/Focus Bikes)	10	Row 31 - Cell 3
33	Gareth Feldstein(Muscle Milk)	10	Row 32 - Cell 3
34	Ernest Watenpaugh	10	Row 33 - Cell 3
35	Michael Hosey(Marin Factory)	10	Row 34 - Cell 3
36	Craig Wohlschlaeger(Giant Bicycle)	10	Row 35 - Cell 3
37	Ryan Geiger(Topix-Frm Factory Race Team)	10	Row 36 - Cell 3
38	Menso De Jong(Team Clif Bar Cylcing)	10	Row 37 - Cell 3
39	Bryan Alders(Marin Bikes Factory Team)	10	Row 38 - Cell 3
40	Cole Oberman(Rare Disease Cycling.org)	10	Row 39 - Cell 3
41	Joseph Maloney(Ks Energy Services/Team Wisconsin)	10	Row 40 - Cell 3
42	Tom Sampson	10	Row 41 - Cell 3
43	Dan Wolf(Old Line Velo)	10	Row 42 - Cell 3
44	Tj Woodruff(Backcountry.Com)	10	Row 43 - Cell 3
45	Rocky Gingg(Momentum Endurance)	10	Row 44 - Cell 3
46	Madison Matthews(Toasted Head Racing/Gu Energy)	10	Row 45 - Cell 3
47	William Melone(Riverside Racing)	10	Row 46 - Cell 3
48	Chris Baddick(The Gear Movement/Epic Pro Cycling)	10	Row 47 - Cell 3
49	Keegan Swenson(Cannondale Facotry Team)	10	Row 48 - Cell 3
50	Alex Wild(Trail Head Racing)	10	Row 49 - Cell 3
51	Braden Kappius(Team Clif Bar)	10	Row 50 - Cell 3
52	Kalan Beisel(Giant-Tuff Shed)	10	Row 51 - Cell 3
53	David Flaten(Giant Factory North East Pro Team)	10	Row 52 - Cell 3
54	Tristan Uhl(787 Racing)	10	Row 53 - Cell 3
55	Sepp Kuss(BMC Project Dirt)	10	Row 54 - Cell 3
56	Ryan Woodall(The Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes MTB)	10	Row 55 - Cell 3
57	Hector Rivers	9	Row 56 - Cell 3
58	Jeremy Martin	6	Row 57 - Cell 3
59	Gustavo Pedroza(Ellin Cycling Team)	5	Row 58 - Cell 3
60	Brodie Stringer(Team Baghouse)	5	Row 59 - Cell 3
61	Jordan Kahlenberg(Giant Mid-Atlantic)	5	Row 60 - Cell 3
62	Lucas Newcomb(Bear Development Team)	5	Row 61 - Cell 3
63	Michael Broderick(Kenda/Stans No Tubes)	5	Row 62 - Cell 3
64	Noah Tautfest(Bicycle Express/Kona)	5	Row 63 - Cell 3
65	Jarred Jordan	5	Row 64 - Cell 3
66	Eliel Anttila(UC Berkeley)	5	Row 65 - Cell 3
67	Antoine Caron(Specialized Racing Canada)	5	Row 66 - Cell 3
68	Joel Titius(Socal Endurance)	5	Row 67 - Cell 3
69	Evan Guthrie(Norco Factory Team)	5	Row 68 - Cell 3
70	Trey Jarno(Bear Valley Bikes)	5	Row 69 - Cell 3
71	Jack Hinkens(BMC MTB Development Team US)	5	Row 70 - Cell 3
72	Christopher Hamlin	5	Row 71 - Cell 3
73	Alexandre Vialle(Espresso Sport)	5	Row 72 - Cell 3
74	Carson Lange	5	Row 73 - Cell 3
75	Aaron Oakes(Bicycle Express)	5	Row 74 - Cell 3
76	James Reid(Trek Racing South Africa)	5	Row 75 - Cell 3
77	Quinn Moberg(Rocky Mountain Factory Team)	5	Row 76 - Cell 3
78	Marco Antonio Escarcega S(Alu Bike-Krbo Cycling Team)	5	Row 77 - Cell 3
79	Jose Escarcega(Alu Bike-Krbo Cycling Team)	5	Row 78 - Cell 3
80	Christopher Wieczorek(Total Cyclist)	5	Row 79 - Cell 3
81	Sergio Hernandez(Incyle-Predator Components)	5	Row 80 - Cell 3
82	Charles Jenkins(Khs/Cytomax/ESI)	5	Row 81 - Cell 3
83	David Vaughn	5	Row 82 - Cell 3
84	David Pinedo(Ellin Cycling Team)	5	Row 83 - Cell 3
85	Julien Bourdevaire(Team Blackstar)	5	Row 84 - Cell 3
86	Brady Stewart	5	Row 85 - Cell 3
87	Timothy Rugg	5	Row 86 - Cell 3
88	Garet Steinmetz	5	Row 87 - Cell 3
89	Pete Macleod	5	Row 88 - Cell 3
90	Brian Barrow	5	Row 89 - Cell 3
91	Alex Muecci	5	Row 90 - Cell 3
92	Andrew Dahlheim	5	Row 91 - Cell 3
93	Keck Baker	5	Row 92 - Cell 3
94	Stephane Roch(Swami's/Skliz)	5	Row 93 - Cell 3
95	Sean Donovan	5	Row 94 - Cell 3
96	Drew Edsall(Kenda/Felt)	5	Row 95 - Cell 3
97	Anthony Stein	5	Row 96 - Cell 3
98	Peter Glassford(Trek Canada)	5	Row 97 - Cell 3
99	Hal Helbock	5	Row 98 - Cell 3
100	Juan Carlos Nunez Galuan	5	Row 99 - Cell 3
101	David (Tinker) Juarez(Sho-Air/Cannondale)	5	Row 100 - Cell 3
102	Steve Tilford	5	Row 101 - Cell 3
103	Patrick Chartrand(Rocky Mountain Factory Team)	5	Row 102 - Cell 3
104	Colin Osborn(Honey Stinger/Bontrager)	5	Row 103 - Cell 3
105	Marc-Antoine Nadon(Scott 3 Rox Racing)	5	Row 104 - Cell 3
106	Jason Siegle(Sdg/Felt)	5	Row 105 - Cell 3
107	Ignacio Torres(Turbo Bicycles)	5	Row 106 - Cell 3
108	Barry Wicks	5	Row 107 - Cell 3
109	Jakub Valigura(92Fifty' Cyclery)	5	Row 108 - Cell 3
110	Matthew Turner(Summit Utah Devo)	5	Row 109 - Cell 3
111	Jett Chandler(Doug Chandler Performance)	5	Row 110 - Cell 3
112	Emil Lindgren(Giant Pro Xc Team)	5	Row 111 - Cell 3
113	Martin Cox(Endurancefac)	5	Row 112 - Cell 3
114	John Nobil(Bear Valley Bikes)	5	Row 113 - Cell 3

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Elite women US Cup Series standings after two rounds
#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result	Header Cell - Column 3
1	Katerina Nash(Luna Pro Team)	80	pts
2	Catherine Pendrel(Luna Pro Team)	64	Row 1 - Cell 3
3	Emily Batty(Trek Factory Racing Team)	57	Row 2 - Cell 3
4	Daniela Campuzano Cha(Mexico National Team)	49	Row 3 - Cell 3
5	Georgia Gould(Luna Pro Team)	47	Row 4 - Cell 3
6	Evelyn Dong(Backcountry.Com)	40	Row 5 - Cell 3
7	Erin Huck(Tokyo Joes-Vcgraphix.Com)	37	Row 6 - Cell 3
8	Rachel Lloyd(California Giant Berry Farms)	34	Row 7 - Cell 3
9	Maghalie Rochette(Luna Pro Team)	28	Row 8 - Cell 3
10	Larissa Connors(Marin Bikes Factory Team)	27	Row 9 - Cell 3
11	Mary Mcconneloug(Kenda/Stans No Tubes)	26	Row 10 - Cell 3
12	Mikaela Kofman(Scott 3 Rox Racing)	24	Row 11 - Cell 3
13	Erica Tingey(Team Jamis)	22	Row 12 - Cell 3
14	Amanda Nauman(Sdg/Felt)	21	Row 13 - Cell 3
15	Monique Mata(Sho-Air/Cannondale)	20	Row 14 - Cell 3
16	Christina Gokey-Smith(Colonels)	20	Row 15 - Cell 3
17	Sandra Walter	18	Row 16 - Cell 3
18	Amy Beisel(Liv/Giant-Tuffshed)	18	Row 17 - Cell 3
19	Erin Alders(Liv/Giant)	16	Row 18 - Cell 3
20	Shayna Powless(BMC Project Dirt)	14	Row 19 - Cell 3
21	Candice Neethling(Bundu Bashers)	13	Row 20 - Cell 3
22	Rose Grant(Sportsman & Ski Haus)	10	Row 21 - Cell 3
23	Jessica Rawlins	10	Row 22 - Cell 3
24	Vicky Barclay(Stans No Tubes Elite Women)	10	Row 23 - Cell 3
25	Lorenza Morfin	8	Row 24 - Cell 3
26	Amanda Sin(Scott 3 Rox Racing)	8	Row 25 - Cell 3
27	Kate Courtney(Specialized Factory Racing)	7	Row 26 - Cell 3
28	Cindy Montambault(Cvm 2 Vals)	6	Row 27 - Cell 3
29	Andreanne Pichette(Opus-Ogc)	5	Row 28 - Cell 3
30	Hannah Rae Finchamp(Luna Pro Team)	5	Row 29 - Cell 3
31	Caroline Woods(Marin Factory Team)	5	Row 30 - Cell 3
32	Cayley Brooks	5	Row 31 - Cell 3
33	Jamie Busch(Juliana/Santa Cruz Bicycles)	5	Row 32 - Cell 3
34	Nina Baum(Stans No Tubes Women Elite)	5	Row 33 - Cell 3
35	Emily Shields(BMC Project Dirt)	5	Row 34 - Cell 3
36	Kaylee Blevins(Bear Development)	5	Row 35 - Cell 3
37	Tonya Bray(Paa/MTBchick.Com)	5	Row 36 - Cell 3
38	Lisa Uranga	5	Row 37 - Cell 3
39	Lesley Paterson(Scott Bikes)	5	Row 38 - Cell 3
40	Jennifer Todd(Platinum Performance)	5	Row 39 - Cell 3
41	April Morgan	5	Row 40 - Cell 3
42	Melissa Ross(Faster Performance Center)	5	Row 41 - Cell 3
43	Gabrielle April(Rocky Mountain/Pro Cycle)	5	Row 42 - Cell 3
44	Frederique Larose-Gin	5	Row 43 - Cell 3
45	Deyanira Guerrero(Veloz Team)	5	Row 44 - Cell 3