Pan American titles awarded in Venezuela

Some of America's top racers were missing from the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) #2 in Fountain Hills, Arizona. While some were busy at the Cape Epic, others were racing the Pan American Continental Championships in Venezuela.

The US team captured two cross country titles thanks to Mary McConneloug in the elite women's contest and Sam Jurekovic in the men's U23 contest. Cristobal Silva (Chile) won the elite men's cross country and Daniela Campuzano (Mexico) the U23 women's cross country.

The competition opened with a team relay, won by Brazil's Henrique Avancini, Jaqueline Mourão, Filipe Leopoldo, and Rubens Valeriano) over Mexico and Columbia.

Markolf Berchtold (Brazil) and Diana Marggraff (Ecuador) won the elite men's and women's downhill races. In fact, Ecuador took both 4X titles. Marggraff won the women's 4X while Jose Escudero won the men's 4X.

See Cyclingnews' coverage of the Pan American Championships.