News: 48Straight Series Finale This Weekend

Mountain biking's top professional racers will go bar-to-bar this weekend in the much-anticipated finale of the Jeep 48STRAIGHT Mountain Bike Racing Series in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Heading into the final event of the three-part series, the field remains tight, with plenty of room for the main contenders to shake up the standings in the dual-slalom contest, set for October 24-25. With the top-three racers in both the men's and women's categories all having a realistic shot at top honors—and shares in the sport's biggest cash payout, with prizes totaling over $100,000—competition is expected to be furious.

In addition to all that cash, many fans will be on hand to see two polar opposites of mountain biking come together: namely Shaun Palmer and Adam Craig. At the peak of his reign, Shaun palmer won a silver medal in the 1996 downhill World Championships as well as numerous other titles as he brought the party lifestyle of his snowboarding heritage to the mountain bike world. Adam Craig is one of the fastest current US cross-country racers. After a year concentrating on XC racing leading up to the Beijing Olympics, Adam has expanded his cycling repertoire by adding some gated-racing at the 48STRAIGHT event. Although they come from very different backgrounds, both riders will be on hand in San Luis Obispo. We'll let you know how these athletes perform and whether we can expect to see them at more adrenaline-fueled mountain bike events in the '09 season.

Leading the pack in the men's 48STRAIGHT series standings is U.S. National Champion Cody Warren of Alpine, Calif., who won the first race of the series at Mountain Creek, N.J. and took fourth at the series' second race at Park City, Utah. Tied for second behind him are 18-year veteran Eric Carter of Temecula, Calif., a former world champion and three-time World Cup titlist, and Czech Republic transplant Petr Hanak of Winter Park, Colo., a champion of the NORBA National Mountain Bike Series.

In the women's standings, reigning world champion and U.S. National Champion Melissa Buhl of Chandler, Ariz., has claimed a second-place finish in the New Jersey event and a title in Park City to put her in the top spot overall. Close behind her is former U.S. National Champion Kathy Pruitt of Santa Cruz, Calif., who won in New Jersey and placed third in Park City. Fionn Griffiths of Great Britain—the lone international athlete with a podium spot—is ranked third in the series, thanks to her second-place finish in Utah.

The top slots are by no means sealed up, particularly in the men's event, with several American and international riders aiming to break their ways into contention. Chief among these is South African Greg Minnaar, who has claimed 35 World Cup titles, a World Championship and two World Cup Championships. Among the other seasoned racers hungry for a win is Brian Lopes of Laguna Beach, Calif. The four-time world champion and nine-time U.S. National Champion was favored going into the series, but fell in his first quarterfinal in New Jersey, opening the way for younger riders such as the 22-year-old Warren.

In the San Luis Obispo event, local professionals and semi-pros will also have a chance to earn a spot in the dual slalom by taking part in the open qualifying round to be held on Friday, Oct. 24, starting at 2.30 p.m. The event is capped at 75 men and 25 women, with registration available at www.Jeep48Straight.com.

There will be a number of pre-race events in the morning on Saturday, Oct. 25, with the main dual slalom races starting at 2 p.m. The awards ceremony will immediately follow the race.