Georgia Gould, the number one ranked cross-country rider in the world after her recent victory at the Continental Mountain Bike Championships, will attempt to accumulate more UCI points at this weekend’s National Mountain Bike Series opener in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Gould, the current U.S. cross-country champion from the Luna team, won the Pan American title in Nequen, Argentina, on March 11, bagging 200 points and assuming the early-season lead in UCI rankings. Gould’s fellow American Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven), second at the Continental Championships, is currently second overall in the UCI standings.
The one-two finish by Gould and McConneloug in Argentina put the U.S. women atop the world rankings and got the Americans off to a strong start in their effort to land the maximum number of start positions for the 2008 Olympic cross-country race. To secure two start spots in Beijing, the U.S. women must be among the top four nations in combined 2006-2007 rankings. After finishing the 2006 season ranked sixth, they have some ground to make up.
America’s cross-country men are on the same mission. They ended the 2006 season fourth overall, just inside the top-five bubble that ensures the maximum three starts for the men’s race in Beijing.
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The battle between Olympic hopefuls Gould and McConneloug—as well as the pro men’s cross-country race featuring Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Gary Fisher), Adam Craig (Giant), Todd Wells (GT-Hyundai) and Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-Volkswagen)—will highlight three days of racing in Fountain Hills March 30-April 1. The NOVA National presented by Bear Naked-Cannondale is the opening race of the 2007 National Mountain Bike Series, which consists of seven events concluding with the finals at Snowmass, Colorado, August 10-12.
Held at McDowell Mountain Park near Scottsdale, Arizona, the three-day event also includes an off-road time trial, Super-D and downtown short-track on Saturday evening. Scottsdale has a long history of hosting major springtime mountain bike events, and amateur racers will be treated to the area’s classic desert terrain. Another twist for amateurs is the stage-race format. Beginner and sport riders will receive a general classification time that combines results from the cross-country and time trial. Expert and semi-pros will race three stages, including the spectator-friendly downtown short-track on a combined dirt and pavement course.
Nova National Presented by Bear Naked-Cannondale Pro Race Schedule
Friday, March 30
12 p.m. Pro men time trial
12:30 p.m. Pro women time trial
Saturday, March 31
3 p.m. Pro men/women Super D
7:30 p.m. Pro women downtown short track
8 p.m. Pro men downtown short track
Sunday, April 1
1 p.m. Pro women cross-country
3:30 p.m. Pro men cross-country
Look forward to an event photo gallery from esteemed-lensman John Gibson here at www.bikemag.com on Monday.
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