2004 Hyundai Sea Otter Classic

Photo: Justin Kosman

The Sea Otter Classic is a dizzying display of all things two wheels, where world champions fight screaming kids and soccer moms for port-o-potties and spectators can watch elite cross-country, dual-slalom, road and trials competitions simultaneously. That itself is a lot to take in. Add the 200-plus vendors and the weekend's 48,000 attendees and even if you're not sporting a number plate, you're guaranteed an action-packed, brutally tiring weekend.

The 2004 edition of the Otter had nearly 200 classes of competitions, but the Downhill Domination Gravity Omnium generated the most buzz. The top gravity stars from around the globe battled in dual slalom, downhill and mountain cross to be named the best all-around gravity athlete.

In the Omnium, Australian Mick Hannah (Haro/Adidas) outraced the likes of Wade Bootes, Cedric Gracia, Mike King, Eric Carter and Nathan Rennie to take two of the three events. In fact, the only rider to stand in Hannah's way was BMX prodigy Donny Robinson (Avent). Robinson was aboard a loaner bike that he'd never ridden before and Sea Otter was Robinson's first mountain bike race ever. Twenty-year old Robinson won Sunday afternoon's mountain cross with style, proving he's a force to be reckoned with. But all the style in the world couldn't overcome Hannah's huge time gap to win the overall. Hannah and the rest of the pro field are undoubtedly hoping Robinson stays on the BMX circuit.

Omnium-winner Mick Hannah in the dual-slalom finals. Photo: Justin Kosman

Downhill Domination Gravity Omnium men's overall results:
1. Mick Hannah (Haro/Adidas)
2. Mike King (Haro/Adidas)
3. Wade Bootes (Trek-Volkswagen)

Boosted by her mountain-cross win, Tara Llanes (Giant/Pearl Izumi) slipped by France's Sabrina Jonnier (Intense) by one point for the overall title on the women's side. Llanes didn't dominate the weekend quite like Hannah--Marla Streb (Luna) took the downhill and Jonnier won Saturday's dual slalom--but Llanes stayed consistent, staying on the podium for all three events.

Downhill Domination Gravity Omnium women's overall results:
1. Tara Llanes (Giant-Pearl Izumi)
2. Sabrina Jonnier (Intense)
3. Marla Streb (Luna)

BMX'er Donny Robinson won the mountain-cross race in his first mountain bike competition ever. Photo: Justin Kosman

It wasn't all about the full-face helmet crowd at the Otter, the top XC racers from around the globe showed up to throw down and get some UCI points, this being an Olympic year and all. As expected, Filip Meirhaeghe ruled the four-day PlayStation 2 MTB Stage Race. It all started with the world marathon XC champion, Thomas Frischknecht (Swiss Power), winning the half-road, half-dirt "Super XC race." Frischknecht rolled to victory on semi-slick tires, while XC world champion Filip Meirhaeghe (Specialized) opted for full slicks. Meirhaeghe clearly suffered in the dirt, but still managed to finish third. Frischknecht stayed the GC leader after day two's six-mile time trial, with Seamus McGrath (Haro/Adidas) taking the stage. Meirhaeghe finished a minute back on the short time trial and dropped to sixth overall.

By the time Saturday's short-track XC came around, Meirhaeghe started to turn it on. He blasted off the front and finished 17 seconds ahead (a huge gap for the short, 23-minute stage). Going into the last stage, the 36-mile cross country, Meirhaeghe was still 14 seconds back from McGrath and fifth overall, but Sunday he proved what it takes to be champion of the world. Meirhaeghe easily rode away from a group consisting of last year's winner, Roland Green (Trek), and Frischknecht--only Geoff Kabush (Maxxis) managed to keep the champ's wheel. After relentless attacks, Kabush couldn't pull away and Meirhaeghe cruised to victory 16 seconds ahead and 1:18 over third-place finisher, Liam Killen (Subaru-Gary Fisher).

PlayStation 2 MTB Stage Race overall men's results:
1. Filip Meirhaeghe (Specialized)
2. Geoff Kabush (Maxxis)
3. Liam Killen (Subaru-Gary Fisher)

Tara Llanes in the dual-slalom finals. She took first place in the overall Omnium. Photo: Justin Kosman

For the women's PlayStation 2 MTB Stage Race, Alison Dunlap (Luna) took her third straight win at Sea Otter. Dunlap and her team (Luna) clearly dominated the event, winning three of the four stages. The only interference came from Canadian Kiara Bisaro (Gears Racing), who won the time trial; even then Dunlap was only four seconds back and in second place. On the final stage, the 36-mile cross country, Dunlap led her teammate Katerina Hanusova to victory in a five-up sprint to the line.

PlayStation 2 MTB Stage Race overall women's results:
1. Alison Dunlap (Luna)
2. Kiara Bisaro (Gears Racing)
3. Katerina Hanusova (Luna)