Press
8/27/08 - The American Mountain Classic presented by Team Sho-Air came to a close on August 24 in Brian Head, UT. By all accounts the four-day stage race was a huge success in its inaugural debut. Riders were greeted with absolutely beautiful crystal clear blue skies, mountain breezes and sunny temps hovering in the mid 70’s all week long. Add to the fact that the four day event provided riders with some of the most epic single track and terrain along with unbelievable vistas; the racing and riding action was off the charts for Pro and amateur riders alike!
Start of Elite Men’s Race
Nearly two hundred competitors and the nations top pro’s came to test themselves against some of the most technical and fun terrain found anywhere in the U.S, with over 150+ miles and 15,000+ feet of climbing over the four day event. Throw in the average course elevation was 10,058 feet and topped out at a lung busting 11,351 feet, racers of the A.M.C. had everything in the book thrown at them.
The battle in the Elite Men’s race could only be described as a “Nail Biter” as Trek/VW’s Jeremiah Bishop and Subaru/Gary Fisher’s Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski went toe to toe over the four-day stage race, with the final stage deciding who would take home the A.M.C. title!
In fact the racing was so tight, you could have thrown a blanket over the top five riders all week long as they vied for the lion’s share of the Elite Men’s prize money! In the end it was current U.S. Marathon and U.S Short Track National Champ Bishop picking up three stage wins and the $2,500 payday over JHK by a scant five seconds. Sho-Air’s Manny Prado rode well all weekend and was rewarded with a third place overall in the event when competitors Colin Cares, Germany’s Benjamin Sonntag and Kona’s Ryan Trebon encountered some “bad luck” on the last days brutal stage “Dark Hallow”, allowing Prado to spring board into the top three overall. Sonntag held onto fourth overall just ahead of Bishop’s Trek teammate Brian Smith who rode consistent all weekend.
In the women’s race, Ellsworth rider Pua Sawicki left no doubt on who would win the Elite Women’s field and claim the $2,500 bounty. Pua stamped her authority on the A.M.C. winning by over forty-six minutes on nearest rival, Trek/VW’s Jenny Smith. Opening Prologue winner Trek’s Lea Davison went on to finish third overall, while Monavie/Cannondale’s Sue Butler took fourth place over Subaru/Gary Fisher rider Heather Irmiger.
In the Elite 40+ Men’s race, mountain bike legend and Monavie/Cannondale rider David “Tinker” Juarez showed he is still going strong at 48 years old, winning his class by over an hour on second place rider Ted MacBlane from the Hub of Aspen cycling team. Rounding out the top five were in the Elite 40+ were Tim Butler, Peter Tempest and Steve Meyer.
A special congratulation goes to Billy Moffett of Virginia. Not only did Moffett win the two men open division with partner Chris Latura (both of whom rode rigid single speeds!) Billy also picked up a new Specialized Expert Epic courtesy of Specialized Bicycles as the Grand Prizewinner of the American Mountain Classic online contest for all racers entered on or before July 15th.
We at the A.M.C. would like to thank the following companies for their support. Specialized Bicycles for supplying a brand new Specialized Expert Epic to the Grand Prize online drawing. Primal Wear for providing all Pro race leader jerseys, along with all Class Champion and race finisher jerseys. Thule Racks for providing a Ridgeline™ 4 and/or a Thule Roof System with 2 Peleton™ Fork Mounts to our runner up online contest winner. GU for providing all Gel’s at the rider feed zones and the town of Brian Head for welcoming the A.M.C. and its riders. Last but not least Kenda Tires who provided a complete set of tires to select class winners.
Thank you again to all who participated in the first annual American Mountain Classic, we look forward to seeing you again next year, along with some new faces too!
