Rim Nordic XC #2 had a slightly bigger attendance than the first XC race in late June with some new riders for this season. It was a somewhat overcast to sunny warm day up in the mountains with threat of afternoon thunder storms that thankfully never came. There was a course change to the start loop with used another trail down ridge/creek just east the first race used into a sandy loose U-turn that sent racers out to the big loop. The approach to the finish changed from long flattish rolling dirt road to back up part ways on the mountain and then dropped down a single track in a small creek canyon. The new sections added more rock gardens, punchy climbs, descents, and other technical parts. The distance went from 8 mi to 8.2 miles with about 1000 feet gain per lap. Racers age 50+ racers down to 10 years old raced on the day.
The beginners only did one lap of the course taking on one of the hardest courses in SoCal with most times over a hour with some going over two hours. Sport races had the biggest turnout, doing two laps. Most finishing between hour and half to two hours. Many racers came in after two laps on course at 2 and half hour plus.
Photos & Report by Kenneth Hill / Light & Shadows Photography
[SlideDeck2 id=16319]
The Pro/ Expert varied a bit with some the older age classes doing two laps and the younger doing three laps of the 8.2 mile of the course with about 1000 feet / lap at elevation pushing 7,000 feet. It was between the Expert women for the cash since there was no Pros. Laura Morris (Troupe Racing Co.) had an one minute lead over team mate Wilhelmina Zuckerman after the first lap . The gap grew by the end of three laps into two minutes. Michelle Alan (Team Ninja) was third, 11 minutes behind Laura.
The Men’s Pro race saw a new comer show up for his first race ever at Rim Nordic and take the win. Julien Bourdevine (Team Black Star Racing) and first race of the series second place Miguel Valadez (Bear Valley Bikes) were next together going into the second lap. Coming out the small start loop Julien had two minutes on Miguel on the third lap. By the finish Julien pushed the gap out to almost four minutes finishing in time of 1:51:41 for the three laps. John Nobil of Bear Valley Bikes came in two seconds behind his teammate Miguel to take third. Miguel now sits in the lead of the series going into the stage race with Daniel Munoz of B-Rads Bike Shop/Corona in second for the series with fourth on the day. John Nobil is third place for the series.
Bear Valley Bikes leads the Team Series Points followed by Chains Required and then Team Ninja for the large teams. The small teams saw lots of shuffling due turnout the teams. Troupe Racing is leading with the Cyclery Bike Shop behind, with a huge gap to the third small team, Cal Coast Bicycles.
