Mata Wins Title at 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships

10/4/11 - Monique “Pua” Mata added another Stars and Stripes jersey to her 2011 collection, as the Sho-Air/Specialized rider grabbed a convincing win at this weekend’s 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships in Colorado Springs, CO.
 
For Mata, who recently wrapped up USA Cycling’s Pro UET series title and more recently added the US Marathon national title to her resume, the Anaheim Hills resident took back her 24 hour solo crown with a solid display of riding and fitness this weekend.
 
The much anticipated showdown between Mata, Jenny Smith, Rebecca Rusch and some of the other top endurance women riders never materialized, as the Rusch, Smith and others formed a four member women’s team.

Mata on her way to winning a Stars and Stripes jersey in the 24 Hour Mountain Bike Nationals.
photo courtesy Sho-Air/Specialized

With their absence, this left Mata with a free reign to put on a solo riding clinic in the women’s field.
 
“I really wanted to prove it to myself and win the title back,” explained Mata, referring to her 24-Hour Nationals win in 2008.  It’s a title I had won before, but my last couple attempts at this race didn’t end so well for me, so it’s great to get the title back and cap off a great season.
 
From the gun at 12 pm, Mata set a blistering tempo that left her competitors shaking their heads.
 
“I knew I could save a lot of energy aboard my Epic 29 in the technical sections and then I could just relax and ride my own race, commented the women’s solo winner.
 
At the end, Pua had built up a two lap lead over second and third place racers KT DeSantis and Laureen Coffelt of Memphis, Tennessee.