After riding Saturday’s cross-country in leftover mud from Friday’s drenching rain, riders were treated to a batch of fresh mud during the NORBA NCS #2 short track cross-country at Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia.

The skies opened up at 10 a.m. Sunday, and a steady downpour created slick conditions on the short, fast track, but Subaru-Gary Fisher’ Chrissy Redden and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (RLX-Ralph Lauren) stayed upright and at the front to take the STXC titles.

For Redden, it was a sixth NORBA short track win, and perhaps her hardest fought. Midway through the race, a strong front group had burned off much of the competition through constant attacks. Redden was joined at the front by 2002 NORBA STXC champion Sue Haywood (Trek-VW), Mary McConneloug (7 Cycles), Katarina Hanusova (Luna), Melanie McQuaid (Ford Outfitters), Willow Koerber (RLX-Ralph Lauren), Dara Marks (Sobe-Cannondale), and Shonny Vanlandingham (Luna).

After probing attacks by McQuaid and Marks, things came back together until the there were two laps remaining, when McQuaid attacked again. West Virginia native Haywood was quick to react, and went clear on a counterattack on the course’s first uphill section. Only Redden could react. Coming into the final turnaround, it looked like the local favorite would hold Redden off, but as she hit the final uphill, Haywood was over-geared and a slip of the hand gave Redden all she needed.

The Canadian cut to the inside, and despite Haywood’s efforts to bring her back, held on for a strong sprint win. Capping a strong ride in the cross-country, Hanusova held on for third, followed by McConneloug and McQuaid.

While Redden checked off another short track win, Horgan-Kobelski finally notched his first.

Like the women’s race, the men’s race quickly boiled down to a small group of frontrunners who would divide the spoils among themselves. Saturday’s cross-country winner Ryder Hesjedal (Subaru-Gary Fisher) joined Horgan-Kobelski, Paul Rowney (SoBe-Cannondale), Geoff Kabush (Kona-Clarks), Travis Brown (Trek-VW) and Haro-Lee Dungarees teammates Seamus McGrath and Chris Sheppard.

McGrath made a strong effort that gave him a five-second lead – an eternity on a course where times were in the low one minute range – and lasted for five laps. Kabush led the effort to bring McGrath back and Brown was the next to have a go.

Horgan-Kobelski pulled the field back to Brown, and immediately began his own attack, quickly rolling to the largest gap of the day, just as the race hit the three laps to go mark. With a seven-second lead, Horgan-Kobelski was home free while the chase shattered behind. Kabush held off Rowney for second, and Brown and McGrath rounded out the podium.

Downhill: Kovarik, Streb enjoy road-race-like time gaps
On a course that is known among the pros as one of the most challenging in the world – US, Europe, NORBA, World Cup, anywhere – Marla Streb (Luna) and Aussie Chris Kovarik enjoyed wide victory margins in downhill competition at Snowshoe.

In rainy conditions, Streb, not known for a safety first attitude towards racing, “slowed down to go fast,” choosing to ride conservatively to gain an advantage. It was a strategy that paid off richly.

For much of the morning, Brit Fionna Griffiths (Foes-Azonic) was in the hot seat, having turned in an early time of 5:50.39 that looked like it might hold up as conditions deteriorated.

That all changed when Streb blitzed the course in 5:33.48, lopping off a seemingly impossible 17 seconds off Griffiths’ run. Lisa Sher (ChumbaWumba) scored her second second-place of the weekend, bridging the gap between Griffiths and Streb with a 5:38.51, while French hope and number one qualifier Sabrina Jonnier (Intense) suffered a crash and a gash on the chin that ruined her chances.Kovarik’s victory mimicked Streb’s in several ways. The Aussie rode conservatively to stay on-line – and crash free – throughout the course, and, like Streb, his time elicited gasps at the finish line. Before Kovarik hit the finish, the top four positions were occupied by riders in the 4:44 range. Kovarik lowered that mark by 12 seconds with a 4:32.59 to stay in the hot seat through the finish and the victory. South African Greg Minnaar, fresh off a solid day in the mountain cross took the second spot with a 4:36.09, followed by John Waddell (ITS-Santa Cruz), Joel Panozzo (WTB-Santa Cruz) and Poomans.NORBA NCS #2, June 15
Snowshoe Mountain, WV
Pro Men Short Track XC
1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, RLX-Ralph Lauren, 2. Geoff Kabush (Can),Kona-Clarks
3. Paul Rowney (Aus), SoBe-Cannondale
4. Travis Brown, Trek-VW
5. Seamus McGrath (Can), Haro-Lee Dungarees
6. Chris Sheppard (Can), Haro-LeeDungarees
7. Ryder Hesjedal, Subaru-Gary Fisher
8. Doug Swanson, Trek-VW-JBL
9. Todd Wells, Mongoose-Hyundai
10. Jeff Hall, Salsa CyclesPro Women Short Track XC
1. Chrissy Redden, Subaru-Gary Fisher
2. Susan Haywood, Trek-VW
3.Katerina Hanusova (CZR), Luna
4. Mary McConneloug, Seven Cycles
5. MelanieMcQuaid, Ford Outfitters
6. Dara Marks, SoBe-Cannondale
7. Willow Koerber,RLX-Ralph Lauren
8. Shonny Vanlandingham, Luna
9. Lanie Mason, Cane Creek
10. Trish Sinclair, Gearsracing.comPro Men Downhill
1.
Chris Kovarik (Aus), Intense-Fox, 4:32:59
2. Greg Minnaar(RSA),Haro-Lee Dungarees, 4:36:09
3. John Waddell (Aus), ITS-Santa Cruz, 4:39:94
4. JoelPanozzo (Aus), WTB-Santa Cruz, 4:42:92
5. Julian Poomans, Foes-Azonic,4:44:37
6. Kirt Voreis, Team Allride, 4:44:49
7. Dustin Adams (Can),Giant-Pearl Izumi, 4:44:64
8. John Kircaldie (NZL), Maxxis, 4:44:79
9.Jared Rando (Aus), Giant-Pearl Izumi, 4:46:14
10. Nathan Rankin (NZL),Tioga-Orange, 4:49:28Pro Women Downhill
1. Marla Streb, Luna, 5:33:48
2. Lisa Sher, ChumbaWumba, 5:38:51
3. Fionna Griffiths (GBR), Foes-Azonic, 5:50:39
4. Missy Giove, Foes,5:52:31
5. Kathy Pruitt, Luna, 5:58:78
6. Dawn Bourque, Dried Plums-Orbitz,6:03:82
7. Melissa Buhl, KHS, 6:05:85
8. Mio Suemasa (JPN), Trek-VW,6:16:46
9. Tracy Moseley (GBR), Kona-Clarks, 6:41:93
10. Claire Buchar(Can), Balfa Cycles, 6:57:70