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Wicks, Gould score wins in Fontana STXC
Rest pays off for Wicks
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Barry Wicks’ transition from top-tier cyclocrosser to mountain bike strongman appears to be going well.
The 26-year-old Kona rider, already a household name on the domestic ‘cross scene, took his first-ever NMBS victory at Sunday’s short-track in Fontana, California. Wicks out-sprinted breakaway companion Adam Craig (Giant) to take the STXC win and then followed up the victory with another win, again out sprinting Craig to take the Super D title.
“Two wins in one day is pretty sweet — I feel kind of bad I had to punk Adam twice,” said Wicks, who lives and trains in Santa Cruz, California.
Georgia Gould (Luna) grabbed her second victory of the weekend, winning the women’s short track ahead of teammate Katerina Nash. The women’s race produced a surprise podium, as Canadian Wendy Simms (Kona) grabbed third place ahead of countrywoman Mical Dyck (Trek Bicycle Store). Utahan Kathy Sherwin (Titus-Kenda) rounded out the top five.
Wicks’ victory came one day after he was the chief animator in the NMBS’s 2008 cross-country opener — Canadian Geoff Kabush grabbed that race win while Wicks, who admitted he twisted the throttle too early, faded to fifth. But the show of fitness bodes well for Wicks’ 2008 campaign, which for the first time in the 26-year-old’s career, is aimed firmly at mountain-bike racing. In seasons past, Wicks focused evenly on the mountain bike and cyclocross circuits. He came into each year’s early mountain bike season still reeling from his ’cross campaign, and spent much of the season’s first half trying to find his legs.
This year, however, Wicks skipped the 2008 UCI cyclocross world championships, instead ending his season after the 2007 national championships in mid-December. The extra rest seems to have paid off.
“It feels good to come into these races fresh — I haven’t done much intensity yet, but I’ve been training for two months already,” Wicks said. “[teammate] Ryan [Trebon] was pretty wrecked after ’cross and he’s just building up right now.”
Trebon, who usually finds his form in June and July, proved to be a key element in Wicks’ victory, grabbing the front of the field from the starting line and stringing things out for three laps. Another teammate, Kris Sneddon, then took over, powering around the course, which spun up the mountain cross course before sending riders on a rocky descent. When Sneddon pulled off, Wicks got his gap.
“I looked back and had 15 meters or so and just decided to put my head down and go for it,” Wicks said. “I knew it was still pretty early. I didn’t really attack I just kind of rode away.”
With no one willing to chase Wicks, the 2006 national short track champion rode solo out front for the lion’s share of the race. Craig bridged up to him with two laps to go, but the Kona rider proved to have the punch to win it at the end.
The victory stands as a major confidence boost for Wicks, who is heading to Europe for his first-ever campaign on the UCI World Cup. Wicks will ride next weekend’s NMBS round in Fountain Hills, Arizona before joining Kabush, Craig, Plaxton, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Todd Wells at the World Cup opener in Houffalize, Belgium on April 21.
2008 Fontana NMBS
Short Track (Unofficial)
Men
1. Barry Wicks, Kona
2. Adam Craig, Giant
3. Geoff Kabush (Can), Maxxis
4. Max Plaxton (Can), Rocky Mountain
5. Ross Schnell, Trek-Volkswagen
Women
1. Georgia Gould, Luna
2. Katerina Nash (Cz), Luna
3. Wendy Simms (Can), Kona
4. Mical Dyck (Can), Trek Bicycle Store
5. Kathy Sherwin, Titus-Kenda
