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USA National MTB Series, Event 5

Irmiger repeats cross country win at NMBS 5

Haywood Claims Women’s Short Track Race

Vanlandingham Leads Series With One Round Remaining

USA Cycling Website

Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Gary Fisher) won the pro cross-country race Saturday at the fifth round of the National Mountain Bike Series in Brian Head, Utah.  

Irmiger picked up her first career National Mountain Bike Series win at this race in 2005. Irmiger completed the single, 28-mile loop in 2 hours,1 minute and 57.05 seconds. Luna teammates Katerina Nash of the Czech Republic and Shonny Vanlandingham ( Durango , Colo. ) finished second and third respectively. Newly-crowned national champion Georgia Gould ( Ketchum , Idaho /Luna) rounded out the podium in fifth place in the 49-rider field.

Irmiger’s win moved her into second place overall in the National Mountain Bike Series cross country standings. Vanlandingham remains in first after five events.

National champion Sue Haywood ( Harrisonburg , Va. / Trek-Volkswagen) picked up her second win of the weekend when she claimed the pro women’s short track cross country title ahead of 43 riders. Haywood, who won Friday’s Super D title, finished ahead of Saturday’s cross country champion Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo. / Subaru-Gary Fisher) and series leader Katerina Nash (CZE).

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Downhill / Short Track

In the downhill competition, Melissa Buhl ( Chandler , Ariz. / KHS Bicycles) also picked up her second win of the weekend when she won the pro women’s downhill competition in 4 minutes and 2.2 seconds. France ’s Sabrina Jonnier finished second and series leader Tracey Hannah (AUS) finished third among 16 riders. 

Gretchen Reeves ( Boulder , Colo. / Trek-Volkswagen) won the open women’s marathon category in 3:59:57.43. Series leader Kate Aardel (CAN) finished second and Angela Sucich ( Seattle , Wash. / Voodoo Cycles) finished third among six riders.

Also contested Saturday was the pro dual slalom event. Melissa Buhl ( Chandler , Ariz. /KHS Bicycles) placed first. Joanna Petterson (RSA) placed second and Leana Gerrard ( Lake Tapps , Wash. /Bear Naked/Cannondale) placed third.

Friday evening, riders took to the Super D course. National champion Sue Haywood ( Harrisonburg , Va. /Trek/VW) held on to her commanding lead in the series standings with her Super D win in 14:15.35.