Kabush, Wells Will Fight for Points in Wisconsin
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Midwest will host a national pro-level cross-country event this weekend during the Pro XCT stop at the Subaru Cup in Wisconsin.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
By Singletrack.com
As the second-to-last stop of the Pro Cross-Country Tour, the Subaru Cup, presented by Trek, will roll into Nordic Mountain, outside Wautoma, Wisconsin, this weekend with Geoff Kabush (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) leading the men’s standings and Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) tops in the women’s field.
The Subaru Cup is the annual event of the Wisconsin Off Road Series, and is one of five Pro XCT events in America during the 2010 racing season. The series champion will be crowned July 9 through 11 at the season finale during the Carmichael Training Systems International Classic in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Trailing Canada’s Kabush in the men’s category by just five points is American Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing). The two will face some tough competition from riders like third-ranked Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Subaru-Trek), Max Plaxton (Sho-Air-Specialized), and Carl Decker (Giant Bicycles).
Wells won the first Pro XCT stop in Fontana, California while Plaxton won the third race in the series — the Mellow Johnny’s Classic — in Texas. Although leading the series, Kabush has yet to cross the finish line in first. The second Pro XCT of the season — the Sea Otter Classic — was won by Burry Stander.
March 27: US Cup Fontana uscup.net – Fontana, Calif.
April 18: Sea Otter Classic www.seaotterclassic.com – Monterey, Calif.
May 29: Mellow Johnny’s Classic www.mellowclassic.blogspot.com – Dripping Springs, Texas
June 26: Subaru Cup www.wors.org/news – Mt. Morris, Wis.
July 10: Carmichael Training Systems International Classic www.sandcreeksports.com – Colorado Springs, Colo.
On the women’s side, Gould has a solid series lead, with 390 points and a 95-point advantage over Willow Koerber (Subaru-Trek). Other women to watch in Wisconsin include Lene Byberg (Specialized Factory Racing) and Kelli Emmett (Giant Bicycles).
Both Gould and Koerber have been on fire during the international World Cup season. Koerber is ranked fourth in the individual UCI rankings, while Gould stands 12th. The two riders lead an American squad that the UCI ranked No. 1 in the world in its most recent poll, more than 100 points ahead of second-ranked Canada.
As Trek Bikes is the presenting sponsor of the Subaru Cup, Koerber, Horgan-Kobelski, Sam Schultz and Heather Irmiger will have added incentive to do well this weekend. Up until last week, the riders were on the Subaru-Gary Fisher Mountain Bike Team. But a realignment of the Fisher brand will have the team wearing Subaru-Trek racing kits for the first time this weekend.