Catamount Classic Pro XCT Mountain Biking

The Catamont Outdoor Family Center in Williston, Vt. hosted some of the biggest names in mountain biking in early August when the USA Cycling Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour (Pro XCT) came to town. The race featured 2012 Olympian Lea Davison of Jericho, Vt. riding for the women’s title as well as national champion and Davison teammate Todd Wells.  Amateurs were welcome as well, with races for children through adults.

Photographs – Results.

Saturday began with youth and amateur races, with the pros riding in the afternoon.  Young riders line up on Saturday morning as they prepare to ride some of the same terrain as the pros.

A little mud never hurt anyone!

Levi Kurlander, left, of Durango, CO and Richmond, Vermont rider and Catamount regular Tyler Berliner battle on the first turn of the Category 1 Junior Race on Saturday. Kurlander finished 6th and Berliner finished 10th in their age group.

Tyler Berliner sails over one of the obstacles on the Specialized A-Line.

The men get started, with Great Britain’s Sebastian Batchelor (15)  leading the pack at the start.  USA’s Todd Wells (1) is to his right.

Todd Wells with Specialized Racing flies over one of the A-Line jumps. The spectators loved this course!Airtime!The course had some great features, like this stepped descent. Todd Wells with Specialized Racing leads the pack. Catamount Outdoor Family Center was a great host for this event. The weekend featured some of the top women riders including 2008 and 2012 Olympian and World Cup Champion Catharine Pendrel of New Brunswick, Canada,  left, and  2012 Olympian and Jericho, Vt native Lea Davison (right) Davison leads the women out of the start for Saturday’s Cross Country race. Lea Davison, Specialized Racing. Some of the Little Bellas cheer on a friend and group mentor Elisa Otter. Little Bellas is a girls mentoring program begun by sisters Sabra and Lea Davison. Camels Hump provides the perfect backdrop as Lea Davison flies down the Specialized A-Line. Catharine Pendrell (above) and Lea Davison (below) make short work of the chameleon rock feature.Lea Davison, Specialized Racing.Catharine Pendrell, Luna Pro.Elisa Otter of Montpelier, Vt., get’s some support from the Little Bellas as she begins her last lap. Lea Davison grabs a Vermont flag from a fan as she approaches the finish line, taking first place, two minutes ahead of Catharine Pendrell. Davison celebrates with her biggest fans, the Little Bellas group. Local racer Bobby Bailey with the Dealer.com – Everbank racing team came by on Sunday to compete in the men’s short track event, a day after winning the Concord Criterium in Concord, NH. Durango, CO rider Rotem Ishai (above and below) thrills the crowd while approaching the downhill portion of the men’s short track race on Sunday. Ishai, racing for Jamis, took 5th. And then it was time for the women to race the short track, with Lea Davison once again battling Catharine Pendrel. Davison had the advantage of dozens of cheering Little Bellas to keep her going. There were several lead changes throughout the race, with Davison waiting until the last lap to take the lead for good. Crankbrothers racer Judy Freeman and Opus rider Andreanne Pichette were close behind for the entire race. Lea Davison pulls away for good on the final climb, winning by nearly 20 seconds. On the custom podiums, Catharine Pendrel, Lea Davison and Chloe Woodruff. The crowd got a little taste of that champagne. Stephen Ettinger, center, won the men’s short track event, with Russell Finsterwald (left) coming in second and Jeremiah Bishop finishing third. The weekend wrapped with a special lemonade social for the Little Bellas participants and the women pro riders in the Specialized tent. Lots of great questions and of course, autographs on jerseys.