Giant Dominates Downieville
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Decker's All Mountain win kept the title in the Giant family. Craig (left of Decker), the 2009 champ, was 2nd this year.
;setCaption(document.image_thumb); "Decker's All Mountain win kept the title in the Giant family. Craig (left of Decker), the 2009 champ, was 2nd this year.")
;setCaption(document.image_extra_one_thumb); "Decker set a new course record in the 27-mile Downieville XC race.")
;setCaption(document.image_extra_two_thumb); "Emmett rode her Trance X Advanced SL to the overall women's title.")
;setCaption(document.image_extra_three_thumb); "Craig put his knee injury behind him with an impressive 2nd place overall.")
Decker, Emmett crowned All Mountain Champs
Giant put on a show of force at the July 10-11 Downieville Classic, a popular mountain bike festival in California featuring the unofficial “All Mountain World Championship,” a two-day stage race combining a grueling 27-mile cross-country and a 17-mile downhill race.
Factory Off-Road Team riders Carl Decker and Kelli Emmett each walked away with the top prize, the All-Mountain World Championship title. Adding to the success, Rabobank-Giant rider Adam Craig finished second overall to Decker, proving his form has returned after missing the early part of the season with a knee injury.
Downieville’s All Mountain competition is seen as the ultimate measuring stick for off-road racers and their equipment. Riders must choose one bike for both events. With more than 4000 feet of climbing on day one and nearly 5500 feet of rough, technical descending on day two, success requires a truly capable all-around trail bike.
As usual, Downieville sold out its entries, and more than 600 racers lined up for Saturday’s 27-mile cross-country race. Decker, who chose the 2011 Anthem X 29er—the all-new Maestro full-suspension XC bike with 29-inch wheels—attacked early and rode off the front the entire way to set a new course record.
“I pre-rode the course and I was pretty certain I’d have a trick up my sleeve with the Anthem X 29er,” Decker said. “It’s an old-school course with one big climb for about an hour and then a rowdy descent. I was feeling good so I went hard from the start—I figured I’d need at least a three-minute advantage over Adam at the top; he was riding the Trance X Advanced SL with more travel so I knew he’d be flying on the descent.”
Decker powered to the top alone and held on to win the XC by nearly six minutes. Craig, the defending All Mountain World Champion, finished second to his Giant teammate on day one.
Carrying a comfortable lead into Sunday’s 17-mile downhill, Decker knew the riders who chose bigger bikes with more suspension would have an advantage, but he said the Anthem X 29er’s larger wheels and stable ride characteristics gave him confidence in the rough, rocky, high-speed descent. “It carves through high-speed turns better than any bike I’ve ever ridden,” he said.
Despite crashing once, Decker finished well within his margin and took the overall victory. Craig put in the third-best DH time on his Trance X Advanced SL, which put him second overall in the All-Mountain competition.
Emmett also chose the Trance X Advanced SL for the women’s All Mountain competition. Like Decker, she built up a lead with a dominant victory in the XC event, and then held her advantage in the downhill. In the end, Emmett edged out downhill stage winner Katerina Nash by 24 seconds overall.
Decker, Craig and Emmett now turn their attention to the U.S. National Mountain Bike Championships, which take place July 16-18 in Colorado.
Giant put on a show of force at the July 10-11 Downieville Classic, a popular mountain bike festival in California featuring the unofficial “All Mountain World Championship,” a two-day stage race combining a grueling 27-mile cross-country and a 17-mile downhill race.
Factory Off-Road Team riders Carl Decker and Kelli Emmett each walked away with the top prize, the All-Mountain World Championship title. Adding to the success, Rabobank-Giant rider Adam Craig finished second overall to Decker, proving his form has returned after missing the early part of the season with a knee injury.
Downieville’s All Mountain competition is seen as the ultimate measuring stick for off-road racers and their equipment. Riders must choose one bike for both events. With more than 4000 feet of climbing on day one and nearly 5500 feet of rough, technical descending on day two, success requires a truly capable all-around trail bike.
As usual, Downieville sold out its entries, and more than 600 racers lined up for Saturday’s 27-mile cross-country race. Decker, who chose the 2011 Anthem X 29er—the all-new Maestro full-suspension XC bike with 29-inch wheels—attacked early and rode off the front the entire way to set a new course record.
“I pre-rode the course and I was pretty certain I’d have a trick up my sleeve with the Anthem X 29er,” Decker said. “It’s an old-school course with one big climb for about an hour and then a rowdy descent. I was feeling good so I went hard from the start—I figured I’d need at least a three-minute advantage over Adam at the top; he was riding the Trance X Advanced SL with more travel so I knew he’d be flying on the descent.”
Decker powered to the top alone and held on to win the XC by nearly six minutes. Craig, the defending All Mountain World Champion, finished second to his Giant teammate on day one.
Carrying a comfortable lead into Sunday’s 17-mile downhill, Decker knew the riders who chose bigger bikes with more suspension would have an advantage, but he said the Anthem X 29er’s larger wheels and stable ride characteristics gave him confidence in the rough, rocky, high-speed descent. “It carves through high-speed turns better than any bike I’ve ever ridden,” he said.
Despite crashing once, Decker finished well within his margin and took the overall victory. Craig put in the third-best DH time on his Trance X Advanced SL, which put him second overall in the All-Mountain competition.
Emmett also chose the Trance X Advanced SL for the women’s All Mountain competition. Like Decker, she built up a lead with a dominant victory in the XC event, and then held her advantage in the downhill. In the end, Emmett edged out downhill stage winner Katerina Nash by 24 seconds overall.
Decker, Craig and Emmett now turn their attention to the U.S. National Mountain Bike Championships, which take place July 16-18 in Colorado.
12 July 2010