THE XC PROS SEND IT AT THE U.S. CUP

The course for the U.S. Cup at Vail Lake this past weekend offered a number of sections that had both “A-line” and “B-line” choices. The A-line choices were a little shorter, faster, and more challenging. The B-line choices were the safer route for the riders who didn’t have the skills to take on the A-line sections with total confidence in their ability to clear them okay.

One of the best examples of the two choices was the one with the big double jump after a downhill section. The top riders could have enough speed to jump it if they wanted, or they could go a little slower and ride over it, or they could go even slower and take the go-around-it approach by using the B-line section that ran on the outside of the A-Line section.

Here are some of the approaches used by different riders.  Most of the Elite Women took the safer approach to the big double jumps. That’s Hannah Otto (7) in front here, with eventual winner Haley Batten (1) right behind her. Otto took fourth at the finish.

Many of the Elite Men took to the air, including this Trek rider.

Riley Amos won the Elite Men’s class in the race, taking to the air with skill, confidence, and style.

 

Canada’s William Maltais-Pilote, shown here, had this to say about the jump: ” This year, the Vail Lake US Pro Cup offered racers a new feature that was up to a world-class level. This new jump was really fun to do . . . but it was also challenging because we were forced to do it in a state of fatigue.” That didn’t stop him, though. “I loved to send it every lap of the race,” he told MBA.