With only one event left in the Chevy Trucks National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) National Championship Series, Gary Fisher-Saab ranks first in the NORBA Pro Team standings.

Gary Fisher-Saab is comprised of '96 Olympic gold medalist Paola Pezzo from Italy, 2000 Australian Olympian Mary Grigson, 2000 Canadian Olympian Chrissy Redden, Russian national champion Pavel Tcherkassov, '98 junior world championship silver medalist Ryder Hesjedal from Canada, and Tour de France veteran Andy Bishop from Williston, Vt.

The American-based squad has had a dominant presence in the 2000 Chevy Trucks NORBA Nationals, with all six team members competing in at least one national event. Gary Fisher-Saab team members lead three of the national series disciplines. Grigson is first overall in the women's cross-country, Tcherkassov is in front in the men's short-track cross-country and Redden leads the women's short-track cross-country.

Gary Fisher-Saab team manager Scott Daubert said the team standings were not necessarily one of the team's goals this year, but that the number-one ranking is evidence of outstanding teamwork.

"We take pride in that we are such a united family. Everyone on the team stays in one condo and works together as a team unit," Daubert said. "Leading the team standings is a reflection of our team and of each team member pulling their own weight."

Grigson has won three of the four 2000 Chevy Trucks NORBA National cross-country races thus far, and has firm hold on the overall series title going into the finals, Sept. 8-10 at Mammoth Mountain, Ca.

"Everything is our event," Grigson said when questioned about her and Redden's domination in the short-track cross-country.

"We've won almost everything in the short-track this year," echoed Redden, who won rounds three and four of short-track cross-country series.

Redden won her second-career NORBA national cross-country in Mount Snow, Vt., earlier this year. Due to her Olympic training schedule with the Canadian team, Redden will miss the series finals and is likely to lose the overall lead.

Pezzo made her short-track cross-country debut at the Mount Snow, Vt., race this year. The Italian hung with her teammates Redden and Grigson at the front until a flat tire took her out early on.

Bishop has been a staple on the national circuit, but will retire from full-time cycling at the end of this year. The Vermont resident has been featured on Outdoor Life Network's coverage of the Chevy Trucks NORBA Nationals, wearing a point-of-view camera in the short-track cross-country events.

TEAM STANDINGS
2000 CHEVY TRUCKS NORBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (after 4 of 5 events)

1. Gary Fisher-Saab, 506 points
2. Haro-Lee Dungarees, 290
3. Team GT, 271
4. Volvo-Cannondale, 254
5. RLX Polo Sport, 250
6. Team Koulius Zaard, 234
7. Trek-Volkswagen, 223
8. Schwinn Toyota RAV4, 209
9. SoBe/HeadShok, 184
10. Mongoose Pro Factory Team, 159
11. Intense, 148
12. Giant Global Team, 118
13. Cane Creek, 106
14. Tomac, 77
15. Subaru-Specialized, 71
16. Cheri Elliott/Maxxis/ODI, 59
17. Nantucket Nectars-Specialized, 49
18. Team Dirtworks, 26
19. Team Jamis, 14