We've arrived! One long flight from Europe's World Cup DH finals, followed by a scenic drive in our rental car, has finally brought the MountainZone.com cybercast team to the dense woods of Vermont and the U.S. National Championships of mountain biking. After checking into the stylish new Grand Summit Hotel and grabbing breakfast at Dot's, it was time to hit the trail. It's been a long season of National Championship Series races and over the next three days it all culminates on the slopes of Mount Snow - site of mountain bike racing since '87.

	Steve Larsen

We're not sure which is bigger news here today: A) The fact that a wondrous '99 season is about to wrap up with some great racing; B) The fact that the black flies are gone for the summer; or, C) The fact that Lance Armstrong is doing his first post-LeTour stateside race on knobby tires. We have a feeling, however, that these three important bits of information are going to conspire very quickly to make for some awesome racing in the mountain biking capital of the east. And as icing on the cake, let us not overlook the perfect weather and Saturday night's "special" crit.

These are the national finals, the race which names our U.S. National Champions, NORBA champions, U.S. team for Worlds, recipient of the Richard Long trophy and best butt in the naked crit. The finals were originally scheduled for Breckenridge, Colorado, but that event was canceled - giving Mount Snow its second championship round in two years. So we'll be watching to see not only who wins this weekend's events, but also who ends the season with the most overall points.

"Even vacuum cleaner salesmen know who the Tour de France winner is, and that he'll be here this weekend..."

Mount Snow is a special locale for mountain bike racing, with a 12-year history of World Cup and NCS racing on its challenging hills. Huge crowds turn out each season for its special mix of roots, rocks (and usually some nasty black flies), and this year we have a feeling we'll see extra-big crowds with the arrival of Lance. With media outlets like USA Today promoting his return to U.S. racing, even vacuum cleaner salesmen know who the Tour de France winner is, and that he'll be here this weekend.

While we don't want to take anything away from the other racers who are competing for national titles, the importance of Armstrong's appearance shouldn't be underestimated. The timing of the race, its proximity to New York City and the buzz that surrounds it are all very positive for our sport. The fact that he's only raced in one NORBA event and that he may very well dnf (did not finish) this weekend is irrelevant.

THE CONTENDERS:
Speaking of the other racers, watch for these names in the results.

Steve Larsen leads the cross-country standings by 44 points over Travis Brown, with two other men in the running for the title. Mount Snow is where Larsen lost the overall to Tinker Juarez in last season's finals.

Alison Dunlap leads Ruthie Matthes by a mere 14 points in women's cross-country, with an additional three women in the running and 200 points going to men's and women's cross-country winners.

Roland Green holds a 28-point lead over Steve Larsen in the short track cross-country, with Chris Sheppard also in the running. Green is Canadian, giving Larsen a good shot at the U.S. title.

Alison Dunlap has 36 points on Rene Marshman in the women's short track cross-country. Ruthie Matthes is 52 points off the overall lead in third.

	'98 Dual Champs

Leigh Donovan is leading the women's downhill by 18 points over Missy Giove, while Elke Brutsaert and Cheri Elliott are also in the running.

Myles Rockwell has a 48-point lead over teammate Jurgen Beneke. But, as Beneke and third-ranked Steve Peat are not American, Rockwell has a very strong chance for his first national championship.

Katrina Miller, fresh off her second World Cup dual title, has a 60-point lead over Leigh Donovan in the DS. But she is Australian, and Donovan's chaser, Tara Llanes, broke her collarbone in Bromont. Is the title Leigh's?

Brian Lopes has a 200-point lead over Cédric Gracia in the dual slalom, but Gracia is French, so Lopes has an excellent chance for the title if his ankle is strong enough. But Wade Bootes, who just won a World Cup Dual, is also 200 points back, although he has fewer (i.e. no) wins in the series.

THE COURSES:
The cross-country course is tough, but will hopefully remain dry this year. Its laps are 8.9 km long, with 393 meters of ascent in each lap. Men will likely race three laps — plenty of roots, singletrack and a traditional lack of passing make it a strategic course.

Downhill racing is on a rocky, spectacular course. It's 2.4 kilometers long, with 481 meters of vertical drop and an average gradient of 11 degrees. Its starting altitude is 3,500 feet.

Like we said, the weather is perfect (at least it is today), and the courses primed. The start/finish lines have been moved over a bit, out of the Grand Summit host hotel's backyard by about 100 yards. Otherwise it's a similar set-up to that of past years. Cross-country, dual slalom and downhill are slated to begin tomorrow.

So check back here all weekend, and who knows what you may find. And if you're anywhere around Vermont, head on out — we'll save a lobster for you!

— Ari Cheren, his pocket full of schillings and dingers, for MountainZone.com