Brown and Dunlap

Alison Dunlap and Travis Brown won their first-ever National Championships in Mount Snow this weekend, as America’s best cross-country mountain bikers met for one last time on the national circuit in front of huge crowds and on a great racetrack. While Dunlap took the championship with a victory in the series’ final round, Brown’s title came with a nail-biting win over Steve Larsen. With the additional presence of Tour winner Lance Armstrong, Friday’s XC finals were two of the best races seen in years.

"Armstrong could be a serious contender if he chooses to dedicate more time to fat tires..."

Mount Snow’s XC course was shortened just a few days ago to provide better spectating, but was still one of the most demanding anywhere. The women raced for four laps on the 3.8 mile course, while the men raced six. Track conditions were dry but grippy, each lap taking riders up steep rocky climbs and through fast grassy traverses — a great final stop for the season.

Huge crowds and a massive press corps showed up for the day’s events, partly to see the national finals but also to get a glimpse of Lance Armstrong making his first stateside appearance since winning the Tour de France. Every corner of the track was packed with fans, and the weather was perfect — partly cloudy and slightly cool.

Dunlap Wins Final Round and Locks in Title
Dunlap came into the season as the number-one ranked rider, the World Cup race winner finally in control of her destiny after a couple seasons learning the ropes of mountain biking. Going up against defending national champion and number-two ranked Ruthie Matthes, Dunlap knew it was all or nothing in this final round. To that end, there were 14 points separating the two, meaning it was winner take all with the title going to whichever woman could win. Rarely is a title so clear-cut, and rarely is a resulting race so close.

	Lance Armstrong

Dunlap won by just ten seconds, but it wasn’t Matthes taking second place - it was Australian Mary Grigson. Matthes had stayed with Dunlap for most of the four laps, but mid-way through the third lap Dunlap attacked hard at the top of a technical, running climb. "I could hear her breathing hard," said Dunlap. "So I punched right then, knowing that’s when you’re most tired."

Matthes took third, unable to make up the gap in the final bell lap and conceding the national title with a second-place points total. Canadian Chrissy Redden finished 4th, all four women finishing within one minute of each other. Shari Kain, who just this season came back from a serious back injury, finished 5th after an outstanding ride.

Travis Finally Wins a Title, Green Takes First NCS Win

	Travis Brown

Perhaps no American male XC racer except Tinker Juarez is more recognized than Travis Brown. Nonetheless, the always-stylish competitor, racing in the big leagues since '91, was without a national title... until today. Pulling off a near magic act in the final lap of a grueling six-lap race, Brown took his first championship in an exciting men’s race - thanks to some help from teammates and some luck.

Meanwhile, it’s been a tough couple seasons for 1997's U.S. national champ Steve Larsen. The former road racer was relegated to runner-up status last year after a mechanical prevented him from winning the national title, with Tinker Juarez stealing the '98 crown away here in Mount Snow’s finals. In fact, his '97 national title was the U.S. title, not the outright NORBA crown, as then-Canadian Kirk Molday won that year’s points battle.

So coming into today's final round - again in Mount Snow - top-ranked Larsen was looking to put it all behind him by winning the season outright. His 44-point lead in the overall meant that - in order to lose the title to second-ranked Brown - Larsen would have to finish several places behind his rival. Brown would have to win, with Larsen placing 5th, or if Brown finished second Larsen would have to finish 8th or worse.

	Roland Green

Who would have thought... as it turned out Brown did indeed finish 2nd behind Roland Green, and Larsen finished 9th - losing the championship for the second year in a row, on the same course under similar circumstances.

Brown also had some help, not the least of which came from teammate Lance Armstrong - who had an awesome race for 6th place. Armstrong rode in 2nd position from lap three until lap five, when he was finally passed by Brown. Armstrong nonetheless proved himself a worthy adversary on the mountain bike, especially considering his lack of technical experience. He could be a serious contender if he chooses to dedicate more time on fat tires.

The other factor that helped keep enough riders between Brown and Larsen were a pair of U-23 Gary Fisher riders, who made a last-lap surge for 7th and 8th place finishes and effectively displaced Larsen from the title. As we all know, Fisher and Trek are the same company with the same tech space, and teams are often comprised of both.

Roland Green led the race pretty much from start to finish, and probably would have won his first NCS back in Seven Springs were it not for a double-flat. While he was methodically punishing the field up front, the rest of the drama was unfolding behind him, seasons being made and lost over the course of two hours.

Luke Stockwell also had his best-ever ride for third place, yet another Australian Qranc rider coming to prominence this season. Meanwhile, 4th place went to another newcomer, Geoff Kabush, making his first podium appearance. Jimi Killen rounded out the podium with another strong ride this season for 5th place.

Saturday will feature the short-track cross-country event, as today's winner Roland Green looks for a national title in that new discipline. Also featured Saturday will be the Dual Slalom finals.

— Ari Cheren, eating maple syrup for MountainZone.com