Los Olivios, California NMBS#3 presented by Platinum Performance: Pro Women's XC

Today's race started as many expected with Georgia Gould (Luna) charging to an insurmountable lead. Unfortunately, it would end with America's top Olympic hopeful being loaded into an ambulance suffering from extreme heat stroke in the 100+ degree weather. On a brutally hot day Gould would breakdown less than 2 miles from the race finish. Delirious and throwing up on the side of the trail, she screamed for someone, anyone to go get Dusty, her husband and team mechanic for Trek/VW.
Like the mask of the “Phantom of the Opera” the beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley hides a brutal and monstrous course. With temperatures soaring into the triple digits and hot dry winds that made your mouth feel like a cat liter box, today’s cross country was going to be no picnic. Every racer today displayed exceptional drive and dedication in completing such a grueling race.

The women’s race began just before noon. The women were scheduled to complete 2 laps of the hot, dry course. Temperatures were already high with a light breeze out of the west. Trek/VW riders Sue Haywood and Jenny Smith both agreed today was hotter than anything they experienced in Africa while racing the Cape Epic.

As expected Georgia Gould (Luna) led right from the gun, showing her dominance, once again, on the domestic racing scene. On the first lap, it looked as if the Luna girls would repeat the 1-2-3 from last year this time with Gould, Cathy Pendrel, and Katerina Nash. The Luna girls were putting a healthy gap between themselves and the rest of the field. The only exception was Kelly Emmett (Giant), who has been impressive in 2008, holding her own in 4^th.

Behind Kelly a gaggle of Trek/VW racers were working their way toward the front, this included Lea Davison, Mycal Dyck, Jenny Smith, and Sue Haywood as well as Heather Irmiger the sole representative of Gary Fisher/Subaru.

At the end of lap one the heat was already taking a toll. Nash began to fade quickly back in the pack. Meanwhile, Emmett was surging ahead moving past Nash and making quick work of Pendrel.

While this was going on Gould continued to move farther and farther into the lead. She seemed to be the only one untouched by the heat. At the halfway point of lap one she had a one minute advantage. That would increase to two by the end of lap one and at halfway on the second and final lap she was well over 3 minutes out front. Incredibly, with a three minute lead the soon-to-be U.S. Olympian was attacking each climb as if it were the start of the race, clearly keeping her foot on the gas at all times. Gould displayed no weakness and did not let up until tragedy struck at the end of the second lap.

With less than 2 miles to the finish line the indomitable Luna rider would crumble. On the hottest section of the Los Olivios course riders pedal up a long but gradual hill. They are exposed to direct sunlight and with a slight tailwind the air is stagnant and suffocating. It was here that Gould’s three minute lead would evaporate in an instant.

Emmett and Pendrel surged past with Gould on the side of the trail. Pendrel had overtaken the Giant rider. But a tenacious Emmett simply refused to be beaten. “She [Pendrel] had a gap on me but I knew I was faster than her on the flats and the last part of the course is all flat. I got around her there and just went.”

The petitie but powerful Emmett roared through the tall grass of the final ½ mile to claim her first NMBS win. Pendrel came across in second with the Trek/VW trio of Lea Davison, Jenny Smith, and Mical Dyck taking the final spots on the podium.

Soon after the finish it was clear that Georgia Gould was not coming and that she was not okay. As riders finished they began relaying reports of Gould vomiting on the side of the trail and delirious, screaming uncontrollably for someone to get Dusty (her husband and Trek Mechanic). Race officials and EMS responded quickly getting to Georgia and bringing her down off the course. Clearly still delirious, with husband Dusty at her side, she was given fluids through an IV line and rushed to the local hospital by ambulance. As of 5PM no other reports were available concerning her condition.

Race Notes:

A large crash occurred just off the start line with Monavie/Cannondale rider Sue Butler coming completely detached from her bike. The crash involved 7-8 racers including Amanda Riley-Carey (Kenda/Titus/Hayes) who rode the rest of the race with pain and most likely some broken ribs.

premliminary results:
1. Kelli Emmett
2. Cathy Pendrel
3. Lea Davison
4. Jenny Smith
5. Mical Dyck
6. Heather Irmiger
7. Katerina Nash
8. Rachel Lloyd
9. Sue Haywood
10. Emily VanMeter
11. Krista Park
12. Nina Baum
13. AnnaJean Dallaire
14. Sue Butler
15. Heather Holmes
16. Chloe Forsman
17. Zephanie Blasi
18. Amanda Riley-Carey
19. Shannon Gibson
20. Sarah Kerlin