A lot of big names were missing from the 2008 pro men cross-country race, due to the World Cup in Houffalize, Belgium. The race started under sunny skies with Kona’s Ryan Trebon taking an early lead. Late in the first lap, a pack of seven racers, including number one plate Sam Schultz, Ryan Trebon, Chris Sheppard, Carl Decker, Ken Onodera, and Miguel Martinez, swapped spots on the long rolling fire road climb back to the Laguna Seca race track. At the beginning of the second lap, Miguel Martinez broke away and stretched out a huge lead, eventually winning the race by almost three and a half minutes. Sam Schultz ended up taking second, followed fourteen seconds later by Sid Taberlay. Fourth place finisher, Mitchel Peterson, crossed the line a minute and a half later and Federico Ramirez Mendez took fifth a little over 6 minutes after Miguel Martinez crossed the finish line.
Photos were shot with the Canon EOS Rebel XSi / 450D and the Canon EOS 40D. This article was brought to you by PhotographyREVIEW.com. Learn more about digital cameras and photography on Mtbr’s sister site, PhotographyREVIEW.com!
Great photos! Makes me wish I was there!!!! AND, had an uber-bike to tackle the terrain!
Glad you like the photos. But you wouldn’t need an uber-bike for the Sea Otter XC terrain. It’s not a technically difficult ride.
maybe you need an uber-light-bike for the course then! 18lbs., mabey
Yeah – I would bet Miguel had the lightest bike out there. The Look mountain bike is like a road bike for the dirt. But I am sure I’d prefer a full-suspension for the bumpy sections. That Look frame is probably brutal in the washboard and breaking bump sections.
this year i rode in my first sea otter on a hardtail. so did my son. he took 1st and i took 7th. full suspension just adds weight for most races. i passed may fs bikes on both climbs and downhills.