Ronning, Mate Have Their Way With Downhill Course

Mountain biking

Michael Ronning won’t have to worry about making it to his next race. Ronning won the men’s downhill at the Jeep/NORBA Nationals Saturday on Mount Spokane, pocketing $3,000 - enough to last a few races.

Ronning, the Australian downhill champion this year, and teammate Scott Sharples bought plane tickets to the United States earlier this year to test their ability at American racing. With the money Ronning earned in Australia and a some sponsorship from GT bikes, the duo bought a van and set out on the road.

Since then, Ronning has won the downhill last weekend at Downhill Mania in Big Bear, Calif., and now at Mount Spokane.

“I guess I’ll have a bit of a name for myself after this,” Ronning said.

Ronning was quick all day, setting the fastest time in the semifinals. He turned a time of 9 minutes, 56.62 seconds over the 4.8-mile downhill course, followed by Paul Thomasberg at 10:02.72 and John Tomac at 10:04.66.

That meant Ronning would start last in the 50-rider final. Tomac, the third-to-last rider, set the stage with a blistering 9:50.87 final run.

Ronning, already on the course by the time Tomac finished, came across the finish line minutes later in 9:49.07, his victory drawing the applause of a few thousand fans.

“This was the hardest, most physical downhill I’ve ever raced.” Ronning said. “It was brilliant.”

In the women’s race, Elke Brutsaert used a trick she learned while training to take the downhill crown.

Brutsaert’s chain came off during her final ride, but she quickly shifted down and missed only a few important peddles when the chain popped back on. Her winning time was 10:54.82.

“On a course like this, you have to save yourself,” Brutsaert said. “The key is having fun and don’t take it so seriously.”

Marla Streb was second in 11:00.72, despite having the fastest run in the semifinals.

Cross-country preview

Tinker Juarez and Ned Overend are always favored in the men’s race, but a couple of riders could present a stiff challenge today. Don Myrah is a versatile cyclist who is said to be in great shape to conquer the 5.5-mile-alap, rolling course.

Paul Willerton could also challenge because the race won’t require much technical riding, one of Willerton’s weaknesses. Tomac is not entered in this year’s race because his training has been slowed by giargiasis, an intestinal infection.

On the women’s side, Juli Furtado and Alison Sydor are clearly the class of the field. Furtado has dominated the women’s field the last two years, winning 11 NORBA races.

Sydor is the reigning world champion.