Giant Factory Off-Road Team Pro Outsprints Rival at the Finish Line

Giant Factory Off-Road Team pro Kelli Emmett was training in the snow in nearly March at the team’s annual camp at Woodward West near Tehachapi, CA. Four days later, she traveled to Bonelli Park near San Dimas, CA, and claimed the women’s pro cross-country race at the inaugural Triple Crown All Mountain series.

The weather was considerably better at Bonelli for the first top pro-level race of the season in North America, with sunny skies and temperatures near 80.

Riding her Giant XTC Advanced SL performance hardtail bicycle, Kelli won the race at the finish line, beating Lene Byberg of the Specialized Factory Racing (and also the 2009 cross country World Championship Silver medal winner) by :02 seconds after over an hour and a half of XC competition. The pair was locked in a close battle and never out of each other’s site during the entire race. Kelli’s winning time was 1:33:21

The XC win wasn’t Kelli’s only trip to the podium. She placed 2nd in the women’s pro Super D, and 3rd in the Short Track event.

She tells Giant: “I was pretty nervous going into the race since I felt like I hadn't done much training the past couple of weeks. But, I felt great and rested from camp. I was super excited about riding in shorts and a short sleeve jersey for the first time this year. I felt great being in the warm weather.”

Congratulations Kelli!! More details of the race and photos of the competition can be found at the following websites:

http://singletrack.competitor.com/2010/03/news/plaxton-emmett-take-xc-round-of-triple-crown_6675

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/bonelli-park-ne/cross-country/results