Heralded as the unofficial ‘All Mountain World Championships’, the Downieville Classic in Downieville, California has become a much talked about event. Racers compete on the same bike for both the 29 mile XC point-to-point race as well as the epic 17 mile DH course.

Ross Schnell (Trek-Volkswagon) won both the XC and the DH event, therefore solidly claiming the overall title. Not only did Schnell win both events, he set a course record in each discipline. Ross won pedaling his Trek Remedy 9 with a RockShox Lyrik Solo Air suspension fork and RockShox Monarch 4.2 rear shock.

Schnell had this to say about his victories, “It was fun coming away with a couple wins and a couple course records. It was a stacked field with a bunch of big-hitting riders. The record course runs feel really good, because Mark Weir had an open course, while I started 43rd and had to pass 9 guys. I ate dust the whole run, but I did it. I am so stoked.”

Miles Rockwell competed at Downieville for his first time, and finished 4th in the DH. Miles raced on SRAM X.0 trigger shifters and rear derailleur, RockShox ‘09 Revelation fork and Monarch 4.2 rear shock, Avid Elixir R disc brakes, and a Truvativ Noir crankset

Rachel Lloyd (Santa Cruz) won the Women’s All Mountain racing on SRAM X.0 trigger shifters and rear derailleur, Avid Juicy Ultimate disc brakes, and Truvativ Noir crankset. Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkswagon) claimed 2nd place in the Women’s All Mountain event on her Trek Fuel EX 9.5 with a RockShox Revelation suspension fork.

www.sram.com

source: Eric Schutt

July 11-13, 2008 is the biggest weekend of the season for bike racing, river jumping, and robot dancing. Four World Championship titles are up for grabs at the 13th Downieville Classic!

˜Witness legendary Santa Cruz/WTB racers Mark Weir and Jason Moeschler battle the world’s best for the prestigious title of All-Mountain World Champion!

˜Watch crazy aerial tactics at the River Jump World Championships!

˜Dice it up with drunks and midgets in the Pixie Cross World Championships! (There’s still time to sign up and win. Loaner Pixie bikes available at race!)

˜Demonstrate your best slow motion, herky-jerky dancing skills at the Robot Dancing World Championships!

But wait, there’s more: As if four world championship events in one weekend wasn’t enough, the Downieville Classic offers outstanding amateur events as well. There is still time to enter the exceptionally challenging (and rewarding) 29-mile XC race. And let’s not forget the infamous (and completely sold-out) Downieville Downhill that flows down 5,000 vertical feet in 17-miles. On top of all this, Downieville features a bicycle expo, live music, fire dancing, film festival, trail shuttles, group rides and more smiles in two days than an entire season of NORBA racing.

For more information, visit www.downievilleclassic.com and www.wtb.com

source: Dain Zaffke