Downieville Classic: Saturday XC

The Downieville Classic's XC race on Saturday kicked off under sunny skies at the base of California's Sierra Buttes. Record snowpack shortened the XC course by five miles. Photo Seth Lightcap

If you're racing the All-Mountain category (XC and DH) the rig you ride on Saturday (XC) is the rig you ride on Sunday (DH). Racers must weigh their bikes prior to the start of each day's race. Photo Seth Lightcap

Local Truckee-Tahoe powerhouse Team Marco Polo-Strava was out in force and ended up placing several riders in the top 25. Photo Seth Lightcap

Turnout for the race was a bit down this year but the start line for Saturday's XC was still the typical melee of racers jockeying for position. Photo Seth Lightcap

"Fast All-Mountain guys come to the front!" Some who showed up were last year's champion Carl Decker (Giant) and Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air). Photo Seth Lightcap

Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air) led Carl Decker (Giant) by a bike length at the top of the grueling, 8-mile climb. Photo Seth Lightcap

Lingering snow at the top of Packer Saddle forced the riders to stay on the road instead of dropping into the Sunrise trail after the top aid station. Photo Seth Lightcap

Lovely fans rallied the racers at the top of the 8-mile, 3,000-foot climb. Photo Seth Lightcap

A Team Giant rider in the women's XC. Photo Seth Lightcap

Less than hundred yards from the top of the climb racers gave it their all. Photo Seth Lightcap

XC racers hit the downtown finish line in record time due to the shortened course. Photo Seth Lightcap

Downieville day-one reality on display. Photo Seth Lightcap

"So I went to pass this tandem..." Time to tell the day's race stories. Photo Seth Lightcap

Time to make a little trouble in the streets of Downieville. Photo Seth Lightcap