August19, 2002

Lopes wins mountain cross title, leads 1-2-3 Bell sweep at Mt. Snow

WEST DOVER, Vt. - Brian Lopes won the Mountain Cross event and notched his ninth national title at the Mt. Snow NORBA National on Saturday. After the elimination of dual slalom-an event Lopes has dominated for years-it seemed only fitting that he would win the first title in its replacement event, the four-rider-at-a-time Mountain Cross.

Lopes posted the fastest qualifying time in the morning, then returned to cruise through preliminary rounds before facing off against the Haro duo of Mike King and Mick Hannah, as well as the surprising Chris Powell in the finals. Again it was Lopes' lightning fast start that made the difference as the gravity king convincingly added yet another championship jersey to his collection. Behind him, the Bell-sponsored Haro pair duked it out with the elder King edging the 18-year-old Hannah for the second spot.