Mountain Bike Championships Snowed Under

MAMMOTH, CA—USA Cycling is looking for a new venue for July’s National Mountain Biking Championships after learning that cyclists would need skis instead of wheels to race at the originally scheduled site, Mammoth Mountain ski resort in California.While ski areas in other parts of the country gasped for snow, a record 55 feet fell at Mammoth, and a base layer of 20 feet remained as of May 1. The last day of skiing is scheduled for July 4. “Looking at our snowpack today, I can confidently say we are unable to host a mountain bike event to the quality we are all accustomed to,” said Bill Cockroft, senior vice president of operations at Mammoth Mountain. “It was a difficult decision, but ultimately we believe we owe it to the mountain bike community to make sure the event continues at the level and standards expected by USA Cycling,” he added.Andy Lee, media coordinator for USA Cycling, said the organization is negotiating with several venues that could replace Mammoth, and that the decision will be announced shortly. The July 20-23 race dates remain unchanged