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C ody Webb demonstrated that he has the skills to win in dry conditions, as well as wet, by taking a thrilling victory at the 37th annual El Trial de España, held on the dry and g r i p p y g r a n i t e r o c k s o f D o n n e r S k i Ranch, near Truckee, California. The 18- year-old Californian, who claimed his first-ever National win under wet and slippery conditions earlier in the year in Te n n e s s e e , e d g e d C o l o r a d o ' s Keith Wineland by a single point for the win, while Wisconsin's Patrick Smage made it one of the closest ETdE finishes ever, by finishing just one point in back of Wineland for third. With the win, Webb earned the right to have his name engraved on the perpet- ual ETdE trophy, putting him in an exclu- sive group that includes such trials' greats as Sammy Miller, Adam Raga, Bernie Schreiber, Tommi Ahvala, Lane Leavitt and Geoff Aaron. "I'm super pumped," Webb said. "It's an honor to get my name on that trophy with all the great riders of the past. That is what I was really aiming for." And while Webb led the event from the start, he came close to giving it away in the final section of the day. "I started out pretty strong and focused, but there toward the end, it got to me [leading the trials], but I just got through what I needed to, and it worked out," Webb added. "Actually, I am a little shaky in the dry stuff, like this. I prefer riding in slip- pery conditions, because I feel more in control in the wet stuff - it forces me to be more precise. I enjoy freeriding in this stuff, but for competition, I prefer the wet." The El Trial de España event is one of the longest-running and most-prestigious trials events in the United States, and the proceeds from the event go to fund the U.S. effort at the annual Trial des Nations, to be held in France this year. The ETdE is traditionally held in Southern California and hosted by the American Trials Association, but for only the second time ever, the event was hosted by the Pacific International Trials Team at the high-alti- tude venue in Northern California. The sections are typically the toughest the rid- ers face all year and the 7500-foot eleva- tion for this year's event simply added to the difficulty level. As is customary at ETdE, the competi- tion starts out in the morning with a qual- ifying round, from which the top three Expert-class riders and the Pros transfer to an afternoon exhibition round, which is held in close proximity to the main pit area. With this format, the spectators can watch as the top six riders perform on the world-class obstacles. Each rider's score from the morning lap is carried over into the afternoon session; and after a rigor- ous morning competition, Expert riders Michael Wenger, Mike Casper and Reid Davis, joined Smage, Wineland and Webb in the afternoon program. Webb, riding for Sherco USA, held the edge heading into the four exhibition sec- tions, having lost only one point all morn- ing, while the Gas Gas-sponsored Wineland and Sherco's Smage had each dropped five points. Wenger on a Beta led the Expert riders with seven points, while Casper on a Montesa and Davis on a Gas Gas had 12 and 14, respectively. Heading into the final exhibition sec- tion of the day, which would be ridden twice by each competitor, Webb still held a firm lead and looked to be a sure bet to take the win. After two rides on each of the first three exhibition sections, plus his total from the morning, he held a five- point total, which was half as much as Wineland, with 10, and three points bet- ter than Smage, with eight. However, on his first ride in the final section, Webb misfired on a long jump across a gap between two boulders and fell into the void. Only after a difficult struggle, was he able pull his bike out of the hole and finish the section with a three. "I was getting set up for the big gap, and I didn't realize that I was too far to the right," Webb said. "I took off and spun and I tried to stop before I completely released my clutch but I launched myself into the hole and smacked my stomach into the bars pretty hard. Luckily, I am getting pretty tall now and I just put one foot on one rock and the other foot on another and just picked the bike up onto the other side and got out." Meanwhile, Wineland pulled to within two points of Webb with a spectacular, clean ride on his first try in the section. Another misfire by Webb and another clean by Wineland would give the win to Wineland, and the knowledge of this set the stage for a dramatic final ride by each rider. With his fate in his hands, Wineland enter the very technical section for his final ride of the day and he looked good until he took a dab after losing his balance while tra- versing a knife-edged rock. A second dab, near the exit of the section, all but sealed his fate and eased the pressure on Webb. "I was watching Keith ride and I watched him get a two and I thought, 'all right!' " Webb said. "I knew then that I could get out with a three and still win." Webb did exactly what he needed to - avoiding a five at all costs and clinched the win with a three-point ride in the section. Wineland's 12-point total for the day included one too many mistakes. "I was fighting it all day and just tak- ing stupid points," Wineland said. "I cleaned the last section on the first ride and I thought I was gonna do it again but I was getting tired. It was a long day and Donner Ski Ranch Truckee, CA August 5-6, 2006 AUGUST 23, 2006 • C Y C L E N E W S 50 37th Annual El Trial de España STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHAN MOORE Cody Webb pulled off the El Trial de España win with little room to spare.