2011 Pro GRT #1 at Dry Hill – Port Angeles, WA

    [Follow our 2011 Pro GRT coverage at http://www.sicklines.com/progrt]

    Photos / Captions : Tim Zimmerman

    The 2011 Pro GRT series is underway and the first race weekend is in the books. With Sea Otter looming the following week, some international talent showed up at this opening Pro GRT race.

    For the second year in a row, the Pro GRT DH opening race took place at Dry Hill in Port Angeles,Washington on April 9-10 2011. Come race time however the hill wasn’t very dry to say the least.

    The Giant team & mechanics dodge the heavy rain before the awards ceremony. (Photo: T.Zimmerman)

    Many International pros were in attendance and the Giant Bicycles Team of Andrew Neethling, Duncan Riffle, and Danny Hart took the top three positions for the pro men.

    It was a grand slam for Giant at the Port Angeles stop of the Pro GRT. Danny Hard, Andrew Neethling & Duncan Riffle took 1st,2nd & 3rd respectively (Photo: T. Zimmerman)

    In the women’s field, Jill Kintner, 2010 PRO GRT series winner, dominated and took the win.

    Transition Racing's Jill Kintner jumps to another victory (Photo: T.Zimmerman)

    The rain held off for most of the day until the pro division was scheduled to set off.

    Track conditions deteriorated quickly as rain penetrated the ground (Photo: Tim Zimmerman)

    As the rain came down, ruts began forming as the ground yielded to the tires that bit into the soft ground.

    The track's soggy mess made tear-off's mandatory. (Photo: T. Zimmerman)

    Rude (Photo: T.Zimmerman)

    East coast ripper Richie Rude Jr locked up 4th place.  A great result for this 16yr old who has just signed with Yeti Cycles.  Expect big things if he continues to progress this fast.

    Danny Hart is no stranger to wet weather riding being from the U.K. He took the win for the pro men convincingly.

    Danny Hart stayed smooth on the greasy course & took the win with a time of 2:50:07.(Photo: T.Zimmerman)

    Jill Kintner is accustomed to being on the top spot of the podium. She took the win for the pro women and will be hard to dethrone again this year for the overall Pro GRT title.

    Jill Kintner celebrates her pro women’s win with a popped bottle Photo: T.Zimmerman)

    Andrew Neethling stayed smooth & steady all weekend. It was enough for 2nd place.(Photo: T. Zimmerman)

    Andrew Neethling made the leap to the Giant Factory Team this year and he’s proving himself nicely on his new team.

    Giant Bicycle’s Duncan Riffle charged hard and snagged a podium spot in 3rd place (Photo: T.Zimmerman)

    Duncan Riffle is showing good form early season and he took third place this weekend.

    [Full Results Here]

    Pro Men: [Full Results Here]

    1. Danny Hart 2:50.07
    2. Andrew Neething 2:52.48
    3. Duncan Riffle 2:55.19
    4. Richie Rude Jr 2:56.43
    5. Bryn Atkinson 2:57.05
    6. Mikey Sylverstri 2:57.92
    7. Dean Tennant 2:58.34
    8. Cody Warren 2:58.92
    9. Tyler Immer 2:59.18
    10. Mitch Ropelato 2:59.76

    Pro Women: [Full Results Here]

    1. Jill Kintner 3:16.91
    2. Miranda Miller 3:22.60
    3. Katherline Short 3:37.43
    4. Darian Harvey 3:41.78
    5. Jamie Rees 3:46.99

    Jr Expert Men: [Full Results Here]

    1. Austin Warren 3:04.05
    2. Mark Wallace 3:05.72
    3. Christina Wright 3:08.77
    4. Adam Kral 3:09.61
    5. Max Horner 3:10.39

    Bryn Atkinson, 2010 Pro GRT series winner, carves through the slippery Northwest roots to 5th place(Photo: T.Zimmerman)

    Stay tuned to http://www.sicklines.com/progrt for all the latest 2011 Pro GRT coverage as it happens.

    Next stop for the Pro GRT series is Highland Mountain Bike Park, May 14-15th 2011.

    Video: