Todd Wells saw it coming.
When Wells, the three-time Olympic mountain biker, was named to the United States’ roster for the World Mountain Biking Championships, he said of fellow Durangoan Howard Grotts:
“Howard has been on the podium in a few U23 World Cup races,” Wells said of Grotts. “He has a great shot at getting a medal.”
Grotts proved Friday why many consider him one of the top U-23 riders in the world.
Grotts, son of Don Grotts and Debbie Williams, became the first American to medal in a world championship cross country race in 13 years, taking third at the world championships in Hafjell, Norway.
Michiel van der Heijden of the Netherlands won the world title in 1 hour, 18 minutes, 40 seconds.
Grotts was 1:12 back in third.
Fellow Durangoan Sepp Kuss, son of Dolph and Sabina Kuss who graduated from Durango High School and rides collegiately for the University of Colorado, took 36th, 8½ minutes behind Van der Heijden.
On the women’s U-23 side, Durangoan Kaylee Blevins, daughter of Field and Priscilla Blevins, finished 37th, a lap behind world champion Jolanda Neff.
Wells, the USA national champion in cross country and three-time Olympian, will compete Saturday in the men’s elite field.
“If I can get a top 10, that’s what I’m shooting for,” the Specialized Factory Racing star told The Durango Herald last month when named to the team.
“Of course, I would want to win and would love to get a medal, but I haven’t raced as much internationally and have been doing more long-distance races.”
Wells won the Leadville 100 – his second (2011) Leadville victory – on his mountain bike in mid-August.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
