Crash knocks Laguna Beach’s Lopes out of race

A spill by Brian Lopes was one of several crashes Saturday that had a major effect on the outcome of the men’s competition at the Jeep 48Straight Mountain Bike Series dual slalom event at Diablo Freeride Park in Vernon, N.J.

Lopes took a spill off his bike in the second race that knocked the Laguna Beach resident out of the event. The four-time world champion and nine-time U.S. national champion had easily raced by Open Qualifier and 16th-seed Lars Tribus of Milford, N.J., in the first race. Lopes’ fall in the second race allowed Tribus to win.

Lopes finished ninth in the men’s event.

Saturday’s event, which will air on CBS Sports on Sept. 28, was the first leg of the Jeep 48Straight Mountain Bike Series. The series next heads to The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, on Sept. 19-20 and the finale is Oct. 24-25 in San Luis Obispo.

“” Mike Sciacca