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Milk and Cookies: The Women's Solo race has a new challenger at Big Bear - or is she new? A rider who goes by the sole name of "Ms. Cookie" has taken the lead from "Ms. Consistency", the rider from America's Dairyland, Liz Baumgardt-Kays.

Rumor has it that Ms. Cookie raced - and did quite well - at Big Bear last year without her current pseudonym. In any case, she makes her residence in Pittsburgh (no, not at the Keebler Elves' treehouse!), so she has the technical skills that play out so well on wooded, muddy Appalachian courses.

Whatever her pedigree, Ms. Cookie doesn't yet have a commanding lead over Baumgardt-Kays - it stands at only 1:40 after 4 laps. The class standings remain tight, with Ellsworth's Heidi Shilling only 1:50 adrift of Baumgardt-Kays in third, and Holly Forsyth and Lisa Beckman sticking close to each other, to round out the standings.

LBK will have to win 2 of the next 3 rounds (including Big Bear) - plus beat current series leader Namrita O'Dea at the finale in Moab - to take the series win.

About your reporter
Hi! I'm Paul Skilbeck. A journalist and press guy on the international mountain bike racing scene since 1989, I am your humble reporter for the 2008 Suzuki 24 Hour Series opener. This is how I look in my reporting clothes, but if you roll over the image you'll see that I'm not merely a pencil squeezer.

Before we get started, please don't forget the support by Suzuki of 24-hour endurance racing when considering your next 4-wheeled purchase. Your support of sponsors is what keeps them supporting the sport!