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MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Dunlap Takes Cross Country Gold
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Cross country racing could be considered the premier
event of the Worlds, and with its Sunday time slot it usually garners the biggest crowds and most attention. And this year was no exception. Although the weather wasn't quite as cooperative during this
long day of three elite races, when it was all said and done, the U.S. had a new champion, it was a North American sweep, a feat not repeated since 1991.
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"After everything that's happened last week,
I really wanted this in my heart. I've never ridden so hard in my life..." — Alison Dunlap, USA
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While Alison Dunlap (USA, Team GT) is always a top contender in the
women's ranks, it is fair to say that she wasn't favored to take the win here in Vail. Not with World Cup Champion Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized) there, along with other World Cup winners Laurence Leboucher
(FRA), teammates Mary Grigson (AUS) and Chrissy Redden (CAN, Subaru-Gary Fisher), and especially defending World Champion Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized).
But Fullana, citing illness, didn't show up in Vail and this changed
things a bit, but not as much as the first lap of racing when Redden, Blatter and Grigson all came around outside the top-10, leaving multi-time champion Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen) leading the race after a
lackluster season, with Dunlap in the top-five. This was going to be an interesting race.
Even more interesting was the woman who took the lead away from Sydor
in the second and final three-loop lap — former contender Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, DBS). Dahle had burned herself out preparing for the 2000 Olympics and only returned to international competition mid-season when she
finished 4th in Leysin. But here she was, adding to her lead in the second of the three loops and looking like a sure lock for the win, as Sydor chased 32 seconds back and Dunlap a full minute behind.
But, as the saying goes, anything can happen in mountain biking - and
it's usually a flat tire. Dahle punctured her tubeless tire on the final climb of the second loop, just a few miles from her first rainbow jersey.
"From heaven to hell in two seconds," is how her coach
described it. Just as racing disaster was befalling Dahle, Dunlap was attacking, and passing Sydor, to take what she thought was second position. "When I passed Sydor I was excited to be in second, but then I
passed Gunn-Rita and realized I was in the lead," said Dunlap. "I thought 'there it is!'"
Minutes later, the enormous American crowd inspiring her with a
deafening roar, "big Al" came through the venue and headed out on one, final short loop - Sydor hot on her tail. Minutes later she came to the finish line first, grabbing an American flag on the way. She
then crossed the line and dropped off her bike just beyond the timing lights. She dropped to her knees in tears and disbelief - overjoyed at her fortune.
"This is the best day of my life except for getting
married," she said through her tears of joy. "After everything that's happened last week, I really wanted this in my heart. I've never ridden so hard in my life, and the crowd was so loud - it was
incredible. Hearing them was just enough to keep me from falling off my bike. In that last lap I've never hurt so bad."
"It came down to the last lap and was exciting," agreed
three-time champion Sydor after she finished 2nd for the silver. "Al got a gap and had some special motivation obviously. I'm happy for her; she's one of the nicest riders and deserves it."
Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida), who rode in 5th position for most of the
day, finished 3rd for the bronze while Blatter worked her way up from 15th to 4th, with Leboucher in 5th place.
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Cross-Country Season Begins in Napa:
After months of training and preparing by the hundreds of elite
athletes that form its ranks, the 2001 Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Cross-Country series finally got underway in the scenic vineyards of the western United States this weekend - with a pair of exciting
races through the grape vines of Domaine Chandon in Napa, California. Surrounded by thousands of spectators who came to witness the first stop of the XC tour, two champions demonstrated their unbeatable form
to claim both win number-one of the season and the coveted Tissot leader's jersey as well.
Spain's Jose Antonio Hermida (Bianchi Albacom)
parlayed his 2000 U-23 World Championship to his first-ever world cup victory Sunday afternoon, just hours after 2000 World Cup Champion and Olympic Silver Medallist Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized)
dominated the women's field to continue her powerful streak of performances.
Conditions were variable on Sunday, as both women and men competed on
the rocky grounds of this famous sparkling wine producer. Rain fell just after the completion of the women's race, as well during the men's race - affecting the male riders as they negotiated the course's technical
sections. Temperatures were chilly for most of the day, with sunlight peeking out only intermittently during each race.
WOMEN:
Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized) has been on a successful
roll since emerging into prominence last season, riding for a new sponsor and - along with all the other top-five finishing women - on a full suspension bike. She had talented company throughout the entire 22-mile
event, as previous world cup winners Alison Dunlap (USA, Team GT) and Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen) pursued Blatter for most of the nearly two-hour competition.
After sizing up her competition, Blatter took control of the race in
the third of five laps, going off the front of the 42-woman field with Dunlap, Sydor and Chrissy Redden (CAN, Subaru-Gary Fisher). Dunlap described the event as a "yo-yo" type of race, where she would catch up with Blatter, Sydor would catch up with her - and then the three would break ranks again at some point on the course.
By the fourth lap it was clear that Blatter had the form to win,
leaving Dunlap and Sydor in a battle for second. While Sydor stuck to Dunlap's wheel and let the GT rider do the majority of the work, Dunlap knew that she would have to make a definitive move if she wanted to shake
her Canadian rival. She attacked, and was finally able to amass a 45-second lead over Sydor, crossing the finishline 30 seconds behind Blatter.
Caroline Alexander (GBR, Specialized) rounded out the
women's podium, finishing 5th after a long race where she was nursing a sore wrist. Alexander, who won the recent Sea Otter Classic, crashed during a local AMBC race last week and severely bruised her left
wrist, making it difficult to ride in Sunday's race.
Quotes:
Barbara Blatter, First Place:
"I had a really good feeling today. First I just watched the other riders, then I decided that I was the strongest today. In
the 3rd lap I tried to make a little gap - it was hard, but was able to do it. Anything can happen, so I just tried to keep cool and not worry too much. It's perfect - and I'm not in top shape right now, so if I
can win here, than that's good."
Alison Dunlap, Second Place:
"Barbara pulled away with two laps to go - she was definitely
the strongest today. I knew I had to drop [Sydor] on the climbs, and went out as hard as I could. And then I just descended for my life, and was able to hold her off [for second place]. I knew I was stronger than
her on the climbs, and that she'd have to pull back on the descents."
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Second stage at Sarantino
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Fullana Complete Victorious Weekend
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Nearly 26 kilometres of racing on Sarentino's technical track
separated the top women from their goal of a win at this second round of racing. World cup champion from 2000, Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized) was wearing the blue Tissot leader's jersey after her win
in Napa. But her teammate Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized) is the 2000 World Champion and was looking to prove that she is still the fastest in the land, after having missed the season's opening round.
Fullana came out of the start quickly with five other top riders, including Italy's
Annabella Stropparo (Be-One) who led the first lap. Blatter was also there, along with Alison Dunlap (USA, Team GT) as the pack moved quickly through the first of four technical laps.
Fullana and Blatter were still leading in the second lap, riding
together with Dunlap and Stropparo just seconds behind. But, by the end of the lap, Fullana attacked and opened up a 30 second lead, as each of the top women were forced to ride solo efforts for much of the
fast-moving race. Top riders in the third lap included Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida) in 4th position, while Stropparo dropped to 5th.
By the fourth and final lap Fullana held off any attacks by her
teammate Blatter, increasing the lead to a minute, with Dunlap 1:45 back and Spitz at 2:30. By the end, Fullana crossed the finish 1:14 ahead of Blatter, and 2:23 ahead of Dunlap.
"I had to find my rhythm, because I didn't really know how
good my shape was at this point," Fullana said. "I watched the other women for the first lap, seeing how everyone was doing, and then I decided that I can win, and then just tried very hard, and it all came out good."
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For Blatter, it was a hard-earned - and well-deserved
second place finish. "I knew Marga was fast, but today she was just too fast! But only one person can win. I hoped she would slow later in the race, but she didn't."
Dunlap was also satisfied with her finish, as she remains
in second place overall in the world cup. "I'm happy with my ride - I struggled here last year and did better this year."
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Fullana repeats in Canada
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Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized) was again the women's
winner at this third round of the Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup - winning her second-straight XC event of the series.
Weather was sunny and warm as tens of thousands of spectators lined
the 7.7km course for four laps of women's racing and five laps for the men - both fields finishing their events at the UCI's new optimum finishing time of two hours. Houffalize is one of the classic events on the
world cup - a favorite of riders and spectators alike, and now features shorter laps and faster action through the Ardennes forest.
Two-time World Champion Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized) was looking to repeat her win from last week in Sarentino, riding hard in the first lap to take the lead and build a gap between her and teammate
Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized).
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2000 World Cup Champion Blatter led early in the first
lap, but said she was a bit nervous - crashing on a steep drop. Fullana then went by her and - with instructions from her Team Manager Gert-Jan Theunisse - attacked the field to build a ten second lead
by mid-lap.
While top-ranked Blatter rode steadily in second
position, a battle ensued for third position between Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) and #2-ranked Alison Dunlap (USA, Team GT). First she passed Laurence Leboucher (FRA)
by the third lap's mid-point, then Dunlap set her sights on Stropparo and the points that come with third place.
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<- Fullana
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Fullana's goals for this season include the World Championship - but
not the world cup title - leaving the battle for now between Blatter and Dunlap. So while Fullana built an eventual lead of a minute and 20 seconds, Dunlap eventually passed Stropparo in a long, gradual climb of the
final lap - attacking hard and coming within 27 seconds of catching Blatter as well and taking third position for the second week in a row.
"It was a hard race and started super-fast," said
Dunlap. "Every point is important, and - fortunately or unfortunately - all it takes is one bad race to change the overall standings."
Blatter held off any attacks behind her and finished in second place
- also for the second-straight week. Leboucher held on to 5th position behind Stropparo, to round out the podium. Overall Blatter leads the world cup by 110 points over Dunlap, Fullana 40 points behind Dunlap.
"I was nervous in the beginning," said Blatter. "I
could see Marga was strong today, so I expected her to win. She's not doing all the world cups, but I am, so I need to do well. For now it's between Alison and me for the overall, so as long as I'm in front of her
I'm OK." Fullana crossed the finish line with a smile, 1:20 ahead of the field. "I like this course, and am so happy to win," she said. "I was behind Barbara and saw she was a bit nervous, so I took the lead early. Ideally I would like to build at least a two minute lead, because anything can happen - like a crash or a flat tire - even with a minute or a minute and a half lead."
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Swiss Racer Blatter Wins XC round 4
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Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) led for the first four laps, attacking off the front early with an audacious move that netted her a 38-second lead over the chasing Blatter. Redden was leading the next group, with
Caroline Alexander (GBR, Specialized) and Mary Grigson (AUS, Subaru-Gary Fisher) next in line.
But a mechanical problem with Stropparo's bike in the fourth lap
caused her to lose over two minutes when her chain wrapped up in her wheel, dropping her to 10th place. She was later disqualified for receiving technical assistance during her stop - contrary to the rules of
mountain bike racing.
In that lap Blatter had been closing in on Stropparo. "I got
to within five metres of Annabella, and decided to go easy on the climbs - especially when I saw the problems she was having," she said. "She tends to go hard early in races, so I was patient. I had been
training especially for climbs, and knew that if you go too hard too early, it will be a problem."
With Stropparo now out of the lead, Blatter attacked to put distance
on her next pursuers, teammates Grigson and Redden - who doggedly chased her less than a minute back with one lap remaining. #2-ranked Alison Dunlap (USA, Team GT) had moved up from 9th position to 5th,
pursuing Blatter for overall championship points.
Then, in the final lap with Grigson in second position and Redden in
third, things changed when Grigson punctured her tyre just 1.5 km from the finish.
This put Redden into second position - while behind her Dunlap passed
Alexander into third position and Grigson returned to finish the race in 5th.
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"I was fast in the singletrack," said
second-place Redden. "It was two hours of smart riding and keeping calm and not losing your head. It was an awesome course, and this is my best finish of the season."
Blatter also liked what she saw, commenting, "It
was a good race, a hard race. But it was hard to train, and it was narrow. I was worried about the start, but kept my speed to keep steady, and had been preparing for the climbs."
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Grigson Wins XC#5
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The Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup featured round
five of the cross-country circuit Sunday afternoon, as Durango, Colorado hosted the final two events of its triple weekend at a college just up the hill from downtown. And, with weather holding and the
sun shining, two riders took their first wins from powerful fields, as thousands of spectators watched on.
Mary Grigson (AUS, Subaru-Gary Fisher) hadn't won a world cup round since the season opener in Napa last year, as she spent the early season recovering from a separated shoulder - and working hard to earn several strong finishes after missing the Napa season opener this year.
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She finished 5th last week after a flat tyre took her out
of second position, and was motivated this week to do even better. And, as a resident of the mountainous Denver area, she is experienced at riding in the relatively thin air of Durango.
Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized) is motivated as well, riding with the blue Tissot leader's jersey as the top-ranked female on the circuit. She won two rounds so far this season, and looked like she might be en route for another win today as she led the women through the start loop and first lap of their three-lap event.
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Caroline Alexander (GBR, Specialized) was right with
Blatter in the early running, as Grigson followed 17 seconds back and bided her time. Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida) was also in the front pack early on, as was Chrissy Redden (CAN,
Subaru-Gary Fisher) and local Durango resident Ruthie Matthes (USA, Trek-Volkswagen).
Grigson passed Alexander in the second lap, catching Blatter and
quickly attacking for the lead at the feed zone. "I passed Barbara - I took the opportunity, and it looked good!," said Grigson after the race. But Blatter wasn't about to be shaken too easily, and
stayed on Grigson's wheel for a half lap until the course dropped down "The Plunge," a steep and technical descent.
"I was first on the climb, and attacked just before the
plunge drop, and got a gap" she added. "From there I just kept my pace. When I'm by myself I can pick my own lines."
As Grigson now rode off alone, Alexander rode behind Blatter in 3rd
position, while Dunlap, Redden and Matthes headed for the third lap together. Dunlap eventually faded to 7th place, setting up the final order of the women's finish; Grigson, Blatter, Alexander, Matthes and Redden.
"I really love it here, it's my kind of course," said
Grigson. "I raced here earlier this year, and learned that you have to pace yourself."
Blatter finished second, maintaining her series lead. "I felt
good, but not really powerful," she commented. "I don't live at altitude, and Mary does and probably felt more comfortable. She attacked strong - I tried to stay with her but just couldn't keep the
pace."
For Alexander it was her best result in several seasons. "I
felt OK, and have been riding well this season," she said. "This is my best world cup finish in awhile, so that's nice. When I'm in good shape, the higher the race the better. So Vail here I
come!"
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Stage 6 : Leysin
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Martinez & Leboucher Earn Cross-Country Victories
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Laurence Leboucher (FRA, MTB 72) and
Miguel Martinez (FRA, Full Dynamix) gave France its first double-win in world cup cross-country racing this season, as they dominated a grueling 6.3km loop of mountain riding in Switzerland Sunday in this the second half of the
Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season.
Conditions were perfect for racing Sunday, as sunny skies
replaced the rains from earlier in the weekend and large crowds of several thousand lined the difficult cross-country course in this scenic alpine town of Leysin - perched high above Lake Geneve. After
Saturday's downhill and dual racing, it was time for the climbers to take over Sunday, as a large men's field of 128 complimented a smaller women's pack of 42 to contest this sixth round of racing.
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Laurence Leboucher (FRA, MTB 72) had only contested two world cup rounds thus far this season, finishing 6th and 5th in Italian and Belgian rounds. While she was concentrating on the French and European series,
Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized) had won both of those world cup races. Her teammate and world cup series leader Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized) - who would finish 8th after mechanical troubles on this day - had won two other races in North America.
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But Leboucher didn't let that intimidate her Sunday, as she shadowed
Fullana the entire four-lap race, then finally rode around her in the final meters - for one of the closest women's finishes in recent memory. Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) chased hard the entire race
to finish an eventual third, while Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, DBS) marked her return to world cup racing in 4th place - Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida) finishing 5th.
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Fullana had won Friday's time trial on one lap of the course, and
took the lead early. But Leboucher (who finished 4th in the TT) was right there in the first lap - taking over the front position at lap's end. The two would trade the lead several times, but were never more than a
few metres apart, while b ehind them Stropparo rode alone for part of the time, joining the lead duo for other portions of the race.
Caroline Alexander (GBR, Specialized) rode much of the race
with Dahle in 4th and 5th positions respectively, while Spitz rode in 6th. Only after Alexander dropped to 6th position in the final lap did the podium become clear, as the racing order was otherwise unchanged
during the race.
At the beginning of the bell lap, Fullana and Leboucher led Stropparo
by 25 seconds, while Dahle and Spitz were 15 seconds apart. But during the final lap there was a surge at the front, and Stropparo eventually finished two minutes back, with the remaining podium finishers between
three and four minutes off the pace.
The final seconds of the race determined first-place, as Leboucher
continued to sit right behind Fullana as the two came up the final grassy switchback climb to the finish. The course followed an asphalt road for approximately 20 feet before continuing to the finish line on dirt,
and that is where the 1998 World Champion Leboucher made her pass for the win, finishing a scant 18 seconds ahead of current World Champion Fullana.
"I never thought about the win all day - I was thinking that
Fullana would attack, but I had nothing to lose and so I followed her," said a smiling Leboucher. "Maybe the other women are tired from all the travel and altitude this season - I don't know, but it was a
good day for me!"
"I was surprised to see how strong Leboucher was today, but that's racing," said Fullana. "I
did almost all the work, as Laurence paced off me. Half way through the race I could see that she was strong, so I attacked, but she was too strong today."
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Fullana Wins XC 7
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Conditions were perfect for racing Sunday, as a weekend's
worth of rain and clouds gave way to sunny blue skies and warm temperatures - bringing thousands of spectators to all point of the 7 kilometre-long course. Women raced four laps of the steep and
often-technical track, while the men campaigned five loops.
Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized) was surprised last week to lose her first race of the season, and came into this week's event with some extra motivation and some extra rest. As she typically does after she wins (which is quite often),
Marga casually walked into the interview tent after this week's victory and sat down holding her water bottle, looking fresh as when she started.
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Fullana Repeats
UCI
Cross-country pro Roland Green (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen) became the
first-ever male XC racer from Canada to win an elite world cup race Sunday, when he upset a large and powerful field of competitors in the green hills of Houffalize, Belgium - taking the overall leader's jersey with
him.
Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized) was again the women's winner at this
third round of the Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup - winning her second-straight XC event of the series.
Weather was sunny and warm as tens of thousands of spectators lined
the 7.7km course for four laps of women's racing and five laps for the men - both fields finishing their events at the UCI's new optimum finishing time of two hours.
Houffalize is one of the classic events on the world cup - a favorite
of riders and spectators alike, and now features shorter laps and faster action through the Ardennes forest
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Two-time World Champion Marga Fullana (ESP, Specialized) was looking
to repeat her win from last week in Sarentino, riding hard in the first lap to take the lead and build a gap between her and teammate Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized).
2000 World Cup Champion Blatter led early in the first lap, but said
she was a bit nervous - crashing on a steep drop. Fullana then went by her and - with instructions from her Team Manager Gert-Jan Theunisse - attacked the field to build a ten second lead by mid-lap.
While top-ranked Blatter rode steadily in second position, a battle
ensued for third position between Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) and #2-ranked Alison Dunlap (USA, Team GT). First she passed Laurence Leboucher (FRA) by the third lap's mid-point, then Dunlap set her sights on
Stropparo and the points that come with third place.
Fullana's goals for this season include the World Championship - but
not the world cup title - leaving the battle for now between Blatter and Dunlap. So while Fullana built an eventual lead of a minute and 20 seconds, Dunlap eventually passed Stropparo in a long, gradual climb of the
final lap - attacking hard and coming within 27 seconds of catching Blatter as well and taking third position for the second week in a row.
"It was a hard race and started super-fast," said Dunlap.
"Every point is important, and - fortunately or unfortunately - all it takes is one bad race to change the overall standings."
Blatter held off any attacks behind her and finished in second place
- also for the second-straight week. Leboucher held on to 5th position behind Stropparo, to round out the podium. Overall Blatter leads the world cup by 110 points over Dunlap, Fullana 40 points behind Dunlap.
"I was nervous in the beginning," said Blatter. "I
could see Marga was strong today, so I expected her to win. She's not doing all the world cups, but I am, so I need to do well. For now it's between Alison and me for the overall, so as long as I'm in front of her
I'm OK." Fullana crossed the finish line with a smile, 1:20 ahead of the field. "I like this course, and am so happy to win," she said. "I was behind Barbara and saw she was a bit nervous, so I
took the lead early. Ideally I would like to build at least a two minute lead, because anything can happen - like a crash or a flat tire - even with a minute or a minute and a half lead."
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