Results :

World Cup :
 - 1st stage : 11th
 - 2^nd stage : 11th
 - Les Gets (last) : DNF
(Non interest for World Cup)

World Championships (Kaprun) :
Relay : 2^nd
Individual : 21^th (rain)

Fullana Wins XC Round One

As she has done so times before, Marga Fullana (ESP, Orbea) tore off the front of a strong women's field, leaving a pack of chasers to decide second place amongst themselves while she took a solo win in dominant style. Fullana built up a minute's lead in the five-lap race, eventually winning by 39 seconds after the current World Champion Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna Chix Women's MTB) worked to reduce the lead during the second half of the race.

Fullana led out the 68-competitor field during the short parade loop around the venue, while behind her a half dozen women followed. They kept contact with Fullana in this first international meeting between the Spaniard and the other women, who have been competing in North America and Europe for two months now.

Half way into the first lap Fullana had built a small ten second lead on another former champion Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen), while Dunlap, Caroline Alexander (GBR, GBR Nat'l Team) and a pair of riders from the Merida Team - Sabine Spitz (GER) and Irina Kalentieva (RUS) also chased.

Fullana increased her lead to :27 by the end of the lap, determined to show the world of cycling that she was indeed still in shape and ready for the season - even though her off-season training was hampered by illness and had her unsure to her fitness level. But with Sydor, Dunlap, Alexander and Spitz already a half minute behind and losing contact, it was apparent her fitness was right on target.

By the end of the second lap, the chase group knew they were in trouble as Fullana's lead grew to 46 seconds. Meanwhile another world cup winner Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Merida International) joined the chase with her other two teammates - but were unable to counter the lead pace as the group split up briefly.

The third lap saw the lead grow even further to one minute, as the group of six re-gathered in their pursuit, led by Alexander and apparently racing for podium positions instead of the win. But there was one woman - Dunlap - who was ready to take on the group and go for the front. If she couldn’t get the win she would at least ensure second place for herself.

And in the second half of the fourth lap Dunlap did attack, reducing the lead from a minute down to just 34 seconds, and making some wonder if she might actually catch Fullana. Behind her Spitz and Alexander rode together at 45 seconds back, while Sydor and Kalentieva rode at 1:15 and Regina Marunde (GER) passed a fading Dahle and rode at 1:50.

Marga Fullana, 1st place:

• "I dedicate this win today to all those people who didn't believe I could still do it. I was feeling good before the race, but also a bit nervous. The crowd was great, and was with me. It's always special racing in Spain. Today I didn't have any problems, but was worried about riding alone on the whole course. It was most important that I feel sure, and then confident. I didn't have a plan or strategy, just to show everyone I am still here."

• "I had to work hard to make [my attack] stick. I then heard the gap was 30 seconds, and was surprised. We [chasers] were all together and I noticed that the first two people up the steep climb were getting a good gap. So I attacked going into the singletrack and got the gap. I just kept a good cadence, riding in the little ring. But once she heard I was chasing she went hard."

Images: Mark Dawson www.fattirefotos.com

Stage 1 ranking :

1. Marga Fullana (ESP, Orbea) 2h00'31"
2. Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna) at 39 sec.
3. Sabine Spitz (ALL, Merida International) at 47 sec.
4. Caroline Alexander (GBR) at 1'15"
5. Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-VW) at 1'42"
6. Regina Marunde (ALL) at 2'37"
7. Irina Kalentieva (RUS, Merida International) at 2'40"
8. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Merida International) at 3'44"
9. Mary Grigson (AUS, Subaru-Gary Fisher) at 4'19"
10. Maroussia Rusca (SUI, Arrow) at 4'28"
11. Laurence Leboucher (FRA, Team MTB 72) at 5'03"
 

Spanish Fullana Victorious
in Houffalize Classic

The Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup continued its opening European leg of the 2002 season this weekend at round two, when perhaps the largest fields of competitors in the circuit's history contested a classic event in the hills surrounding Houffalize, Belgium.

The women began their race up the steep paved climb out of the town center, as Fullana led the large group of 89 competitors. By the middle of the first lap, she was being closely followed by three other women. Caroline Alexander (GBR, GBR Nat'l Team), Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida) and Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) - all tough competitors from last week in Madrid - no doubt had learned not to let the leader get away so early this time.

But near the finish of the first lap, Fullana had built up a lead of 12 seconds on her chasers, while the top five remained intact. In the middle of the second lap, Alexander closed the gap by a few seconds, while Stropparo moved up into third position after passing Spitz. They were joined by defending world cup champion Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized), who had to start from 47th position after missing last week's opening round due to illness. It was another 20 seconds back to the sixth rider, Regina Marunde (GER, Focus), who was being chased down by World Champion Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna Chix).

In the third lap Fullana's lead remained steady at 16 seconds, as she expended just enough energy to remain in the lead. Only Alexander was able to maintain contact, while an accelerating Blatter and Stropparo both fell off the lead - Stropparo passing Blatter in lap three while Spitz rounded out the top-five. Marga had pushed harder to distance herself from the field - yet still was not fully attacking.

Fifteen minutes later at the beginning of the fourth and final lap, one and a quarter hours' and 22.5 km racing were completed. Fullana's lead had now grown to 25 seconds over Alexander after the leader made a small push and gained ten to fifteen seconds on the field. Stropparo was chasing 35 seconds back, gaining 15 seconds on the leaders while Blatter held steady.

Ten minutes later, with just minutes remaining in the race, Fullana increased her lead over Alexander by another 10 seconds, while Stropparo dropped 5 seconds to the leader and Blatter 15. At this point Alison Dunlap attacked from behind, passing Spitz and then Blatter, moving into 4th position.

Soon Marga crossed the finish, 40 seconds clear of Alexander, 48 seconds ahead of Stropparo and 1:21 ahead of Dunlap - while Blatter rounded out the podium in 5th place, 1:26 off the lead.

Marga Fullana, 1st place:

• "Everybody waited for me to make my pace today, but nobody came up when I set my rhythm, except for Caroline. Today's race was harder than last week, but the course was better for me, with more long climbs. I knew if I did my pace they couldn't follow me today, but I only did enough to win."

• "I was too cautious today, I should have put the race to [Marga], I shouldn’t have waited for her. It's the strongest I've felt in a long time though."

"I was feeling sick during the race, and was feverish by the end. In the beginning I was pushing hard to get a good position. But on the 2nd lap I was tired, and was just thinking to keep good position. It was a fast race, and if you didn't have good form than you just had to push that much harder."

Words: Ari Cheren

Images: Mark Dawson www.fattirefotos.com

Stage 2 ranking :

1. Marga Fullana (ESP, Orbea) 1h46'20"
2. Caroline Alexander (GBR) at 40 sec.
3. Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) at 48 sec.
4. Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna) at 1'21"
5. Barbara Blatter (SUI, Specialized) at 1'26"
6. Sabine Spitz (ALL, Merida International) at 1'32"
7. Regina Marunde (ALL) at 2'56"
8. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Merida International) at 4'09"
9. Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-VW) at 4'36"
10. Maria Ostergren (SUE) at 4'39"
11. Laurence Leboucher (FRA, Team MTB 72) at 5'10"
...
19. Marion Thevenet (FRA) at 8'21"
20. Hélène Marcouyre (FRA) at 8'33"
45. Virginie Souchon (FRA)
48. Sabrina Enaux (FRA)
53. Viviane Baud (FRA)
59. Sandrine Guirronnet (FRA)
61. Julie Pesenti (FRA)
64. Séverine Hansen (FRA)

World Cup Ranking :

1. Marga Fullana (ESP, Orbea) 500 points
2. Caroline Alexander (GBR) 350
3. Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna) 350
4. Sabine Spitz (ALL, Merida International) 265
5. Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-VW) 210
6. Regina Marunde (ALL) 185
7. Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be One) 170
8. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR, Merida International) 170
9. Mary Grigson (AUS, Subaru-Gary Fisher) 143
10. Laurence Leboucher (FRA, Team MTB 72) 142

Roland Green Leads Canada to Second XC Relay World Championship Title

29.08.02 Kaprun. Team Canada repeated as XC Relay World Champions yeasterday, beating silver-medallist Team France and bronze medal winners Team Switzerland in an exciting, four-lap event here in Kaprun, Austria. After winning gold medals and rainbow jerseys last year in Vail, Colorado, the Canadian team used the same strategy of a fast start to dominate 17 other teams.
The team relay was the first elite event of these 2002 UCI World Championships and gave everyone a chance to compete on the new cross-country course, and award the first rainbow jerseys of the championships. The white rainbow jersey with its horizontal stripes is cycling’s biggest prize next to an Olympic medal.

"It was an all-out one hundred percent effort," said Canadian team member and defending cross-country World Champion Roland Green. "Going second I knew I had to get the best gap I could, then just wait until the end to see what happens. But we had Alison Sydor as our anchor, and she’s so steady and reliable – the team was very confident in her."
Sydor joined elite member Green as the team’s female rider, while Ryder Hesjedal represented the espoir (U-23) category. Maximilian Plaxton completed the team as its junior rider.
The Canadians beat a strong French team by just 53 seconds after one hour, 44 minutes of racing. After beginning the 4th leg a minute up on Switzerland, the Canadians held off a surging French squad, which moved all the way up from 5th position in the beginning of the 4th leg to finish 2nd for the silver medal just ahead of the Swiss team.
"I began a bit slowly, but got faster during my lap" said France’s first rider Julien Absalon, who put his team in the number-one position to begin the 2nd leg. But Absalon’s lead over Canadian Hesjedal would not last, as the riders handed off their wristbands to the second leg riders.

"Julien was riding strong, so I just wanted to stay with him to give Roland a good position going into the second leg," said Hesjedal. He did that, as Green soon took over the lead. "The Canadians were just too fast," said Absalon afterward. The French put in their Junior rider at this point, losing time to the other leading team’s elite competitors and dropping to 6th place as the order up front changed to Canada, Switzerland and Great Britain.
During this third leg where Green gave his Canadian team the lead, Thomas Frischknecht moved his team from 3rd place to 2nd. France moved up one position to 5th, while the Great Britain team held onto 3rd position and team USA finished the leg in 4th place.
The 4th and final lap saw most of the teams put forth their female riders. Thus France, powered by the speed of its elite male member Cedric Ravanel, moved back into the medal standings. The team’s anchor passed the female members of Great Britain, USA and Switzerland to capture 2nd place. But even Ravanel couldn’t make up a 7:40 deficit to Sydor, who held onto her team’s lead to secure the gold medal.

"I had a dramatic start to my leg, so I thought I should have a dramatic finish," joked Sydor, who slipped on the loose gravel and fell to the ground just before the finishline after high-fiving her teammates. But she had plenty of time to get up and jog across the finishline for the win. "It’s super-competitive, and fantastic to win," she added.

Asked if racing this hard would affect his performance in Sunday’s all-important cross-country race, 2001 World Champion Roland Green responded: "The focus is on Sunday, but I feel good and its good practice to ride the course at a race pace. I’m over my jet-lag and this is a beautiful location."

1996 World Champion Thomas Frischknecht agreed, saying "For me I don’t have a problem riding hard a couple days before the big race, and am proud to win a medal at the Worlds. I was happy to do it."

www.bicycles-ag.de

TEAM RELAY RESULTS:
1. Canada
2. France
3. Switzerland
4. Sweden
5. Italy
6. Australia
7. Germany
8. Great Britain
9. Denmark
10. Austria

Fullana Wins Third World Cup,
Dunlap Wins Overall Championship

Marga Fullana (ESP, Orbea) earned her third world cup victory of the season this weekend, when the 2000 World Champion dominated a strong women's field to win the final round of racing in the Tissot-UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Les Gets, France. She beat Anna Szafraniec (POL, Lotto) by a minute and 44 seconds, and has won every world cup this season she entered.

Conditions were sunny and warm, but the track was muddy and tricky as a result of heavy rains that fell Saturday night. So the women had to be careful and preserve their equipment, fighting up challenging climbs on a course that doubled back on itself - giving the thousands of spectators and TV cameras multiple chances to see the riders each lap.

2001 World Champion Alison Dunlap (USA, Luna Chix) finished 5th in the race and final round of the series, earning enough points to win her career's first world cup title - just ahead of #2 Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida).

Asked if she was making a statement with her riding this weekend after abandoning the world championship in Kaprun due to losing time in Kaprun's muddy descents, Fullana replied "I think everyone saw how I was feeling today. I was feeling good, and nothing was difficult for me. When you're feeling good, everything is OK."

Asked how she liked this XC course in Les Gets where the 2004 World Championships will be held, Fullana replied "I prefer the sun we had today to the rain we had last week. But the course was nice for me, and the mud was OK."

Fullana led the women's four-lap race from start to finish, building up an increasing lead during the hour and 51 minute race as 65 women struggled through slick mud and tricky off-camber grass sections.

With her manager and boyfriend Miguel encouraging her via a one-way radio from several points on the track, Fullana hit her pace and found her rhythm in the third lap, increasing her lead with each pedal stroke and not worrying about those behind her.

Behind Fullana, Szafraniec overtook Alison Sydor (CAN, Trek-Volkswagen) for second position in the second lap, and remained there for the duration of the race.

"This finish will motivate me to work harder," said a newly blonde-haired Szafraniec after she finished 2nd - coming just one week after she took silver in the World Championships. "After Worlds I went home and did press conferences, and after this I'll go back and do more."

Asked if she was surprised to be riding so well when other top riders were feeling the effects of the World's, Szafraniec replied "I wasn't too surprised until the last moment, because there were many good riders behind me. But I felt good today and am happy with my finish."

After Sydor was passed by Szafraniec she then battled with Sabine Spitz (GER, Merida) for third place, the two trading positions until the final lap when Spitz asserted herself and dropped Sydor - crossing the finish 2:41 from the lead while Sydor finished 4th, 3:16 from the winning time.

"It was tougher than last week," said 3rd place Spitz, adding "I'm not completely recovered from worlds. And the course is tough. The first two laps I didn't feel so good, and thought I'd explode. But 2nd overall is good and I'm very happy - my goal this season was to be in the top-four, and I'm 2nd."

While Fullana rode off the front to the tune of a minute and a half, Spitz and Sydor battled to catch Szafraniec while Dunlap struggled to stay ahead of Petra Henzi (SUI, Fischer K2) in order to secure the overall championship. Henzi finished 6th.

"That was the hardest race of my life; physically and mentally," said a muddy Dunlap after the race. "Petra was so tenacious! I went 100%, and so much was on the line, I really had to fight for this one."

Dunlap held off Henzi at the finish by just seconds, saying "I won the championship by 11 seconds. But I'm so thrilled to win the overall; you never know how things will go when you start the season, and winning the world cup is something I haven't done - that was my focus this season."

With her win here, Fullana finished the season ranked 3rd overall, while Annabella Stropparo (ITA, Be-One) is ranked 4th. Alison Sydor ends her season ranked 5th overall.