By Eddie Arnet
ELITE CROSS COUNTRY
This race easily had the most drama of any other in Les Gets, France. Before the racing ever started drug tests began to influence the outcome. Olympic silver medalist Jose Antonio Hermida (Marida-Multivan) failed a blood test and wasn't permitted to race. Next there was the rain. It hit the night before and kept on coming throughout the morning. The 3.9 mile, 650 vertical foot power course was now part cyclocross. Chain suck and crashes ruined the six lap, 23.4 mile torture test for most. Especially Thomas Frischknecht. The Swiss bolted straight to the front and ran away with the first two-and-a-half laps. Then disaster struck. A severely jammed chain on lap three dropped Thomas from first to sixth. While Frishy was losing places, Olympic Champion Julien Absalon was making them up after a first lap crash. By lap four the Frenchman had sloped himself into the lead and from there methodically rode it all the way home.
Something to think about is that Frischknecht recovered enough to slip into third just before the finish. He finished 01:44 behind Absalon. Thomas lost at least two minutes fixing his chain.
Hermida claims he has naturally high hematocrit. A high level of hematocrit indicates, but is not proof of, EPO use. Hermida's Spanish compatriot Alejandro Diaz de la Pena also failed the drug test.
1. Julien Absalon (Fra)...2:20:37...10.00 mph...Bianchi Agos
2. Cedric Ravanel (Fra)...at 00:57...Orbea
3. Thomas Frischknecht (Swi)...01:44...Swisspower
4. Roel Paulissen (Bel)...01:48...Siemens Mobile Cannondale
5. Marek Galinski (Pol)...02:57...Orbea
6. Lado Fumic (Ger)...03:18...T-Mobile
7. Kashi Leuchs (NZl)...03:45...Bianchi
8. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra)...05:48...Lapierre
9. Martino Fruet (Ita)...05:53
10. Michael Weiss (Aut)...07:14
14. Todd Wells (USA)...09:26...GT-Hyundai
24. Adam Craig (USA)...14:00...Giant-Pearl Izumi
25. Jeremiah Bishop (USA)...at 14:22...Trek-VW
55. Michael Broderick (USA)...-1 lap
57. Jay Henry (USA),...-1 lap...Specialized
DNF. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA)...RLX Ralph Lauren
DNF. Ryan Trebon (USA)...Kona Clarks Les Gets
ELITE WOMEN CROSS COUNTRY
With this win Gunn-Rita Dahle has established herself as the most dominant mountain biker ever. In just four months she has won the Olympics, the World Championship and the World Cup Series with one round remaining. Even a week long bout with illness and losing her rear brake on the last muddy lap, there was no stopping the dynamic Norwegian. Heir apparent Maja Wloszczowska hung with her for a lap, but that was it. The women raced 5 laps for a total distance of 19.5 miles.
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor)...2:02:12...9.60 mph...Multivan Merida
2. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)...at 01:06...Lotto-Pzu S.A.
3. Alison Sydor (Can)...01:45...Rocky Mountain-Business Objects
4. Marie-Helene Premont (Can)...04:21...Rocky Mountain-Business Objects
5. Sabine Spitz (Ger)...04:33...Fusion
6. Irina Kalentieva (Rus)...05:07...Multivan Merida
7. Alison Dunlap (USA)...06:44...Luna Chix
8. Nina Gohl (Ger)...08:29
9. Ivonne Kraft (Ger)...08:59...Ghost
10. Barbara Blatter (Swi)...09:05...Specialized
16. Mary McConneloug (USA)...12:50...Seven Cycles
24. Kelli Emmett (USA)...at 18:06...Specialized-Hillenbrand
29. Dara Marks (USA)...at 19:52...Ford Cycling
Gretchen Reeves (USA)...-1 lap...Rocky Mountain
ELITE DOWNHILL
First there was the forecast of afternoon rain. Then riders cruised qualifying to get an earlier start time in the final. But the rain never came. Next Steve Peat threw it away while leading on time and within site of the finish. In the end it was the might of France's ultra organized national team versus the unlimited budget of Honda. And America left with performances that were more embarrassing than those by our cross-country men. Run length was 1.3 miles.
1. Fabien Barel (Fra)...2:40.78...29.11 mph...Kona Clarks-Les Gets
2. Greg Minnaar (RSA)...at 0:00.58...G-Cross Honda
3. Samuel Hill (Aus)...0:01.42...Ironhorse-MadCatz
4. Joel Panozzo (Aus)...0:02.03...Progressive-Intense
5. Nathan Rennie (Aus)...0:02.04...Santa Cruz Syndicate
6. David Vazquez Lopez (Spa)...0:02.81...Maxxis-MSC
7. Julien Camellini (Fra)...0:03.23
8. Cedric Gracia (Fra)...0:03.72...Siemens Mobile Cannondale
9. Marc Beaumont (GBr)...0:04.21...Orange
10. Gee Atherton (GBr)......0:04.55
11. Steve Peat (GBr)...0:04.69...Orange
32. Chris Vandine (USA)...0:10.00
38. D Klaassenvanoorschot (USA)...Intense...0:11.51
65. Judd Devall (USA)...at 0:20.47
ELITE WOMEN DOWNHILL
Frenchwoman Anne-Caroline Chausson's reign is over. The eight-time World Champ wiped out during morning practice and broke an arm and dislocated a shoulder. The race was wide open for anyone to take, especially the group of seasoned American riders. And we could have won it to, if it weren't for Marla Streb's crash early into her final run. A crash is worth at least six seconds.
1. Vanessa Quin (Nzl)...3:08.04...24.89 mph...Intense
2. Mio Suemasa (Jap)...at 0:02.78...Trek
3. Celine Gros (Fra)...0:03.98...Morzine Avoriaz
4. Marla Streb (USA)...0:05.72
5. Marielle Saner (Swi)...0:06.37...Maxxis-MSC
6. Kathy Pruitt (USA)...0:08.25...Luna Chix
7. April Lawyer (USA)...0:14.16...Maxxis-Puma
8. Lisa Sher (USA)...0:14.37...Chumba Wumba
9. Danika Schroeter (Can)...0:14.56
10. Nolvenn Le Caer (Fra)...0:16.45
26. Gale Dahlager (USA)...at 1:03.72...RPM-Sport Legs
ELITE FOURCROSS
This was the greatest race of the weekend. The wide open course was just taking riders out right and left. But not NORBA Champ Eric Carter. Like in Durango, Carter wowed the competition with his cornering speed as he slipped past Czech Michal Prokop and Frenchman Mickael Deldycke. In just one move Carter made the efforts of the giant mass of Americans racing in France all the more worthwhile.
1. Eric Carter (USA)...Mongoose-Hyundai
2. Mickael Deldycke (Fra)...Fiat-Rotwild
3. Michal Prokop (Cze)...Author
4. Roger Rinderknecht (Swi)
5. Mike King (USA)...Haro-Adidas
8. Chris Powell (USA)...Specialized
9 Ross Milan (USA)...Yeti
24 Brian Schmith (USA)...Mongoose-Hyundai
25 Brian Lopes (USA)...GT-Hyundai
ELITE FOURCROSS WOMEN
Like in the downhill, Chausson was top qualifier in the gated women's race. But with ACC at the hospital this was an event that had America written all over it. But it wasn't to be. Fresh to the mountain bike scene, Czech Republic BMX World Champion Jana Horakova was simply untouchable and owned the final from start to finish.
1. Jana Horakova (Cze)
2. Jill Kinter (USA)...Yeti-RPM
3. Tara Llanes (USA)...Giant-Pearl Izumi
4. Sari Jorgensen (Swi)
9. Melissa Buhl (USA)...KHS
12. Leana Gerrard (USA)...Cannondale
DSQ. Lisa Sher (USA)...Chumba Wumba
UNDER 23 CROSS-COUNTRY
Britain's Liam Killeen was setting a killer pace at the front that just hurt too much for all but one to match. That lone man was German rider Manuel Fumic, who was sitting 23 seconds back halfway through the race. Fumic then stepped it up and caught Killeen and the two diced to the very end. The espoirs raced six laps and a total distance of 23.4 miles. The U23, Junior and Team Relay were run earlier in the week and in dry conditions.
1. Manuel Fumic (Ger)...1:56:10...12.09 mph
2. Liam Killeen (Gbr)...at 00:04...Subaru-Gary Fisher
3. Florian Vogel (Swi)...02:14...Swisspower
40. Nick Waite (USA)...14:51...U23 National
43. Sam Schultz (USA)...16:02...U23 National
50. Alan Obye (USA)...at 18:16...U23 National
66. John Devine (USA)...-1 lap...U23 National
68. Nicholas Ranno (USA)...-2 laps
72. Alex Hagman (USA)...-2 laps
73. Tristan Schouten (USA)...-2laps...PCW Cycling
TEAM XC RELAY
Each country enters a team that includes one elite man, an elite woman, a U23 man and one junior man. Every rider does one circuit. This race might have been lost during the warmup. Before the start Swiss elite and sixth place Olympic finisher Ralph Naf was smacked in the eye by a tree branch. It was too late to change riders, so either the Swiss team would have to forfeit or Ralph would have to ride. In pain and with only half the vision he toughed it out and crashed his way through the lead lap. His team lost by only 24 seconds.
1. Team Canada...1:09:00...13.57 mph
Leg 1: Geoff Kabush...15:50 lap...14.78 mph...Maxxis
Leg 2: Max Plaxton...16:17...14.37...Rocky Mnt-Business Objects
Leg 3: Kiara Bisaro...19:46...11.84...Gears Racing
Leg 4: Ralpael Gagne...17:07...13.67
2. Team Switzerland...at 00:24
Ralph Naf...17:38...Merida
Florian Vogel...15:50...Swisspower
Nino Schurter...16:31
Barbara Blatter...19:25...Specialized
3. Team Poland...at 00:57
Marcin Karczynski...16:05
Kryspin Pyrgies...16:51
Pawel Szpila...18:03
Maja Wloszczowska...18:58...Lotto-Pzu S.A.
8. Team USA...at 03:14
Adam Craig...16:11...Giant-Pearl Izumi
Kelli Emmett...20:58...Specialized-Hillenbrand
Sam Jurkovic...17:40
Alan Obye...17:25...U23 National
JUNIOR XC
They raced five laps and 19.5 miles. With Nino Schurter's win Switzerland pulled off the big coup in the 18-and-under classes. Nino led from start to finish.
JUNIOR XC RESULTS
1. Nino Schurter (Swi)...1:34:24...12.4 mph average
2. Stephane Tempier (Fra)...at 02:05
3. Maxime Marotte (Fra)...02:48
47. Alex Hodge (USA)...15:28
68. Garret Gibson (USA)...at 18:55
75. Noah Singer (USA)...-1 lap
85. Mitchell Peterson (USA)...-1 lap
88. Sam Jurekovic (USA)...-2 laps
JUNIOR XC WOMEN
This class raced four laps for a total distance of 15.6 miles. Switzerland's Nathalie Schneitter crashed during the first lap and rode up from the very back to take the win. She did it with a little help from Czech Republic's Tereza Hurikova, though. Tereza was running away with a one minute-plus lead only to flat on the final lap.
1. Nathalie Schneitter (Swi)...1:44:11...9.00 mph
2. Laura Metzler (Fra)...at 00:11
3. Tereza Hurikova (Cze)...01:32
26. Chloe Forsman (USA)...at 22:59
DNF: Hillary Wright (USA)
JUNIOR DOWNHILL
After this race there was no denying that Team France is easily a step above everyone else. Their first class World's effort matched what U.S. Postal did at the Tour. But to us the big news is how awesome our downhill future looks. Without a year full of focused downhilling, Kyle Strait's bronze medal performance is more impressive than ever. Check out how many riders we had in the top ten.
1. Romain Saladini (Fra)...2.48.69...27.74 mph...Commencal-Oxbow
2. Florent Payet (Fra)...at 0:00.89
3. Kyle Strait (USA)...0:02.46...Specialized
6. Henry O'Donnell (USA)...0:03.86...Santa Cruz
8. Duncan Riffle (USA)...0:04.25
11 Luke Strobel (USA)...0:05.61
32. Cameron Zink (USA)...0:17.70...Santa Cruz
42. Garrick Anderson (USA)...Fox-Spy...at 0:21.97
JUNIOR WOMEN DOWNHILL RESULTS
This class had no U.S. representation. By winning this race Scarlett Hagen gave New Zealand a clean sweep of the World's women downhill classes. She averaged 24.73 mph for a 3:09.24 run time. It's a time that is only one-and-a-quarter seconds slower than elite downhill women winner Vanessa Quin's.
2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL THOUGHT
France led the medal count with three gold, five silver and three bronze medals. Next came the Swiss with two firsts, one second and a third. So I guess that even though America entered more riders than states, one gold, one silver and two bronze medals isn't all that bad. (Thank you U.S. gravity racers.)
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