Race info from USA Cycling
Two American women just competed in the Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in Oisans, France.
Josie Beggs (Capitola, CA/Starbucks-Double) finished 27th in her 35 rider field and Kristy Mantz (Marlinton, WV/Dirt Bean) finished 31st.
The top finisher in the women's competition was prerace favorite Gunn-Rita Dahle of Norway, who completed the 62 mile race from Les 2 Alpes to Bourg d'Oisans in 4 hours, 25 minutes and 29 seconds. Petra Henzi of Switzerland finished second and Elsbeth Van Rooij-Vink of the Netherlands finished third.
Beggs, the only rider on the women's squad to claim a win on the U.S. National circuit, finished in 5:52:30. Beggs was the highest placed American rider in the four race World Cup series this year, finishing 16th after an 8th place showing in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec in June. Sitting in 19th place, Beggs is also the top American on the International Cycling Federation's Marathon Rider Rankings list. Mantz came in 31st at these World Championships with her time of 6:16:18.
One hundred twenty-nine men and 46 women from 24 countries registered to race.
2006 MA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
1. Ralph Naf (Swi)...Multivan-Merida...4:13:57
2. Leonardo Paez (Col)...4:14:50
3. Roel Paulissen (Bel)...Giant...4:21:03
4. Massimo De Bertolis (Ita)...4:22:17
5. Johann Pallhuber (Ita)...4:22:18
6. Thomas Frischknecht (Swi)...Swisspower...4:22:34
7. Bart Brentjens (NED...Giant...4:22:58
8. Andreas Kugler (Swi)...4:23:04
9. Thomas Dietsch (Fra)...Bianchi Agos...4:23:06
10. Alban Lakata (Aut)...Specialized...4:25:13
WOMEN
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor)...Merida...4:25:29
2. Petra Henzi (Swi)...Fisher-BMC...4:33:37
3. Elsbeth Van Rooij-Vink (Ned)...4:40:26
4. Dolores Maechler-Rupp (Swi)...4:41:51
5. Pia Sundstedt (Fin)...Rky Mtn-Biz Obj...4:45:27
6. Daniela Louis (Swi)...4:47:20
7. Esther Suss (Swi)...Ghost...4:53:58
8. Andrea Kuster (Swi)...4:55:20
9. Blaza Klemencic (Slo)...Pintatim Full-Dynamix...4:56:21
10. Eva Hubena (Cze)...4:58:08
27. Josie Beggs...Starbucks-Double...5:52:30
31. Kristy Mantz...Dirt Bean...6:16:18 |