Under humid and hot conditions, Sweden's Alexandra Engen claimed the Under 23 Women's cross-country world title. British rider Annie Last was second and Paula Gorycka from Poland placed third. The best North American, Canada's Emily Batty, finished fifth.
(scroll down for Downhill and 4-Cross seeding stories, and U23 results)
WOMENS' U23 CROSS COUNTRY
The start of the U23 women's race.
The women raced 4.5 laps (21.4 km) of the technical and dusty cross-country course. From the start, Engen imposed a fast pace, leading the group through the start loop, where everyone just tried hang on. Vivienne Meyer (SUI) had the lead after the short loop, but Last took control and led at the end of the first lap. By lap two, the British rider had opened a 38 second gap on Meyer, 2008 U23 champion Tanja Zakelj (SLO) and Engen. Gorycka was alone, 42 seconds down on the chase group, with Batty sitting in ninth place, two minutes behind the leader. The top Canadian contender has been suffering from a head cold all week, and the humidity and dust did not help.
Annie Last (Great Britain) on the top of the rock garden.
By mid-race the chase group had exploded under the pressure put on by Engen, who was now posting the fastest lap times every lap, and closing the gap on Last. Zakelj, Meyer and Gorycka followed individually, each separated by approximately 20 seconds. Batty was still sitting in ninth, but starting to look a little better and beginning to close in on the riders in front of her.
Leader Annie Last (Great Britain) on the Zig-Zag climb.
The focused Engen was relentless in her march towards the front and by lap three she had caught up to Last, who was looking tired. Zakelj was still in third but Gorycka had increased her pace and was closing in fast on the Slovak rider.
Alexandra Engen (Sweden) caught last with a lap and a half to go.
Behind, Batty had found another gear, her demeanor had changed and she was riding more aggressively. The Canadian champion started catching riders one by one. Engen opened a 30 second lead over Last in the final lap, and Gorycka caught Zakelj to move into the bronze medal spot. Batty was starting to motor, and moved in fifth place.
Paula Gorycka (Poland) was covered in dust after a fall on lap 1.
The last time through the feedzone, an all smiles Engen high-fived a member of her pit crew on her way to the finish.
Alexandra Engen (Sweden) wins.
"It's fabulous getting the jersey ... I had a good season and ended up with a World Championship, unbelievable," said Engen, who was second in 2009. "I said I always wanted to improve [on my last year's results] so yah I did. It's always a dream to be World Champion and I wanted to finish in a good way and hopefully better than last year," she added.
"I had a clear plan for my race before I started, and it involved having not a slow start but a focused start ... and I knew that even though it isn't that sunny when you come from the snow country like Sweden, it's hard riding in that heat. So I knew I could do two laps really really hard and, luckily, for me I was in good position at that point."
"I am pleased, very happy with my race," said Last. "I slowed down a bit with two laps to go but I did as good as I could."
"I crashed in the first lap with the Swiss rider but I felt strong in the third and fourth lap" said Gorycka. When asked about the course and the heat she answered: "very hard, very technical and physical, you must be very strong to do well here."
Medal winners: Annie Last, Alexandra Engen, Paula Gorycka.
Batty came across the line looking good for another lap, running out of real estate to catch the Slovack rider. Her first comment was 'Can we do another lap!'
Emily Batty (Canada) worked her way up from 9th to 5th.
"I did leave everything out there today," commented Batty to a crowd of reporters, as she was mobbed after the race. "I'm still quite sick, but it is what it is, we all have our hard days and we just have to deal with what we're given. So I'm happy with how it went, and thanks to everyone."
"I look forward to racing next year with the Elite women and slowly making my way back into the top five. I'm happy with my race and I can't thank my family and sponsors enough."
DOWNHILL SEEDING RUNS: Moseley and Minnaar on top
Later in the day, the seeding runs for Sunday's Downhill final were held, and it was as dusty and dirty as it had been for the cross-country riders. Great Britain's Tracy Moseley qualified first for the women, 1.31 seconds ahead of World Cup series winner Sabrina Jonnier (France), with defending champion Emmeline Ragot (France) in third at 6.37 seconds. Jill Kintner was the top North American in fifth, at 12.63 seconds. In the men's race, it was South Africa's Greg Minnaar battling Brit Gee Atherton, as the pair have done all season, with Minnaar finishing 2.57 seconds ahead. American Aaron Gwin finished third, 3.8 seconds back.
4-CROSS QUALIFYING: Buchanan Leads Women--Jared Graves double-flats
After Downhill seeding, it was time for 4-Cross qualifying. Defending women's champion Caroline Buchanan (Australia) finished first, 1.518 seconds ahead of Fionn Griffiths (Great Britain). Other favourites Anita Molcik (Austria) and Anneke Beerten (Netherlands) did not fare so well, finishing sixth and 12th respectively. In the men's category, defending champion Jared Graves (Australia) double-flatted dropping him to 29th (out of 32 starters). Robger Rinder knecht (Switzerland) took the qualifier, followed byRomain Saladini (France) and Joost Wichman (Netherlands).
WOMENS U23 RESULTS 21.4 KM
1 Alexandra Engen (Sweden)
1:30:33
2 Annie Last (Great Britain)
at 0:43
3 Paula Gorycka (Poland)
3:04
4 Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia)
3:31
5 Emily Batty (Canada)
3:49
6 Fanny Bourdon (France)
4:33
7 Barbara Benko (Hungary)
4:46
8 Kathrin Stirnemann (Switzerland)
5:09
9 Katarzyna Solus-Miskowiez (Poland)
6:24
10 Vera Andreeva (Russian Federation)
7:03
11 Samara Sheppard (New Zealand)
7:48
12 Julie Krasniak (France)
9:06
13 Zhuanzhuan Ye (People's Republic Of China)
11:28
14 Mikaela Kofman (Canada)
11:28
15 Michelle Hediger (Switzerland)
11:40
16 Serena Calvetti (Italy)
12:35
17 Judith Pollinger (Italy)
13:12
18 Kseniya Kirillova (Russian Federation)
13:56
19 Vivienne Meyer (Switzerland)
14:00
20 Gracie Elvin (Australia)
14:04
21 Lily Matthews (Great Britain)
14:50
22 Noga Korem (Israel)
15:02
23 Ekaterina Anoshina (Russian Federation)
15:33
24 Mona Eiberweiser (Germany)
15:58
25 Elisabeth Sveum (Norway)
17:42
26 Andréanne Pichette (Canada)
18:58
27 Mariske Strauss (South Africa)
-1 Lap
28 Daniela Rojas (Chile)
-1 Lap
29 Paula Quiros (Argentina)
-1 Lap
30 Rebecca Beaumont (Canada)
-1 Lap
31 Lydia Tanner (United States Of America)
-1 Lap
32 Therese Rhodes (Australia)
-1 Lap
33 Cassandre Olivier-Lapierre (Canada)
-1 Lap
34 Anne Terpstra (Netherlands)
-2 Laps
DNF Sage Wilderman (United States Of America)
DNF Ashley Barson (Canada)
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