The first World Cup titles of the 2011 season were awarded today in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, with the 4-Cross competition.  Anneke Beerten (Milka Trek) of the Netherlands became the first to don the women's leader's jersey and Australia's Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) took the men's lead.


The small women's field of eight riders meant that there was only a semi-final and then straight to the podium round. Anneke Beerten, after qualifying first, ahead of world champion Anita Molcik, rode away from the rest of her heat to cruise into the Final.  She was joined by Fionn Griffiths (Team GR), Céline Gros (Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute Savoie) and the Swiss rider Lucia Oetjen. Missing from the medal round was Molcik, who struggled in her semi-final heat, and had to be content with winning the small final for fifth. Beerten again rode away from her competition in the final, while Griffiths and Gros battled for second, with Griffiths just pulling away at the end.  The lone American entry, Melissa Buhl (KHS), finished seventh.

"I felt so much pressure," said Beerten.  "It's another year, and all the girls are racing really well. This track is so hard and so fast, so to win the first round is just the best. I am stoked!"

To absolutely no one's surprise, defending World Cup champion Jared Graves won the men's title without difficulty. The key factor was to enter the first corner in the lead before hitting the rock garden, and Graves did that consistently through each of his four heats. If you were in front, you also missed the crashes that occurred behind, one of which took out world champion Tomas Slavik (RSP 4-Cross) in the second round.

Graves was joined in the Final by Michal Prokop (Specialized), Johannes Fischbach (Ghost) and Michal Marosi (RSP 4 Cross), but none of the others could match his speed out of the gate. Prokop fought off a late charge by Fischbach to take second.


4-Cross is not an event where you make a lot of friends.

"My run was pretty good," commented Graves. "I hit the gate a bit on the final, a bit anxious to get going, so my start wasn't the best. I just concentrated on getting the power down. I knew all my lines, I was comfortable with them.  It got a little sketchy on one of the jumps in the third straight. I'm really happy with this start of the season."

Ealier in the day in Downhill qualifying, Australian Mick Hannah (Team GT) just pipped defending Pietermaritzburg champion Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate), who is hoping to repeat in his home town. Gee Atherton (Commencal), the 2010 World Cup champion, took third. American Aaron Gwin (Trek World Racing) was seventh, only a few spots ahead of a surprisingly strong Duncan Riffle (Giant) in ninth.

In the women's qualifying, world champion Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing), who won here two years ago, was the fastest qualifier, ahead of four French riders, led by Floriane Pugin (Scott 11).  Defending World Cup champion Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) could only manage fourth.  The lone American entrant, Jacqueline Harmony, could only manage 13th.

4-Cross Final Results

WOMEN
1 Anneke Beerten (Ned) Milka Trek MTB Racing Team
2 Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Team GR
3 Céline Gros (Fra) Team Morzine-Avoriaz/Haute-Savoie
4 Lucia Oetjen (Sui)
5 Anita Molcik (Aut)
6 Katy Curd (GBr) Rose Biikes
7 Melissa Buhl (USA) KHS


MEN
1 Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team
2 Michal Prokop (Cze) Specialized
3 Johannes Fischbach (Ger) Ghost Factory Racing Team
4 Michal Marosi (Cze) RSP 4 Cross Racing Team
5 David Graf (Sui)
6 Kamil Tatarkovic (Cze)
7 Joost Wichman (Ned) RSP 4 Cross Racing Team
8 Roger Rinderknecht (Sui)

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