2007 MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Verviers, Belgium

 

As the marathon-style of endurance mountain biking grows, we are seeing more and more big name riders beginning to compete. Currently ranked number two in the world, Sabine Spitz was the big World Cup XC talent on the women's side, but was soundly beat by 2006 World Cup Marathon XC Champ Petra Henzi. Finland's Pia Sundstedt, who just won the current World Cup Marathon XC title one month earlier, placed third.

 

Only one American entered this year's World Championship Marathon event. Sram-RockShox rider Shari Hausbeck from Colorado Springs was the lone U.S. team member, and she placed 34th.

 

The second best World Championship and World Cup Cross-Country rider, Christoph Sauser, left Belgium as the best mountain bike marathon rider in the world. Roel Paulissen, who placed third in last year's edition of the Marathon World's, took second. He was followed by 2007 World Cup Marathon XC Champion Thomas Dietsch, 

1. Christoph Sauser (Swi)...Specialized...4:23:06
2. Roel Paulissen (Bel)...Cannondale-Vredestein...+0:05:23
3. Thomas Dietsch (Fra)...Gewiss-Bianchi...0:07:26
4. Hector Paez (Col)...0:08:21
5. Massimo DeBertolis (Ita)...Full-Dynamix-R.S.M...0:08:50
6. Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel)...Versluys-Landbouwkrediet...0:09:51
7. Gilberto Simoni (Ita)...Saunier Duval
8. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe)...Cannondale-Vredestein
9. Karl Platt (Ger)...Bulls...all same time  
10. Alban Lakata {Aus)...Trek-VW...+0:10:12
WOMEN
1. Petra Henzi (Swi)...Fischer-BMC...5:12:11
2. Sabine Spitz (Ger)...Ghost...+0:02:07
3. Pia Sundstedt (Fin)...Gewiss-Bianchi...0:11:59
4. Elsbeth Van Rooij-Vink...0:23:21
5. Esther Suss (Swi)...0:23:48
6. Evelyn Staffler (Ita)...0:27:10
7. Arielle Van Meurs (Ned)...0:28:49
8. Katrin Schwing (Ger)...0:33:32
9. Sarah Koba (Swi)...0:33:47
10. Anna Enocsson (Swe)...0:34:01
34. Shari Hausbeck...Sram-RockShox...+2:04:18