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Shaums March of Canyon Country, CA was crowned World Champion at the 2007 Masters Mountain Bike World Championships in southeastern France. In addition to his Downhill World Title, four other U.S. athletes raced to World Championship Medals at the Pra Loup Resort last weekend.
March was named World Champion after besting a field of 97 riders in the 30-34 downhill contest. Posting a time of 3 minutes, 55.28 seconds, Shaums improved upon his third place time posted in Friday's seeding run. The lone American competitor in the 30-34 class, Shaums did just enough to outpace second and third places by just fractions of a second.
DAY ONE CONTINUES STRONG FOR TEAM USA
American men continued to put their stamp on the downhill portion of the Master World Championships when Lars Tribus (Milford, NJ) descended to a Bronze Medal in the men's 35-39 time test. Clocking a 4:01.33, the American finished only 5.97 seconds off the pace of new World Champion Nigel Page (GBr), who was the only rider in the group to break the four minute barrier with his time of 3:55.36.
Three American women climbed onto the podium as well after successful cross-country efforts. Jane Finsterwald (Basalt, CO) raced in a combined field of women in the 45-49, 50-54, and 55-59 age groups. She completed three laps of the course in 1:28:07 to earn the Bronze Medal. Julia Violich (San Anselmo, CA) and Alexandria Fabbro (Mammoth Lakes, CA) earned the Silver and Bronze Medals respectively among women 40-44. Violich made a strong effort as a solo chaser and finished only 1:15 down from new World Champion Belinda Tarling (GBr). Fabbro rode in for the Bronze Medal 7:15 off the winning pace.
Other impressive American rides included the cross-country effort by Henry Kramer (Menlo Park, CA), the only American in the 50-54 class. He raced four laps of the course in 1:38:23 for an impressive sixth place finish. Karl Eberhardt (San Diego, CA) put forth a strong performance for the U.S. team in the same age category, but in the downhill discipline. Equaling his seventh place effort from Friday's seeding run, Eberhardt clocked a 4:55.85 in the final to finish 23.21 seconds off the pace of new World Champion Sam Hunziker (Swi).
Lillian Pfluke competed in both XC and DH on day one, posting a eighth place finish in the Women's 45-49 Cross-Country event with a time of 1:45:19. She then went on to descend to fifth place in the downhill contest.
MASTER WORLD CHAMP'S DAY TWO
Competition came to a close with two more Americans scoring strong finishes for the U.S. In a combined women's cross-country field of racers in the 30-34 and 35-39 category, Mary Lynn Wikar (Vernon, CT) rode to a fifth place score. The lone American competitor, Mary Lynn crossed the line a little more than nine minutes off the winning pace of World Champion Renate Pichler (Ita). In men's competition, Michael Patrick (Milford, CT) put forth a great effort in the 40-44 Cross-Country event, finishing in ninth place, 8:12 off the pace of winner Ulf Johansson (Swe).
2007 MASTER WORLD CHAMP'S RESULTS
WOMEN 30-39 CROSS-COUNTRY
1. Renate Pichler (Ita)...1:16:41
2. Anouk Kesseleer-Haarsma (Ned)...+1:26
3. Eva Carrer-Enz (Swi)...5:08
5. Mary Lynn Wikar...Titus-Michelin...6:31
40-44 CROSS-COUNTRY
1. Ulf Johansson (Swe)...1:46:29
2. Jean Paul Stephen (Fra)...+0:03
3. Danielle Bruschi (Ita)...1:28
9. Michael Patrick...Gary Fisher-GU-Tony's Bikes...8:12
WOMEN 40-44 CROSS-COUNTRY
1. Belinda Tarling (GBr)...1:20:45
2. Julia Violich...+1:15
3. Alexandria Fabbro...Velo Bella...7:15
WOMEN 45-49 CROSS-COUNTRY
1. Guertrud Boe (Nor)...1:26.43
2. Emmanuelle Meissner (Fra)...+0:56
3. Jane Finsterwald...Chipolte-Titus...1:24
8. Lillian Pfluke...18:35
50-54 CROSS-COUNTRY
1. Georges Luthi (Swi)...1:28:43
2. Roberto Viviani (Ita)...+1:16
3. Robert Anderson (Can)...4:28
6. Henry Kramer...Cal Giant Straw...9:40
30-34 DOWNHILL
1. Shaums March...MMR Camps-Marin...3:55.28
2. Glyn O'Brien (Irl)...+0.36
3. Alex Balaud (Fra)...0.99
35-39 DOWNHILL
1. Nigel Page (GBr)...3:55.36
2. Christian Taillefer (Fra)...+5.78
3. Lars Tribus...Ironhorse...5.97
66. Greg Austin...Ironhorse...1:20.68
40-44 DOWNHILL
1. Marcel Waldmann (Swi)...4:05.33
2. Paul French (GBr)...+4.33
3. Michael Stammbach (Swi)...5.84
17. Damon Kirchmeier......Fezzari-Maxxis-E13-Azonic...21.01
WOMEN 40-49 DOWNHILL
1. Lynda Davies (GBr)...5:03.92
2. Elli Lehmann (Ger)...+22.41
3. Marilyne Bisson (Fra)...1:17.60
5. Lillian Pfluke...2:54.99
50-54 DOWNHILL
1. Sam Hunziker (Swi)...4:32.64
2. John Walker (GBr)...+3.60
3. Jean Michel Tyssandier (Fra)...11.25
7. Karl Eberhardt...Red Bull...23.21
55-59 DOWNHILL
1. Francesco Cotta (Ita)...4:44.27
2. Mike Chan (Can)...+1.93
3. Gerard Piret (Fra)...23.29
4. Rolf Hebenstreit...Flyin' Fossils...30.77