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Over the weekend five U.S. Olympic hopefuls competed in the official Olympic Test Event at the Laoshan Mountain Bike venue in Beijing, China. Luna Chix Georgia Gould (Ketchum, ID) and GT's Todd Wells (Durango, CO) were the top Americans in their respective races.
 
Gould finished fourth in the women's race, 2 minutes, 38 seconds off the pace of winner Ying Liu of China. Germany's Sabine Spitz was second, 1:25 back from Liu. Lene Byberg of Norway finished third at +1:35. 
 
Willow Koerber (Ashville, NC) was 11th, 9:50 off the pace of Ying. 
 
In the men's contest, Wells finished eighth as the last rider on the lead lap, 16:40 off the pace of winner Christoph Sauser of Switzerland. The Nederland's Bart Brentjens was second, 2:13 back, and Spain's Carlos Coloma was third, 3:56 down.
 
The other two U.S. entrants in the men's event, Adam Craig (Bend, OR) and Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, CO), were among several notable competitors who did not finish the 10 lap race. They, along with many other riders, cited the adverse effects the air quality in Beijing had on their performance. Other pre-race favorites who did not finish include four-time World Champion and 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Julien Absalon of France, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Jose Hermida of Spain and the Swiss duo of Nino Shurter and Ralf Naf.

The 2008 Olympic Games begin August 8, 2008.
 
OLYMPIC MOUNTAIN BIKE TEST EVENT RESULTS
1. Christoph Sauser (Swi)...Specialized...2:11:53
2. Bart Brentjens (Ned)...Dolphin...+2:13
3. Carlos Coloma (Spn)...3:56
8. Todd Wells...GT...16:40
DNF. Adam Craig...Giant
DNF. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski...Subaru-Gary Fisher
WOMEN
1. Ying Liu (Chn)...China National...1:45:00
2. Sabine Spitz (Ger)...Ghost...+1:25
3. Lene Beyberg (Nor)...Specialized...1:35
4. Georgia Gould...Luna Chix...2:40
11. Willow Koerber...Subaru-Gary Fisher...9:50