Marie-Hélène Prémont of Château Richer finished fourth yesterday in the women’s cross-country race at the world mountain bike championships in Val Di Sole, Italy. Margarita Fullana of Spain won her third career world title under hot and muggy conditions. Sabine Spitz of Germany took silver and defending champion Irina Kalantieva of Russia was third.
Source: The Gazette. For the full story, click here.
The past two days in Val di Sole have seen all the big races run, jerseys won and domination by the Brits in downhill. Not only did Gee and Rachel Atherton complete the senior double, but with a win in the Junior event, Josh Bryceland made it an amazing three from three, just weeks after a spectacular crash in Maribor.
Source: Bike Magic. For the full story, click here.
Laura Abril made her coach, her family and her country proud with Colombia’s first-ever cross country world championship win. She earned her title in the junior women’s race in Val di Sole.
Source: Bike Radar. For the full story, click here.
Rachel Atherton stormed to victory in the women’s race, nearly 12 seconds clear of her nearest rival.
Source: BBC News. For the full story, click here.
After 16 years, the Tour de Nez finally gave pro women cyclists their own race and the ladies couldn’t be happier. In a close finish, Sarah Bamberger edged out Reno native Amber Rais on Saturday at Northstar at Tahoe, giving the crowd some excitement and showing that the women’s event can have plenty of drama, too.
Source: RJG. For the full story, click here.
Predicting a winner in the women’s U23 XC race was very difficult. Ren Chengyuan (China), Nathalie Schneitter (Switzerland) and Tereza Hurikova (Czech Republic) were all favorites based on UCI World Cups results. But that didn’t stop Tanja Zakelj from Slovenia, who took the lead from the start. Zakelj, who was the 2006 Juniors World Champion, didn’t let Nathalie Schneitter (Switzerland) get past her. Schneitter almost lost second place to a flat tire on the final lap, but rallied to keep Aleksandra Davidowicz (Poland) in third.
Source: Bike Mag. For the full story, click here.
Last weekend, Jona Bollinger scored double wins in the women’s single-speed division at two separate bike races, the Teva Mountain Games in Vail and the Growler in Gunnison. Logging more than 50 miles on her single-speed, the back-to-back wins were no easy feat.
Source: Telluride News. For the full story, click here.
Apparently Val di Sole translates roughly into ‘valley of sun’ but for this week it is rather valley of mist or rain. Nobody would have thought it possible to go from such great conditions in Fort William to atrocious weather in Italy, but that is just what has happened.
Source: Bike Magic. For the full story, click here.
Under course-drying Italian sunshine, Slovenia’s pint-sized wunderkind Tanja Zakelj swiped the U23 women’s cross-country crown from China, which had dominated the espoir field since 2006. The win earned Zakelj her third worlds medal in four years — she finished third as a junior in 2005 and won the junior title in 2006.
Source: Velo News. For the full story, click here.
The world has come to Val di Sole, Italy, for a week of racing that will crown the World Champions in mountain bike and trials disciplines. Though touted as a popular summer (as well as winter) tourist destination in Italy’s Dolomite mountains, Val di Sole was anything but sunny as racers, fans and the media arrived Monday for racing set for June 17-22.
Source: Cycling News. For the full story, click here.
