SCHLADMING WORLDCUP XC/DH/4XJUNE 21,
SCHLADMING WORLDCUP XC/DH/4XJUNE 21,
Scroll down to see Alisons journal
Austria hosted the fourth cross-country of the year, the third downhill, and fourth fourcross. We saw Alison Dunlap again and Jeremy Horgan Kobelski proving that they are the most well-equipped Americans to win medals at the Olympics.
Irina Kalentieva, the Women XC champion, finished third at both the World Cup Series as well as World Championships last season. Julien Absalon won cross-country for the men. The defending World Cup Champion is Frenchman. In two months, the Olympic Games will begin.
GLOBAL GRAVITY GAME
Although George Atherton of Great Britain lost to Sam Hill twice in the World Junior Downhill Championships in Austria, he was able to get his revenge in Austria. The 19-year-old is making a huge impact on the next generation. Marielle Saner, the Women’s DH winner, finished fifth in last year’s World Cup Series.
Karim Amour is best known for winning the Anaheim Supercross Crossover Challenge in Jan. Sabrina Jonnier is the 2003 World Cup Downhill Champion.
CROSS COUNTRY RESULT
1. Julien Absalon (Fra)Bianchi Agos1.55.39
2. Bart Brentjens, Ned)T-Mobileat
3. Jose Antonio Hermida (Spa)Multivan Merida2.19
4. Thomas Frischknecht (Swi)Swisspower3.49
5. Jean-Christophe Peraud, (Fra),Lapierre4.48
6. Filip Meirhaeghe, Bel)Specialized4.57
7. Roel Paulissen (Bel)Siemens Mobile Cannondale5.53
8. Christoph Sauser (Swi),Siemens Mobile Cannondale6.35
9. Cedric Ravanel, (Fra),Orbea7.18
10. Marek Galinski (Pol)Orbea7.47
11. Ryder Hesjedal, (Can)Subaru–Gary Fisher8.00
12. Jeremy Horgan-KobelskiRLX Ralph Lauren8.42
32. Todd WellsMongoose-Hyundai16.24
52. Michael Broderick-1 lap
Women
1. Irina Kalentieva (Rus)Multivan Merida1.48.10
2. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)Lotto-Pzu S.Aat 1.14
3. Anna Szafraniec (Pol)Lotto-Pzu S.A3.23
4. Annabella Stropparo (Ita)Italian National3.42
5. Paola Pezzo (Ita)Gatorade-Specialized4.33
6. Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol)Lotto-Pzu S.A6.23
7. Petra Henzi (Swi)6.52
8. Nina Gohl (Ger)7.35
9. Alison DunlapLuna Chix..9.45
10. Katrin Leumann (Swi)9.49
12. Susan HaywoodTrek-Volkswagen10.26
19. Mary McConnelougSeven cycles14.04
DOWNHILL RESULT
1. George Atherton (GBr.3.57.79)
2. Nathan Rennie (Aus)Santa Cruz3.58.56
3. Samuel Hill (Aus)Iron Horse-MadCatz3.58.88
4. Steve Peat (GBr)Orange4.01.72
5. Cedric Gracia (Fra),Siemens Mobile Cannondale4.01.99
6. David Vazquez Lopez (Spa)Maxxis-MSC4.02.59
7. Mickael Pascal (Fra)Maxxis-MSC4.02.96
8. Julien Camellini (Fra)4.04.88
9. Neil Donoghue (GBr)4.05.99
10. Matti Lehikoinen (Fin)4.07.50
12.
Kirt VoreisSanta Cruz4.08.36 53. Kyle StraitSpecialized4.19.67
Women
1. Marielle Saner (Swi)Maxxis-MSC4.30.56
2. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra)Intense4.31.49
3. Vanessa Quin (Nzl)4.34.14
4. Tracy Moseley (GBr)Kona Clarks Les Gets4.37.86
5. Emmeline Ragot (Fra)High-Speed4.44.68
6. Nolvenn Le Caer (Fra)4.44.75
7. Celine Gros (Fra)Morzine Avoriaz4.46.60
8. Helen Gaskell (GBr)4.49.65
9. Mio Suemasa (Jpn)4.50.40
10. Petra Bernhard (Aut)4.50.76
FOURCROSS RESULTS
1 Karim Amour (Fra)
2 Kamil Tatarkovic, Czech (Cze).
3 Cedric Grcia (Fra),Siemens Mobile Cannondale
4 Michal Prokop, Czech
5 Romain Saladini (Fra)Commencal-Oxbow
6 Samuel Hill (Aus)Iron Horse-MadCatz
7 Scott Beaumont (GBr)
8 Filip Polc (Svk)
22 Kyle StraitSpecialized
24 Chris PowellSpecialized
34 Robin Baloochi
Women
1 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra)Intense
2 Anneke Beerten (Ned)Specialized
3 Tracy Moseley (GBr)Kona Clarks Les Gets
4 Mio Suemasa (Jpn)
5 Celine Gros (Fra)Team Morzine Avoriaz
6 Fionn Griffiths (GBr)Foes
7 Diana Marggraff (Ecu)Zenith-MTB-International
8 Vanessa Quin (Nzl)
ALISONS WORLD CUP Journal
Mountain bike racing 101 should have the following in parentheses: may require large amounts running in adverse conditions. I’ve probably run more in the past two weekends than I did during the cyclocross season. This gives you an idea about how awful the course was AGAIN!
The World Cup took place in Schladming (Austria), this beautiful ski resort tucked away among the majestic and sometimes ominous-looking Alps. The largest event in Austria is the nighttime slalom race, which attracts more than 50,000 people. This is in a town that has a capacity for about 4,000 guests. Due to the weather, I believe there were only a few hundred people at our race. It’s okay.
Waldek arrived Friday afternoon with me. We completed two laps around the course. It was incredibly dry, and in some places even dusty. It was very steep climbing. These are the kind of climbs that require you to rest your head on the top of your saddle to keep the front wheel from slipping off the ground. As steep as the climbs, there were many tight switchbacks. It reminded me a lot of Colorado Trail rides back home. The best thing about the course was that it was 100% dry.
Everything was gone by Saturday afternoon. A powerful storm swept through the valley, dumping what seemed to be a foot of rain. It rained so much that I thought it was snowing outside. Summer storms are my favorite, but I was aware of the damage it was doing to race courses. I felt a knot in my stomach as it continued to pour all night.
Sunday morning was cloudy, gray and cold. It was also still raining. I warmed myself under the Luna tent. Although I enjoyed staying dry, I was only delaying the inevitable. The finish/start was located at the base of the ski hill, in a small cement amphitheater. It looked like a place that could host small summer concerts. The course ran straight up the slope, with no loop. It was quite challenging to climb the first hill. The gravel from the mountain cross-course was visible on the right. The hill’s left side was covered in slippery, muddy grass. Waldek said that he was there to witness the start of the junior race. The only one who made it up the first hill was the one on the far right. I was third but, due to spectator chaos, was able get to the line first. I was happy to grab the side on the far right.
After the gun went off, I was the one who got the hole shot to the right and ended up being first rider up the first hill. The climb got steeper and we soon found ourselves on our bikes pushing for what seemed to be forever. In the first ten minutes, it was hard to ride and running while pushing your bike. Because it was steep and slippery, the running became walking. At the top of the climb, I was at the top ten. It was a chaotic descent. These conditions can cause your glasses to fog up while you climb. After all that pushing, your shoes become muddy. The descents are even more difficult because your glasses don’t allow you to see and your feet can’t reach your pedals. Barbara Blatter crashed right in front of me. Another girl broke her chain, and I had to run. Everyone was so focused on getting in a good place that they forgot how to ride their bikes. Sometimes I wonder how we all manage to get down together.
After sliding down the first set switchbacks, I started climbing again (pushing). Then came more descending and then more climbing/pushing. That was how it went for the next two hours. The rain had stopped just before we started the race. For the first two laps, the conditions got worse. It became slippery, wet mud that was slippery and thick peanut butter mud. This makes it much more difficult to push through. It started to rain again at the beginning of lap three. I felt strangely relieved. Some sections were more difficult than others. It was a bit of a toss-up.
Four riders were closely following me half-way through the final lap. I was in 9th place and thought about how many points I would lose if these four women passed me. My super fast cyclocross skills saved me and I managed to hold on for 9th. Haha! Sue Haywood was 12th, and Mary McConnelog 19th. I gained some ground over the Americans. Two Polish girls came second and third, while a Russian girl won the contest.
Cleaning up was the next challenge. It was a challenge to remove a thick layer mud and a wet skinsuit from your body in the middle of the tech zone. There is no bathroom, no showers and it’s still very cold. The window of opportunity ends just a few minutes after you have finished the race. Waldek helped me to get clean and warm clothes by giving me a large beach towel, water and a stream that ran right through my spot.
Another weekend is over. Only three big races remain before the Olympic team is selected. Its getting closer. Tomorrow, I fly to Colorado. Haven’t been home for five weeks. Yippee! Two days later, it begins all over again and I fly up the Mt. Ste. Anne, in the northeastern region of Quebec, is our next World Cup host.
You can wait.
Alison
