April 8, 2011 (Pietermaritzburg, South Africia) – French Riders win first ever the time trials ‘Superfinals’ at UCI BMX Supercross World Cup Pietermaritzburg today. Frenchmen Joris Daudet and Manon Valentino outperformed all in the Superfinal of the time trials. With this result the French riders, who are known to be time trial experts, get maximum points for the World Cup ranking and advance as top seed into the eight finals (men) and quarter finals (women).

The fastest 64 men of the time trials will advance into the eight finals featured over three rounds. As will the fastest 32 women advance into to the four quarter finals over three rounds. The finals will start tomorrow 14.00 hours local time in Pietermaritzburg South Africa.

In total 103 Elite men and 38 Elite women riders registered from 23 countries for the first leg of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Pietermaritzburg South Africa. Thus the time trials eliminated 47 men and 6 women riders.

The best sixteen men and women of the time trials raced again in the Superfinal time trials to determine the final result. The finishing order of this second run determines how many points all riders get for the World Cup ranking.

“It went really well for me today and I’m really happy to have won in the time trial but the big race is tomorrow so we’ll just wait and see,” said Daudet, who put together a staggering second half of his super-final to rocket from fifth to take the line honours.

“I’m really happy with where my speed is at the moment and it’s really awesome for us (France) to have won both the men’s and women’s time trial,” the beaming Frenchman added.

“The track was a little bit soft yesterday but its hardened up today so tomorrow should be good,” he said. “We’ll just chill out tonight and watch some of the footage from today and then hopefully things go well tomorrow.”

2009 Junior Women’s World Champ and Daudet’s fellow French star Manon Valentino was also cautious not to get too far ahead of her but was clearly satisfied with her time trial success.

“This is my best result in a time trial so far and I’m very happy to have won but tomorrow is the big one, the one that really counts, so there’s still lots more work to be done,” she said.

Men’s title favourite Sam Willoughby of Australia finished sixth, after digging deep to get himself onto the start line after being laid low by a stomach bug. The Australian was happy with his performance on the day, particularly in a discipline that is not his forté.

“I wouldn’t exactly call myself a time trial specialist and some of those other guys are really going well at the moment but overall I was happy with today,” said Willoughby.

“Racing and time trails are also two very different things because if you can get in front into the first corner of the race its quite tough for the rest of the guys to get past you after that so we’ll just have to see how things go tomorrow,” he added.

After a week of being frustrated by persistent rain the weather gods co-operated to provide cool overcast, and critically rain-free conditions for the first full days racing.

The second day gets under way at 2pm at Alexandra Park in Pietermaritzburg.

More information can be found here.

Results

Elite Men
1.Joris Daudet (Fra) 33.497
2.Raymon van der Biezen (Ned) 33.691
3.Tory Nyhaug (Can) 33.805
4.Sylvain Andre (Fra) 33.9
5.Corben Sharrah (USA) 33.919
6.Sam Willoughby (Aus) 33.973
7. Nicholas Long (USA) 34.181
8.Carlos Oquendo Zabala (Col) 34.223
9.Joshua Meyers (USA) 34.225
10.Brian Kirkham (Aus) 34.231
11.Damien Godet (Fra) 34.296
12.Khalen Young (Aus) 34. 754
13.Kurt Pickard (NZL) 34. 848
14.Thomas Hamon (Fra) 34.859
15.Robert de Wilde (Ned) 35.071
16.Daniel Schlang (Ger) 35.182

Elite Women
1.Manon Valentino (Fra) 33.541
2.Sarah Walker (Nzl) 33.902
3.Mariana Pajon (Col) 33.923
4.Caroline Buchanan (Aus) 34.215
5.Jana Horakova (Cze) 34.539
6.Magalie Pottier (Fra) 34.615
7.Joyce Seesing (Ned) 34.629
8.Lauren Reynolds (Aus) 34.667
9.Eva Ailloud (Fra) 34.709
10.Samantha Cools (Can) 34.818
11.Melinda Mcleod (Aus) 34.911
12.Rachel Bracken (Aus) 34.971
13.Amelie Despeaux (Fra) 35.045
14.Anete Hladikova (Cze) 35.344
15.Amanda Carr (USA) 35.571
16.Arielle Martin (USA) 52.763