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UCI MTB World Cup Nove Mesto – Preview

by Mike Sarnecki

May 11, 2012 (Nove Mesto na Marave, Czech Republic) – Round three of the RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano resumes this weekend in Nové Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic. Nove Mesto hosted the World Cup for the first time in 2011, and was voted top cross-country event of 2011 by the riders, teams and press. Located in the scenic Vysocina region southeast of Prague, the event is headquartered at the Czech Nordic and Biathlon centre, providing a superb stadium for fans to watch the start and finish.

The action begins with the Eliminator on Friday, an exciting short course event that has riders sprint around a course filled with obstacles, with the top two moving on to the next round after each heat. Usually, the Eliminator runs heats of four riders at a time, however, Nové Mesto na Morave will run six on the track at once, to make the racing even more exciting.

The cross-country circuit is similar to last year, with the long climbs through the surrounding forest requiring tremendous fitness, plus technical descents demanding concentration and skill to do well.

Organizers have made a few changes to the course from last year. While still featuring the long climbs through the surrounding forest and technical descents demanding concentration and skill to do well, the track has been lengthened to 4.46kms to accommodate even more climbing: a total of 220 metres per lap including the longest climb of the loop that gains 53 metres. Also the addition of a BMX inspired section will require both speed and skill. The Elite men will complete six laps plus the start loop while the Elite women complete 5 laps plus the start loop.

With two World Cup races remaining, Canadian Olympic team selection is on the line, and the riders are bringing their A-game.

World Champion Catharine Pendrel (Luna) will trade in her World Championship stripes for the World Cup Leaders jersey, as leads the women’s World Cup standings ahead Maja Wloszczowska (CCC Polkowice). It’s with mixed emotion that Pendrel dawns the different jersey. “It’s an honour to wear either, but it’s definitely too bad that the World Champion does not get to wear the stripes while leading the world cup.” After her win in Houffalize, Pendrel returned to North America and attended the Sea Otter Classic and has since been at home for two weeks, getting some secret training in by “getting the yard in shape!” Excited to compete in Nove Mesto, Pendrel tells Pedal “the course is great. Its fast and hard and a lot of fun.” If it isn’t broke, then why fix it could describe Pendrel’s rationale for bike choice, as she will be rocking the same 26″ hardtail that brought her victory in Houffalize.

Emily Batty (Subaru Trek) is looking to improve upon her 8th place finish in Nove Mesto last year in front of the huge crowds. “This course suites my strengths really well,” said Batty. “The fans come out in thousands, they are so loud you can’t even here yourself breathing, all you do is turn the pedals faster and harder.” As it has been the trend for Batty since she joined the Subaru Trek squad, she will be racing her 29 Superfly Elite hardtail. “Every race this year Subaru-Trek and SRAM are always adding something extra to my bike, so who knows what extra special part I will show up to the line with.” Batty thinks the lead group will be determined early, similar to how it played out last year. “I think the race will separate fairly early, possibly by the end of the lap 1,” says Batty. “It’s a “big engine rider” course, so the riders that are strong will likely separate themselves quickly.”

Joining Pendrel and Batty is fellow Canadian Amanda Sin (SCOTT-3Rox) who is looking for an improvement over her top 50 finishes thus far. “The course is one of my favourites. It’s a great race course, but also just fun riding as well.” Sin will be aboard her SCOTT Scale 29er and is hoping to crack the top 30 this weekend.

On the men’s side, the battle for the two Olympic team spots heats up with Geoff Kabush (SCOTT – 3Rox) arguably leading the way to selection after and 11th place finish in Houffalize with Max Plaxton Max (Team Specialized Racing USA) and Derek Zandstra (SCOTT – 3Rox) battling for the second spot.

Zandstra had a similar path to Nove Mesto as Pendrel as he flew straight to Sea Otter from Belgium and then returned home for a reprieve from racing. “I went back home to get back to the basic’s with my training and to rejuvenate myself.” In an effort to be faster on the climbs, Zandstra is forgoing any extra weight as he’s saved off the characteristic handlebar moustache. Gunning for his best result of the season, Zandstra is hoping for a little luck off the start and avoid the inevitable bottleneck into the singletrack as he is feeling confident. “After being home and changing up a few things in training I have been feeling pretty good.”

Kabush is looking to have a better race then in the 2011 edition. “Nove Mesto was one of my favourite events last year but I was disappointed with my legs,” Kabush told Pedal. “I am really looking forward to having another shot at this course; it reminds me a lot of some of the loamy trails in BC.” Because of all the steep climbing on course, Kabush is opting for a super light set up as he’s running his SCOTT Scale 29.

Fellow Canadian, Adam Morka (Trek Canada) returns to action after a small hiatus from racing. Morka, who also runs Wired for Performance is looking forward to competing and has a smart strategy in mind for his race. “I am feeling ready to be aggressive and move up quickly. Its a very fast paced race, one of the fastest on the circuit, so you have to move up early and keep,” Morka tells Pedal. “There is no pacing strategy when starting in 92nd, you can’t be conservative because you risk getting pulled on a short course with such high traffic of other riders.”

Morka thinks the course is fantastic and a real “race track”. “The course demands the rider to stay focused, produce high speed efforts and stay on throttle with short recoveries.” Morka will be piloting his 18 pound Trek 29 Superfly Elite with a small modification – a single ring set up with a 33 tooth chainring in an effort to save time between shifts as he crests each steep climb.

SCOTT – 3Rox team manager Kyle Douglas digs the venue. “This place makes me want to pull the bike down out of the rafters and go out for a game of stick and puck, like the good old days.” Douglas figures that the team will be in for another solid weekend of racing and as always, they “will be looking for who can approve the most from their call up… Internal team bets have been submitted.”

When we asked about Czech Beer, Kabush weighted in: “mehh, [it’s] mostly Sport Beer, mostly Pilsner which is pretty good with sausages but I’m trying not to eat too many of those.” As for Douglas’ take on the local brew, he is going to leave that to the experts as he tells Pedal that he “will be looking for local hero and Canadian legend Scott Kelly as he wonders bar to bar.”

CANADIAN TEAM – UCI MTB WORLD CUPS

Elite Men
– Kabush, Geoff (Scott-3RoxRacing)
– Jette, Cam (Scott-3RoxRacing)
– Wagler, Tyson (Scott-3RoxRacing)
– Morka, Adam (Trek Canada)
– Plaxton, Max (Team Specialized Racing USA)
– Zandstra, Derek (Scott-3RoxRacing)

U23 Men
– Guthrie, Evan (Canadian National Team)
– McNeely, Evan (Canadian National Team)
– Moreau, Etienne (Team Xprezo-Borsea)

Elite Women
– Sin, Amanda (Scott-3RoxRacing)
– Kofman, Mikaela (Scott-3RoxRacing)
– Premont, Marie-Helene (Rocky Mountain Bicycles Factory Team)
– Pendrel, Catharine (Team LUNA Pro)
– Vipond, Catherine (Canadian National Team)
– Batty, Emily (Team Subaru-Trek)
– Berkenpas, Jean Ann (Canadian National Team)

U23 Women
– Bietola, Laura (Canadian National Team)
– Pichette, Andreanne (Canadian National Team)





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