July 7, 2007 (Schladming, Austria) — Americans Brian Lopes and Jill Kintner completed another 4X sweep for the USA and GT Bicycles this weekend. With the win, Lopes also secures himself his 6th World Cup overall 4X title.

Riders were enjoying tackling the course in Schladming, a stark contrast to recent stops on the World Cup circuit. A wide variety of terrain including log drops, mini rock gardens and sweeping corners meant that racers were once again racing and not playing follow the leader behind whoever got the snap out of the gate.

Kintner qualified first for the women’s event and managed to win both women’s heats and take another victory. Only eight riders made the anemic women’s final and no one could touch Kintner on a course she was enjoying riding. The American is now 40 points ahead of rival Anneke Beerten (Ned) Bikepark.ch, so going into the final event it is anyone’s season as a win grants the victor 250 points.

Lopes had kind words for the course this week while commenting on how his run went, a rare occurrence from the ex-BMXer this season. “It was a pretty good course with the exception of the 1st straight as it is too short, but I got a good start in the final, made it through the first turn clean and then opened up a gap. The course was loose and between that and some sections being tricky you had to be smart.”

Defending World Champion Michal Prokop (CZE) Author Bikes, who skipped the Mont Ste-Anne round for a BMX Olympic qualifier, was relegated to 5th place and the small finals.

With the win, Lopes secures his 6th World Cup overall 4x title, as Slovakian Filip Polc is in second, 500 points behind with only one event remaining on the calendar (Maribor, Slovenia in September).

“It was a great night as my main goal was to wrap up the overall title and doing it with a win feels extra good. My 6th world cup overall and I think my 25th world cup win,”

No Canadians were entered in the event.

Results (brief)

Men
1. Brian Lopes (USA) GT
2. guide Tschugg (Ger) Ssang Young Fusion
3. Filip Polc (Svk) Gravity Group
4. Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti

Women
1. Jill Kintner (USA) GT
2. Anneke Beerten (Ned) Bikepark.ch
3. Fionn Griffiths (Gbr) Norco
4. Mio Suemesa (Jpn) Ms Intense