June 23, 2007 (Mont-Ste-Anne, Quebec) — There’s a huge buzz at round #4 of the Nissan UCI MTB World Cup as the Elite Women’s XC is underway under cloudy skies that are threatening rain with the temperature around 20 degrees. The women will complete one start loop plus 5 full laps.

Start Loop
After the start loop it’s Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher leading followed by Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost International Racing, Canada’s Marie-Hélène Prémont (Rocky Mountain-Haywood) in 3rd, Russia’s Irina Kalentyeva (Topeak-Ergon) in 4th, Spain’s Margarita Fullana (Spiuk-Tau Ceramica) in 5th, and Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Women’s MTB Team in 6th.

Lap 1
At the end of the first lap Gould is leading with 4 sec. on Fullana followed by Spitz, Prémont, Kalentyeva, Ying Liu (Chn) China in 6th, Ren Chengyuan (Chn) China in 7th, Koerber is in 8th, Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) Team Lapierre International is in 9th and Mary McConneloug (USA) Kenda Seven is in 10th.

At 2 minutes are Canada’s Sandra Walter (XO Felt), Catherine Pendrel (Norco) who fought her way up from the back of the pack, Mical Dyck (Trek/Terrascape), Amanda Sin (3 Rocks/Scott), Emily Batty (Team RACE), Kiara Bisaro (Opus) and Catherine Vipond (ON, Team Trek Store).

Lap 2
The weather has improved and it’s now sunny and hot – as the riders finish lap 2 and begin lap 3 it’s a group of three in front with China’s Ren Chengyuan leading and Russia’s Kalentyeva on her wheel with Spain’s Fullana just behind her – then it’s Germany’s Spitz in 4th and China’s Liu in 5th.

At 56 seconds is Canada’s Prémont who crashed during the lap and is trying to make up lost time. Canada’s Walter is in 21st, Pendrel is 27th, Dyck is 32nd and Simms is in 33rd.

Lap 3
At the end of Lap 3 and beginning Lap 4 it’s China’s Ren Chengyuan leading a group of four riders including Fullana, Kalentyeva and Spitz who joined the three leaders. Liu is trailing in 4th.

Canada’s Prémont is in 8th, Pendrel has moved up well into 11th, Walter is in 21st, Simms is 22nd and Dyck is 23 – Bisaro crashed in the start loop which why she is far back and is trying to make up ground quickly.

Lap 4
Halfway through lap 4 the four leaders Chengyuan, Fullana, Kalentyeva and Spitz are still in control and Canada’s Prémont is in 8th trying to catch up.

Lap 5 Final
As they start the final lap it’s Germany’s Spitz leading followed by Kalentyeva in 2nd, Fullana in 3rd and Ren Chengyuan in 4th. They have a 10 sec lead on Gould in 5th who has a 10-sec lead on Canada’s Prémont now in 6th. Pendrel is still in 11th having a great race today.

Prémont has now caught Gould and is in 5th and trying to catch the leaders.

Unofficial

1. Irina Kalentyeva (Rus) Topeak-Ergon 1:39 (avg. 16.24km/hr)
2. Ren Chengyuan (Chn) China 0:10
3. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Ghost International Racing 0:24
4. Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood 0:46
5. Margarita Fullana (Spain) Spiuk-Tau Ceramica 1:00
6. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Women’s MTB Team 1:39
7. Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 2:08
8. Ying Liu (Chn) China 2:40
9. Mary McConneloug (USA) Kenda Seven 3:32
10. Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized 3:58
11. Catherine Pendrel (Can) Norco 4:06
12. Laurence Leboucher (Fra) 4:53

25. Mical Dyck (Can) Trek-Terrascape 7:55
26. Sandra Walter (Can) XO Felt 8:44
28. Amanda Sin (Can) 3 Rox Racing-Scott 9:07
31. Wendy Simms (Can) Kona-Les Gets 9:46
38. Emily Batty (Team RACE) 12:15
39. Kiara Bisaro (Opus) 12:55
50. Julie Sanders (Can) Marin Bikes 17:29
54. Catherine Vipond (Can) Team Trek Store 19:36
55. Caroline Villeneuve (Can) 19:54
56. Jean Ann McKirdy (Can) Rocky Mountain-Haywood 20:36
60. Kathleen Villeneuve (Can) Equipe du Quebec – 1 lap down
64. Karine Travaillaud (Can) CVM Val-David – 1 lap down
67. Sue Trimble-Haviland – 1 lap down
71. Trish Sinclair (Can) Scott USA-Kenda – 2 laps down
74. Mathilde Hupin/Debeurme (Can) Marin Bikes/PI – 2 laps down