May 4, 2008 (Madrid, Spain) – The Elite women’s race is underway under clear, sunny skies in Madrid. Canada has nine (9) riders on the start line with 81 riders on the start list this morning – notably absent is reigning MTB World champ and World Cup series leader Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak-Ergon. The women will race 5 laps of the 7.8km course in Casa de Campo, Madrid’s largest city park.

Lap 1
An early lead of 5 seconds is established by Norway’s Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida) and Spain’s Margarita Fullana (Massi) – following closely are Canada’s Marie-Hélène Prémont (Rocky Mountain) with 5 other riders – a larger chase group is 20 seconds behind including Canada’s Catherine Pendrel (Luna Women’s MTB Team).

Lap 2
As the riders start lap 2 Prémont has caught Dahle Flesjaa and Fullana with Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Women’s MTB Team just behind – a chase group of 12-15 with Pendrel, Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team and Ying Liu (Chinese National) is chasing. Prémont is now leading thru lap – Canada’s Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain) is 27th, Sandra Walter (X.O- Felt) is 31st and Wendy Simms (Kona) is just behind with Kiara Bisaro (Opus) just back.

Lap 3
The leaders come thru together and have a gap on Spitz, China’s Lui and Gould chasing at 30 seconds – Pendrel is 8th – the riders are strung out behind.

Lap 4
It’s Prémont, Dahle Flesjaa and Fullana starting lap 4 together – Spitz is trailing at about a min. followed by Lui as the gap on the chasing riders widens.

Lap 5 Final
Pr̩mont has taken the lead as she and Dahle Flesjaa leave Fullana behind. The two leaders are duking it out as they exchange the lead РPr̩mont passes Dahle Flesjaa on the final climb. They come to the finish together and Dahle Flesjaa wins the sprint over Pr̩mont.

Results

1. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 1:48:14
2. Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Rocky Mountain
3. Margarita Fullana (Spa) Massi 1:13
4. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team 1:37
5. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Women’s MTB Team 2:37
6. Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer-BMC 3:01
7. Ying Liu (Chn) Chinese National Team 3:09
8. Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing 3:17
9. Catherine Pendrel (Can) Luna Women’s MTB Team 3:32
10. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Women’s MTB Team 3:43
11. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Giant Italia Team 3:51
12. Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) Team Lapierre International 4:00
13. Nathalie Schneitter* (Sui) Colnago Cap Arreghini 4:15
14. Laurence Leboucher (Fra) 4:20
15. Mary McConneloug (USA) Kenda Seven 4:22
16. Tanja Zakelj* (Slo) 4:30
17. Katrin Leumann (Sui) 4:41
18. Chengyuan Ren* (Chn) Chinese National Team 4:49
19. Maroussia Rusca (Sui) 4:51
20. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Team Ghost International 4:55
21. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini 5:31
22. Tereza Hurikova* (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna Mtb 5:50
23. Jingjing Wang (Chn) Chinese National Team 6:11
24. Adelheid Morath (Ger) 6:34
25. Esther Süss (Sui) 6:40
26. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 7:08
27. Mical Dyck (Can) Terrascape-Trek 7:09
28. Anna Villar Argente (Esp) Massi 7:14
29. Maria Osl (Aut) Sunshine Racers ASV Nals 7:43
30. Arielle Van Meurs (Ned) 8:01
31. Nina Homovec (Slo) 8:17
32. Alison Sydor (Can) Rocky Mountain 8:39
33. Githa Michiels (Bel) 9:01
34. Laura Turpijn (Ned) 9:15
35. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.Ch BMC 9:23
36. Dellys Starr (Aus) 9:25
37. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 9:31
38. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Team Lapierre International 9:32
39. Helene Marcouyre (Fra) BH-SR. Suntour 9:42
40. Wendy Simms (Can) Kona 9:49
41. Susan Haywood (USA) Trek-VW 9:52
42. Laura Metzler* (Fra) BH-SR. Suntour 10:05
43. Vera Andreeva* (Rus) 10:08
44. Sandra Araujo (Por) 10:15
45. Francisca Campos Salas (Chi) Massi 10:18
46. Sandra Walter (Can) X.O.Felt 10:40
47. Alexandra Engen* (Swe) 10:42
48. Ivonne Kraft (Ger) 11:20
49. Amanda Sin (Can) 3 ROX Racing 11:30
50. Séverine Hansen (Fra) BH-SR. Suntour 11:59
51. Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Esp) Cemelorca-Seguros10.Com 12:08
52. Julie Bresset* (Fra) Breiz Mountain 12:20
53. Emily Batty* (Can) Toronto Trek Store 13:08
54. Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) Subaru-Gary Fisher 13:23
55. Ruth Moll Marques (Esp) 13:41
56. Cristina Mascarreras Sabria (Esp) Conor – Camping La Siesta 13:55
57. Kate Potter (Aus) 14:02
58. Yolanda Speedy (RSA) 14:21
59. Stephanie Wiedner* (Aut) 14:29
60. Rowena Fry (Aus) 14:35
61. Zoe King (Aus) 14:46
62. Ksenia Chernykh (Rus) 16:20
63. Emma Colson (Aus) 16:30
64. Caroline Mani* (Fra) 17:09
65. Laura Lorenza Morfin Macouzet (Mex) 17:24
66. Mercé Tusell Quevedo (Esp) Massi 17:36
67. Kristien Nelen (Bel) 18:10
68. Susan Butler (USA) 18:22
69. Katherine O’Shea (Aus) 22:30
70. Daniela Bunzli Rojas (Chi) 22:58
71. Therese Rhodes* (Aus) -1Lap
DNF Kiara Bisaro (Can) Opus
DNF Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher
DNF Kaytee Boyd (NZl)
DNF Rocio Gamonal Ferrera (Esp)
DNF Oxana Rybakova (Rus)
DNF Tory Thomas (Aus)
DNF Evgenia Belozerova* (Rus)
DNF Rocio Martin Rodriguez (Esp)
DNF Nicole Lechl* (Ger) Team Xlc Haibike
DNS Katrin Schwing (Ger) Dolphin-Trek Mountainbike

*U23