May 20, 2012 (La Bresse, FRA) – The Elite Women’s race is now underway under bright sunny skies, with World Champion Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro) from Canada ready to battle last weekend’s winner in Nove Mesto, Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry, in front of her home crowd. Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain Bicycles Factory Team) and Emily Batty (Subaru Trek) will be looking to improve on their results in Nove Mesto. Amanda Sin (Scott-3Rox Racing) and Jean Ann Berkenpass (Xprezo) are also on the start line for Canada. Missing from today’s race is Irina Kalentieva (RUS) Topeak Ergon, a former MTB Worlds Champ, who elected to do some altitude training in preparation for the 2012 Games. This is the final qualifying race before London 2012 so a lot is riding on the line for many riders. It rained overnight but the sun is drying out the La Bresse course as the Elite women will complete 1 Start Loop (1.5km) + 5 Laps for a total of 25.50km.
Start Loop
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team and Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice are leading the pack…
Premont is 9th, Pendrel is around 15th and Batty is in the 20s…
Lap 1
Dahle Flesjaa out front in 3:46 with the pack right behind as the women start their first lap of five. Premont is 9th, Pendrel is 13th and Batty is 26th…
Up the big climb Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice takes over the lead – Bresset and Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team are both up there… Pendrel is moving up.
Sorry it’s Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team that’s up front now with Bresset with Pendrel in third as the pack gets spread out up the climb.
Wloszczowska is 4th, Dahle is 5th, Annie Last (Gbr) Milka Brentjens Mtb Racing Team is 6th and Katrin Leumann (Sui) Ghost Factory Racing Team is 7th.
Premont is now 13th at 1:09 as Batty moves up to 17th.
Thru the downhill rock section it’s Nash with a small gap on Bresset as Pendrel is behind in 3rd.
Lap 2
Nash comes thru 22:11 with Bresset on her wheel at 1s… Pendrel is 3rd at 21s.
Dahle Flesjaa is 4th at 23s and Wloszczowska is 5th – Last is 6th and Leumann is 7th, Gould is 8th.
Bresset takes over the lead up the big climb… Pendrel is gaining – there are huge fans on hand for this first XC race in La Bresse.
Pendrel has bridged to Nash and Bresset… Batty is 13th at 1:32 followed by Premont in 14th.
Back down the mountain it’s Bresset trying to escape but Nash and Pendrel are just behind – they’re teammates and will try to work together. Dahle Flesjaa is alone in 4th at 20s… then it’s Wloszczowska, Last, Leumann and Gould in 8th.
Pendrel is now 2nd… she tries to attack coming into the descent but Bresset reacts. Pendrel and Nash are off the bike on a short climb and Nash is now back in second.
Bresset looks smooth down the final section to the flats she and Nash have a small gap on Pendrel.
Lap 3
Bresset is thru in 41:17… Nash is at 7s with Pendrel is 3rd at 15s.
Dahle Flesjaa is at 30s, Wloszczowska is at 1:12, Last is 6th at 1:46 – Batty has moved up to 9th at 2:30 – Premont is 19th at 3:49.
Pendrel is gaining on the climb… she passes Nash – now she takes over the lead but Bresset is not letting her go.
Pendrel is leading into the descent… down the swithback section it’s Pendrel opening up a gap on Bresset with Nash just behind. Thru the rock garden it’s Pendrel now opening up a gap – she wants to improve on her 6th from last weekend.
She has a 9s gap on the two chasers as Nash sits on Bresset’s wheel…
Dahle Flesjaa has gained some time and is now 24s behind. Wloszczowska crashed but has recovered and is back holding on to 5th at 1:26.
Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol crashes and is out – her Olympic dreams are dashed.
Bresset has closed the gap to Pendrel on the descent with Nash just behind.
Big crash in the final downhill section as Pendrel slips and comes off the bike and Bresset crashes into to her and goes over the bars – both go down… but Nash is able to slip by and takes over first.
Pendrel has a chain problem and is slowed again as she gets back on with Dahle Flesjaa going to catch her.
Lap 4
Nash begins the penultimate lap in 1:01:00 as Bresset comes thru at 7s and has a seat problem from the crash… Pendrel and Dahle Flesjaa are together at 13s.
Wloszczowska is 5th, then it’s Leumann is 6th, Gould is 7th, and Last is 8th… Batty holds on to 9th at 2:39.
Up the steep climb it’s Nash leading with Pendrel in second with Bresset in 3rd and Dahle Flesjaa in 4th.
Thru the descent it’s Nash with a gap on Pendrel who is trying to close it – then it’s Dahle Flesjaa with Bresset behind trying to regain her composure at home.
Pendrel and Dahle Flesjaa are at 9s – Bresset is at 25s – Wloszczowska is at 1:44 – Leumann is at 2:09…
Nash crashes hard as her rear wheel slips out but she’s back on the bike… Dahle Flesjaa takes over second.
Bresset is gaining on Pendrel… thru the final descent section that caused a problem on the previous lap.
Lap 5 FINAL
It’s Nash thru in 1:20:41… with Dahle Flesjaa close behind at 4s. Then it’s Pendrel and Bresset together at 19s.
Wloszczowska is in 5th at 1:52 then it’s Leumann in 6th at 2:38, Gould is 7th 2:40, Last is 8th in 2:44 and Batty is 9th at 3:08.
Up the climb it’s Nash leading with Dahle Flesjaa close behind… then it’s Pendrel gapping Bresset but the French rider is not letting go.
Nash is on the descent but can’t shake Dahle Flesjaa who is the most successful woman mountain biker of all time.
Nash is pulling away – thru the final rock garden descent she looks smooth – she knows if she can keep it steady she’ll take the win.
Pendrel is 3rd but Bresset is right there on her wheel… at 40s. Bresset passes Pendrel and takes over 3rd.
Nash has 9s over Dahle Flesjaa in second – Gould takes over 6th and is gaining on Wloszczowska.
On a windy descent Nash goes down… but she’s back on the bike.
Dahle Flesjaa is gaining and takes over the lead on the final descent to the last flat section…Nash goes down again into some bushes.
Dahle Flesjaa takes it…
Result
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 1:39:57
2. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 0:16
3. Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 0:55
4. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 1:12
5. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice 2:22
6. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 2:46
7. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Ghost Factory Racing Team 3:06
8. Annie Last* (GBr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team 3:20
9. Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek 3:51
10. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 5:14
11. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team 5:24
12. Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) ISD MTB Team 5:39
13. Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 5:40
14. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 6:22
15. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team 7:00
16. Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing 7:14
17. Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team 7:30
18. Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice 7:37
19. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 7:58
20. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 8:13
21. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain 8:21
22. Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 8:30
23. Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler-IXS Team 8:47
24. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges 0:10
25. Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls 0:10:43
26. Mary Mcconneloug (USA) 0:10:47
27. Sarah Koba (Sui) 0:11:09
28. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 0:11:20
29. Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 0:11:21
30. Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 0:11:33
31. Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol) 0:12:05
32. Vera Andreeva (Rus) 0:12:26
33. Rie Katayama (Jpn) 0:12:54
34. Silke Schmidt (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 0:13:31
35. Qinglan Shi (Chn) 0:14:11
36. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Trek 0:14:43
37. Hanna Klein (Ger)
38. Laura Turpijn (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team 0:15:25
39. Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries 0:15:32
40. Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus Mig Team 0:15:53
41. Corina Gantenbein (Sui) Fischer-BMC
42. Jean Ann Berkenpas (Can) Xprezo 0:16:11
43. Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura 0:16:36
44. Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 0:16:53
45. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) 0:17:02
46. Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 0:18:28
47. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.Ch Craft 0:20:47
48. Judy Freeman (USA) 0:20:56
49. Githa Michiels (Bel) Trek-KMC Trade Team -1 lap
50. Jenni King (Aus) -1 lap
51. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team -1 lap
52. Anna Villar Argente (Esp) -1 lap
53. Nicoletta De Jager (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team -1 lap
54. Caroline Mani (Fra) -1 lap
55. Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) -1 lap
56. Lucie Vesela (Cze) GT Bicycles Opportunity -1 lap
57. Anne Terpstra* (Ned) -2 laps
58. Samantha Sanders (RSA) -2 laps
59. Franziska Brun (Sui) -2 laps
60. Judith Pollinger (Ita) Hard Rock Canossa Merida -2 laps
61. Kristien Nelen (Bel) Houffalize-Granville Team -2 laps
62. Rowena Fry (Aus) -2 laps
63. Krista Park (USA) -2 laps
64. Elisa Maria Garcia (Chi) -2 laps
65. Céline Farner (Sui) Jb Felt Team -2 laps
66. Aurélia Perry (Fra) -2 laps
67. Jessica Roberts (Gbr) -2 laps
68. Inbar Ronen (Isr) -3 laps
69. Chloe Woodruff (USA) -3 laps
70. Maxine Filby (Gbr) -3 laps
71. Katherine O’shea (Aus) -3 laps
72. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team -3 laps
DNF Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team
DNF Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice
DNF Annika Langvad (Den) Team Fujibikes Rockets
DNF Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol
DNF Maaris Meier (Est)
DNF Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix
DNF Karen Hanlen (Nzl)
DNF Angelica Edvardsson (Swe)
DNF Zephanie Blasi (USA) WXC World Racing
DNF Erica Zaveta (USA) Moda-Bikemagic Racing Team
DNF Joanne Clay (Gbr) WXC World Racing
DNS Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice
DNS Sabrina Maurer (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team
DNS Ana Zupan (Slo) Energijateam.Com
DNS Tracy Moseley (Gbr)
DNS Anneke Beerten (Ned) Milka-Superior MTB Racing Team
DNS Joanna Petterson (USA) lka-Superior MTB Racing Team
DNS Joanna Petterson (USA)
Standings after 4 Rounds
1. Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 750 pts
2. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 690
3. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice 670
4. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 538
5. Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek 515
6. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 509
7. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 425
8. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 393
9. Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 374
10. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Ghost Factory Racing Team 362
11. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 349
12. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 348
13. Annie Last* (Gbr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team 342
14. Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler-IXS Team 332
15. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain 306
16. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team 303
17. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 295
18. Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing 252
19. Karen Hanlen (Nzl) 234
20. Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 230
21. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges 226
22. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.Ch Craft 209
23. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol 207
24. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team 199
25. Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team 196
26. Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice 196
27. Rosara Joseph (Nzl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 182
28. Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 181
29. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Trek 179
30. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 176
31. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 159
32. Mary Mcconneloug (USA) 157
33. Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus Mig Team 155
34. Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) ISD MTB Team 153
35. Annika Langvad (Den) Team Fujibikes Rockets 150
36. Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix 142
37. Vera Andreeva (Rus) 126
38. Laura Turpijn (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team 125
39. Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 124
40. Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice 120
41. Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 119
42. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 118
43. Hanna Klein (Ger) 118
44. Rie Katayama (Jpn) 114
45. Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura 111
46. Sarah Koba (Sui) 110
47. Qinglan Shi (Chn) 105
48. Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice 104
49. Silke Schmidt (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 103
50. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 103
51. Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries 93
52. Judy Freeman (USA) 91
53. Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol) 84
54. Anne Terpstra* (Ned) 83
55. Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 80
56. Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls 70
57. Corina Gantenbein (Sui) Fischer-BMC 63
58. Katherine Compton (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 51
59. Rowena Fry (Aus) 51
60. Jean Ann Berkenpas (Can) Xprezo 50
61. Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 47
62. Githa Michiels (Bel) Trek-KMC Trade Team 47
63. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) 38
64. Chloe Woodruff (USA) 36
65. Samantha Sanders (RSA) 36
66. Jenni King (Aus) 31
67. Caroline Mani (Fra) 25
68. Anna Villar Argente (Spa) 24
69. Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 24
70. Ivonne Kraft (Ger) 20
71. Nicoletta De Jager (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team 15
72. Willow Rockwell (USA) Trek World Racing 14
73. Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) 13
74. Jodie Willett (Aus) 13
75. Lucie Vesela (Cze) GT Bicycles Opportunity 12
76. Katherine O’shea (Aus) 12
77. Pavlina Sulcova (Cze) Merida Biking Team 10
78. Franziska Brun (Sui) 9
79. Catherine Vipond (Can) Norco 9
80. Julia Colvin (RSA) 9
81. Judith Pollinger (Ita) Hard Rock Canossa Merida 8
82. Jane Nussli (GBr) Fischer-BMC 8
83. Melanie Palframan (RSA) 8
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