May 13, 2012 (Nove Mesto, Czech Republic) – The Elite Women’s race will soon be underway under bright sunny skies but a bit chilly, with World Champion Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro) from Canada battling Poland’s Maja Wloszczowska (CCC Polkowice) and Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry for the top spot. Canada’s Emily Batty (Subaru Trek) is also looking for her second WCup podium with Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain Bicycles Factory Team) looking to improve her results as well. Also racing for Canada are Amanda Sin (SCOTT-3Rox), Catherine Vipond (Canadian National Team),  Mikaela Kofman (Scott-3RoxRacing) and Jean Ann Berkenpas (Canadian National Team). The Elite women will comple 1 Start Loop (3.2km) + 5 Laps for a total of 25.5km.

Start Loop
Wloszczowska and Annie Last (Gbr) are leading along with Elisabeth Osl (Aut) – Pendrel is around 12th and Batty 15th…

Big crash behind at the start as a rider goes down – two Canadians are caught up in it.

Bresset take over the lead with Wloszczowska just behind. Now local Katerina Nash (Cze) takes over the lead with Blaza Klemencic (Slo) moving up to second – Batty is around 6th as Pendrel drops back.

Through the rock garden Nash has a gap over Klemencic in 2nd with Wloszczowska in third.

Lap 1
Nash comes thru alone in 9:18 with Klemencic 2nd and Wloszczowska in third – Bresset is in 4th with Katrin Leumann (Sui) 5th.

Batty is 9th, Premont is 14th but surprising is Pendrel in 18th at 50s.

Nash, 34 years old, has gapped the field with 5 chasers behind about 10s back – up the rock garden climb all riders dismount and run up.

Bresset takes over 2nd from Wloszczowska… as Nash continues to lead up front.

Osl crashes hard on the rock garden…

Nash is on fire… behind it’s Bresset, Wloszczowska and Klemencic – then a group of 4 with Batty and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flessja (Nor).

Lap 2
Nash begins her second of five laps with a time of 25:12… then it’s Bresset on her own at 13s.

In 3rd it’s Wloszczowska with Klemencic in 4th and Dahle Flessja in 5th… a group of three are at 38s with Irina Kalentieva (Rus), Batty and Leumann.

Pendrel has moved up to 10th at 59s with Premont in 12th.

Bresset is gaining on Nash… now Dahle Flessja has taken over third with Wloszczowska in 4th – Pendrel is moving up.

Thru the uphill Expert Climb rock garden Bresset is able to ride it while Dahle Flessja dismounts and runs thru… followed by Wloszczowska.

Nash sees Bresset in second gaining as Wloszczowska tries to reel in Dahle Flessja… now thru the downhill the rock garden where Osl went down hard.

The crowd is loving Nash in the lead…

Dahle Flessja, Wloszczowska and Batty are on 29ers… most others are riding 26″ wheels.

Bresset will soon catch Nash as Klemencic takes over 4th with Wloszczowska now 5th…

Lap 3
Bresset catches Nash and crosses the line first in 41:26… Dahle Flessja is just behind in 3rd.

Then it’s a group of three Wloszczowska, Kalentieva and Leumann – Pendrel is 8th and Batty is 9th at 35s.

Up the Expert Climb rock garden climb again it’s Bresset leading… but the three chasers are gaining and it’ll soon be 6 leaders.

Nash regains the lead – the six leaders are together followed by Pendrel and Georgia Gould about 8s behind trying to bridge with Batty just behind them… and Premont a bit further back.

Bresset is now in front as positions change in the group of six.

Thru the BMX jump section Bresset looks smooth… Pendrel has dropped Gould and is trying hard to join the leaders.

Coming into the AC-DC section it’s Bresset still leading with Nash not giving in… Kalentieva is in third.

Nash stumbles on the Rock and Roll section as riders gain on her.

Lap 4
On the penultimate lap it’s Bresset in 57:44 with Kalentieva taking over second as Nash is now 3rd at 9s.

Wloszczowska is 4th, Klemencic is 5th, Pendrel is 6th at 14s, Dahle Flessja is 7th, Gould is 8th and Batty is 9th at 44s, Premont 10th.

Pendrel attacks and is now in 3rd…

Up the Expert Climb Bresset can’t ride it and Kalentieva gains on her… Pendrel is closing in on them.

Bresset and Kalentieva are leading with about 5s on Pendrel alone in 3rd.

Wloszczowska is passed by Nash on the tough Expert Climb uphill climb… with Gould in 6th. Pendrel is gaining on Kalentieva as they chase down Bresset thru the downhill rock garden.

Into the BMX section the three leaders are thru with Nash in 4th on her own. Up the tough climb on the course Pendrel gets a bit dropped but tries to regain… Gould moves up into 5th with Wloszczowska 6th.

Lap 5 FINAL
Bresset and Kalentieva are together at 1:13:43 with 15s on the World Champ Pendrel in 3rd… does she have enough in the tank to catch them ?

4. Nash is 4th at 23s
5. Gould in 5th at 27s
6. Klemencic 0:33
7. Wloszczowska 0:34
8. Dahle Flessja o:39
9. Premont 1:17
10. Batty 1:43

Bresset rides the Expert Climb but Kalentieva can’t and the leader gaps her… behind it’s Gould, Pendrel and Nash three Luna teammates together.

Bresset smells victory and now has 10s on Kalentieva…but the gap is growing – now 21s and Pendrel is 5th as Nash makes a move to take over 3rd.

Barring any mishap Bresset will take the win leading into next weekend’s race in La Bresse, France at home for Bresset.

Thru the AC-DC section Bresset has a comfortable gap…

Bresset wins and takes over the WCup lead.

Results

Results

Elite women

1. Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 1:29:17
2. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 00:29
3. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 00:48
4. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 00:59
5. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team x
6. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 01:10
7. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice 01:17
8 Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 01:32
9. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) 02:11
8 10. Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek 02:56
11. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Ghost Factory Racing Team 03:09
12. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol 03:21
13. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 03:26
14. Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 03:41
15. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team 03:44
16. Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 03:52
17. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 04:10
18. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.Ch Craft 04:21
19. Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) Isd Mtb Team 04:27
20. Annie Last* (Gbr) Milka Brentjens Mtb Racing Team 04:45
21. Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 05:08
22. Rosara Joseph (Nzl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 05:26
23. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges 05:38
24. Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler-IXS Team 06:08
25. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team 06:28
26. Karen Hanlen (Nzl) 06:44
27. Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice 07:03
28. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 07:21
29. Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix 07:41
30. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Trek 07:46
31. Mary Mcconneloug (USA) 07:47
32. Sarah Koba (Sui) 08:02
33. Anne Terpstra* (Ned) 08:13
34. Vera Andreeva (Rus) 08:24
35. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 08:30
36. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 08:34
37. Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing 08:36
38. Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 08:39
39. Judy Freeman (USA) 08:47
40. Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 08:49
41. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 09:11
42. Laura Turpijn (Ned) MPL Specialized Mtb Team 09:15
43. Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus Mig Team 09:34
44. Jean Ann Berkenpas (Can) 09:38
45. Silke Schmidt (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 09:49
46. Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries 09:55
47. Corina Gantenbein (Sui) Fischer-BMC 10:41
48. Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team 10:52
49. Qinglan Shi (Chn) 11:00
50. Githa Michiels (Bel) Trek-KMC Trade Team 11:37
51. Hanna Klein (Ger) 11:38
52. Rowena Fry (Aus) 12:13
53. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) 12:53
54. Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls 13:36
55. Jenni King (Aus) 14:09
56. Katherine O’shea (Aus) 14:25
57. Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 14:28
58. Pavlina Sulcova (Cze) Merida Biking Team 15:25
59. Samantha Sanders (RSA) 15:53
60. Anna Villar Argente (Esp) 16:24
61. Zephanie Blasi (USA) WXC World Racing -1lap
62. Nicoletta De Jager (Ned) MPL Specialized Mtb Team -1lap
63. Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix -1lap
64. Chloe Woodruff (USA) -1lap
65. Lucie Vesela (Cze) GT Bicycles Opportunity -1lap
66. Ivonne Kraft (Ger) -1lap
67. Michalina Ziolkowska (Pol) -1lap
68. Maxine Filby (Gbr) -1lap
69. Tracy Moseley (Gbr) -1lap
70. Angelica Edvardsson (Swe) -1lap
71. Rie Katayama (Jpn) -1lap
72. Krista Park (USA) -1lap
73. Elisa Maria Garcia (Chi) -2laps
74. Erica Zaveta (USA) Moda-Bikemagic Racing Team -2laps
75. Ana Zupan (Slo) Energijateam.Com -2laps
76. Judith Pollinger (Ita) Hard Rock Canossa Merida -2laps
77. Joanne Clay (Gbr) WXC World Racing -2laps
DNF Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry
DNF Caroline Mani (Fra)
DNF Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura
DNF Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice
DNF Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice
DNF Catherine Vipond (Can)
DNF Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol)
DNF Inbar Ronen (Isr)
DNF Lee Craigie (Gbr)
DNF Daniela Storch (Ger)
DNF Anneke Beerten (Ned) Milka-Superior Mtb Racing Team
DNF Joanna Petterson (USA)

Standings after 3 Rounds

1. Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 590
2. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 540
3. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice 530
4. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 425
5. Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek 415
6. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 309
7. Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 294
8. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 288
9. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 280
10. Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler-Ixs Team 272
11. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 263
12. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 254
13. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) 242
14. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Ghost Factory Racing Team 242
15. Karen Hanlen (Nzl) 234
16. Annie Last* (Gbr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team 232
17. Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 230
18. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 229
19. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team 213
20. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol 207
21. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.Ch Craft 188
22. Rosara Joseph (Nzl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 182
23. Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing 178
24. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges 168
25. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 159
26. Annika Langvad (Den) Team Fujibikes Rockets 150
27. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Trek 145
28. Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix 142
29. Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 133
30. Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus Mig Team 127
31. Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice 126
32. Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team 124
33. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team 123
34. Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice 120
35. Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice 104
36. Mary Mcconneloug (USA) 103
37. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 98
38. Laura Turpijn (Ned) Mpl Specialized MTB Team 95
39. Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura 86
40. Hanna Klein (Ger) 86
41. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 86
42. Vera Andreeva (Rus) 84
43. Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 78
44. Rie Katayama (Jpn) 74
45. Anne Terpstra* (Ned) 72
46. Judy Freeman (USA) 71
47. Qinglan Shi (Chn) 69
48. Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) ISD MTB Team 68
49. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 68
50. Silke Schmidt (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 65
51. Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries 64
52. Sarah Koba (Sui) 58
53. Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 58
54. Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 57
55. Katherine Compton (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 51
56. Rowena Fry (Aus) 51
57. Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol) 40
58. Corina Gantenbein (Sui) Fischer-BMC 36
59. Chloe Woodruff (USA) 36
60. Githa Michiels (Bel) Trek-KMC Trade Team 28
61. Samantha Sanders (RSA) 26
62. Jean Ann Berkenpas (Can) 24
63. Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 24
64. Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 23
65. Ivonne Kraft (Ger) 20
66. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) 15
67. Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls 14
68. Willow Rockwell (USA) Trek World Racing 14
69. Jenni King (Aus) 13
70. Jodie Willett (Aus) 13
71. Katherine O’shea (Aus) 12
72. Caroline Mani (Fra) 11
73. Pavlina Sulcova (Cze) Merida Biking Team 10
74. Catherine Vipond (Can) 9
75. Julia Colvin (RSA) 9
76. Anna Villar Argente (Esp) 8
77. Jane Nussli (Gbr) Fischer-BMC 8
78. Melanie Palframan (RSA) 8