September 13, 2009 (Champéry, Switzerland) – The Elite/U23 women’s XC race will soon be underway in Champéry where it’s cloudy and overcast but not raining. It rained last night making the course wet and slippery and rain is in the forecast. There are 75 starters and Canada has 7 riders lead by Catharine Pendrel and Marie-Helene Premont including Emily Batty in the U23 race. The Elite/U23 women will be completing 1 long start loop plus 5 laps (24.88km).

Lap 1
At the end of the start loop it’s Italy’s Eva Lechner in front followed closely by a group of 3 riders Katrin Leumann (Sui), Elizabeth Osl and Germany’s Sandra Spitz. The it’s Norway’s Lyne Byberg with Canada’s Pendrel on her wheel. Batty is in 3rd in the U23 race with France’s Caroline Mani leading.

CORECTION (these times were at the feed zone not the start of Lap 2) – at the feed zone it’s Lechner still leading with Osl at 3 seconds in second, Swiss National champ Leumann is in 3rd at 24s, and Olympic champ Spitz is in 4th at 40s followed by Byberg. Canada’s Pendrel is in 11th at 1:26, Mani came thru at 1:33 followed soon after by Premont in 16th at 1:56 and Batty is 5th in the U23 race at 2:20.

Lap 2
Lechner’s in front followed by Osl in second, Spitz is now in 3rd with Leumann in 4th followed by Byberg. Pendrel has moved up into 7th and Premont is in 15th. Mani is still leading the U23 race.

At the feed zone it’s Lechner still in front but Osl has taken over the lead and now Poland’s Anna Szafraniec is in 3rd at 56s with Spitz in 4th at about 1 min. Pendrel is 7th at 1:15, Premont is 12th at 2:27 and Batty is 21st at 3:40 – we heard that she’s second or third overall in the U23 race (to be confirmed).

Lap 3
Osl continues to lead followed closely by Lechner in second while Szafraniec is in 3rd and Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) is in 4th with Pendrel in 5th at 1:22 and Premont is in 11th. France’s Julie Bresset has taken over the U23 lead and is riding in 15th overall at 3:40 while Canada’s Batty is in 22nd at 4:30 and is second overall in the U23 race. CORRECTION it’s Aleksandra Dawidowicz (CCC Polkowice) leading the U23 race in 7th overall with Bresset in 2nd, Hanna Klein (Ger) in 3rd, and Batty in 4th (not 3rd as we previously understood).

Lap 4
Osl has a 15s gap on Lechner in 2nd as they start the penultimate lap with Szafraniec in 3rd at 1:08 and Spitz in 4th with Byberg in 5th and Pendrel in 6th at 1:50. Dawidowicz is in 8th while Premont is still in 11th at 3:40, Bresset is 14th and Batty is in 20th at 6:16 still 4th overall in the U23 race. Amanda Sin (Can) is in 23rd at 6:33.

Lap 5 Final
Osl comes thru looking strong at 1:20:52 with Lechner in second at 1:05 but she’s about to be caught by Szafraniec in 3rd. Norway’s Byberg is also charging in 4th and looks like she wants to gain some ground. Spitz is 5th, Schneitter 6th, Pendrel is 7th at 2:45. U23 leader Dawidowicz is in 10th followed by Premont in 11th with Bresset in 14th – Batty is in 20th at 8 min and Sin is just behind her in 22nd. Canada’s Sandra Walter is 36th at 12:56, Jean Ann McKirdy is 46th at 15:55 and Rebecca Beaumont has crashed and we think she may have DNF’d – no she finished 2 laps behind.

Osl takes the win and leads overall after 7 events followed by Byberg in 2nd and Canada’s Pendrel now in 3rd overall with one more round to go next weekend in Schladming, Austria, Sept. 19-20.

Results (24.88km)

1. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Central Ghost Pro Team 1:39:39
2. Anna Szafraniec (Pol) Jbg-2 Professional MTB Team 00:54
3. Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing 01:23
4. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini 02:18
5. Katrin Leumann (Sui) 02:27
6. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team 02:40
7. Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) lap ierre International 02:43
8. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Cap Arreghini 03:25
9. Aleksandra Dawidowicz* (Pol) Ccc Polkowice 03:38
10. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 04:23
11. Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 05:05
12. Lea Davison (Usa) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 05:54
13. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Team Bikepark.Ch 06:22
14. Julie Bresset* (Fra) Breiz Mountain 06:36
15. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Bh-Suntour 07:02
16. Hanna Klein* (Ger) 07:37
17. Laura Metzler (Fra) Bh-Suntour 08:29
18. Villar Argente (Esp) Anna Massi 08:37
19. Sarah Koba (Sui) 09:04
20. Emily Batty* (Can) 09:23
21. Amanda Sin (Can) 09:36
22. Mary Mcconneloug (Usa) 10:00
23. Vivienne Meyer* (Sui) Colnago Cap Arreghini 10:33
24. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) 10:52
25. Tanja Zakelj* (Slo) Mbk Orbea 12:06
26. Kate Potter (Aus) 12:19
27. Anja Gradl (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team 12:45
28. Nataliya Krompets* (Ukr) 12:56
29. Annie Last* (Gbr) 13:31
30. Fanny Bourdon* (Fra) 13:41
31. Rowena Fry (Aus) Discovertasmania.Com 14:00
32. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 14:13
33. Fabienne Niederberger (Sui) 14:44
34. Suzanne Clarke (Gbr) 15:17
35. Sandra Walter (Can) 16:00
36. Maria Osl (Aut) Fischer-Bmc 16:46
37. Georgia Gould (Usa) Luna Pro Team 17:05
38. Barbara Benko* (Hun) 17:29
39. Stephanie Wiedner* (Aut) Ds-Rennsport 17:33
40. Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Esp) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 18:02 18:02
41. Paula Gorycka* (Pol) 18:30
42. Coralie Redelsperger (Fra) 18:51
43. Jean Ann McKirdy (Can) 19:09
44. Virginie Pointet* (Sui) Team Bikepark.Ch 19:09
45. Nadine Rieder* (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International 19:23
46. Helene Marcouyre (Fra) Bh-Suntour 19:36
47. Tatjana Dold (Ger) 20:05
48. Adelheid Morath (Ger) 21:01
49. Lorraine Truong* (Sui) 21:31
50. Jennifer Sagesser* (Sui) 22:14
51. Judith Pollinger* (Ita) Sunshine Racers Asv Nals 22:23 22:23
52. Katherine O’Shea (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition -1 lap
53. Lily Matthews* (Gbr) -1 lap
54. Corina Gantenbein (Sui) -1 lap
55. Lenka Bulisova* (Cze) -2 laps
56. Gracie Elvin* (Aus) Discovertasmania.Com -2 laps
57. Alexa Hüni (Ger) -2 laps
58. Caroline Mani* (Fra) Team Bikepark.Ch -2 laps
59. Githa Michiels (Bel) Team Saeco -2 laps
60. Nicoletta de Jager (Ned) -2 laps
61. Rebecca Beaumont* (Can) -2 laps
62. Catherine Lohri (Sui) -2 laps
63. Irina Slobodyan* (Ukr) -2 laps
64. Ana-Rita Vigario (Por) -3 laps
DNF Alexandra Engen*
DNF Martina Giovanniello* Team Cbe Tecnoimpianti A.S.D.
DNF Margarita Riera Fullana (Esp) Massi
DNF Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer-Bmc
DNF Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team
DNF Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) Polkowice Ccc
DNF Kathrin Stirnemann*
DNF Anna Oberparleiter*
DNS Fabienne Heinzmann (Sui) Team Bikepark.Ch
DNS Daniela Veronesi
DNS Roberta Monaldini

Overall Standings after 7 Rounds

1. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Central Ghost Pro Team 1,190 pts
2. Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing 1,125
3. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 975
4. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 940
5. Margarita Fullana Riera (Spa) Massi 912
6. Marie-Hélène Prémont (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 673
7. Katrin Leumann (Sui) 622
8. Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 612
9. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team 600
10. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini 586
11. Mary Mcconneloug (USA) 586
12. Anna Szafraniec (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team 536
13. Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International 535
14. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 515
15. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice 464
16. Aleksandra Dawidowicz* (Pol) CCC Polkowice 426
17. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 418
18. Chengyuan Ren (Chn) 410
19. Emily Batty* (Can) Trek Store Toronto 393
20. Rowena Fry (Aus) Discovertasmania.com 386
21. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) BH-Suntour 363
22. Caroline Mani* (Fra) Team Bikepark.ch 363
23. Laura Turpijn (Ned) 358
24. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Cap Arreghini 352
25. Lea Davison (USA) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles 352
26. Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer-BMC 349
27. Julie Bresset* (Fra) Breiz Mountain 338
28. Adelheid Morath (Ger) 327
29. Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-Suntour 323
30. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Team Bikepark.ch 314
31. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 291
32. Julie Krasniak* (Fra) 262
33. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 260
34. Helene Marcouyre (Fra) BH-Suntour 251
35. Anna Villar Argente (Spa) Massi 247
36. Kate Potter (Aus) 241
37. Hanna Klein* (Ger) 240
38. Amanda Sin (Can) 3 Rox Racing 239
39. Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice 230
40. Katherine O’Shea (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition 193
41. Tereza Hurikova* (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna MTB 192
42. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt International MTB Team 188
43. Vivienne Meyer* (Sui) Colnago Cap Arreghini 154
44. Mical Dyck (Can) Trek Store Toronto 151
45. Anja Gradl (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team 142
46. Fanny Bourdon* (Fra) 142
47. Alexandra Engen* (Swe) 131
48. Katherine Compton (USA) 130
49. Esther Süss (Sui) 130
50. Githa Michiels (Bel) Team Saeco 128
51. Ivonne Kraft (Ger) 127
52. Barbara Benko* (Hun) 126
53. Gracie Elvin* (Aus) Discovertasmania.com 126
54. Tanja Zakelj* (Slo) MBK Orbea 118
55. Suzanne Clarke (Gbr) 118
56. Maria Osl (Aut) Fischer-BMC 107
57. Vera Andreeva* (Rus) 97
58. Nicola Leary (Nzl) 96
59. Sandra Walter (Can) Local Ride 95
60. Nataliya Krompets* (Ukr) 93
61. Chloe Forsman* (USA) Luna Pro Team 88
62. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) 73
63. Caroline Villeneuve (Can) 71
64. Sarah Koba (Sui) 68
65. Karine Travaillaud (Can) 68
66. Virginie Pointet* (Sui) Team Bikepark.ch 66
67. Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Spa) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo 66
68. Yolande Speedy (RSA) 64
69. Joanna Wall (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition 64
70. Rebecca Beaumont* (Can) 57
71. Marie-Claude Surprenant* (Can) 57
72. Cindy Montambault (Can) 56
73. Daniela Campuzano (Mex) 55
74. Zoe King (Aus) 55
75. Jean Ann McKirdy (Can) Local Ride 55
76. Fiona Macdermid (Gbr) 52
77. Josiane Mathieu (Can) 51
78. Laura Lorenza Morfin Macouzet (Mex) 50
79. Stephanie Wiedner* (Aut) DS-Rennsport 49
80. Rosara Joseph (Nzl) 49
81. Annie Last* (Gbr) 48
82. Kathleen Villeneuve (Can) 45
83. Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant Mountain Bike Team 44
84. Maaike Polspoel* (Bel) 44
85. Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) Subaru-Gary Fisher 44
86. Anna Oberparleiter* (Ita) 43
87. Fabienne Niederberger (Sui) 40
88. Kathrin Stirnemann* (Sui) 39
89. Evelyn Staffler (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini 38
90. Judith Pollinger* (Ita) Sunshine Racers ASV Nals 38
91. Coralie Redelsperger (Fra) 37
92. Oksana Rybakova (Rus) 37
93. Melanie Spath (Ger) 36
94. Nadine Rieder* (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International 36
95. Therese Rhodes* (Aus) 35
96. Inbar Ronen (Isr) 34
97. Tatjana Dold (Ger) 31
98. Tania Raats (RSA) 29
99. Cristina Mascarreras Sabria (Spa) Conor – Camping La Siesta 28
100. Sara Muhl (RSA) 28
101. Paula Gorycka* (Pol) 27
102. Kajsa Snihs* (Swe) 27
103. Shawna Thunder (RSA) 27
104. Joanna Harrington (Aus) 26
105. Janneke Leask* (RSA) 26
106. Heletje Van Staden* (Nam) 25
107. Hilana Marais (RSA) 24
108. Tory Thomas (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition 23
109. Kristien Nelen (Bel) 23
110. Carmen Bassingthwaighte (Nam) 22
111. Carla Freysen (RSA) 21
112. Lorraine Truong* (Sui) 19
113. Katrin Schwing (Ger) 19
114. Jennifer Sagesser* (Sui) 18
115. Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Team Scott Valloire Galibier 17
116. Stephanie Lacoursiere* (Can) 16
117. Lily Matthews* (Gbr) 15
118. Corina Gantenbein (Sui) 14
119. Camille Pousse* (Fra) 14
120. Alexa Hüni (Ger) 13
121. Jeanette Gerrie (Nzl) 13
122. Silke Schmidt* (Ger) 13
123. Laure Boulay (Fra) Keops 12
124. Joana Barbosa* (Por) 11
125. Catherine Lohri (Sui) 10
126. Sarka Chmurova (Cze) 10
127. Lenka Bulisova* (Cze) 9
128. Elena Ondasova (Svk) 9
129. Nicoletta De Jager (Ned) 8