June 20, 2004 (Schladming, Austria) – The ski resort of Schladming
hosted the fourth cross-country World Cup event and round three in the
world series for both downhill and four-cross.
With the majority of Olympic qualifications over, many of the top
cross-country players were absent from the World Cup. For them, training
for the biggest mountain bike event in four years took priority. World
Champion Sabine Spitz (GER, Multivan/Merida) was off at the German MTB
Marathon Nationals and defending World Cup Champion Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR,
Multivan/Merida) jetted to Boulder, CO for some altitude training. The
final Canadian Olympic Team qualifications are not finished, but the only
Canuck who stuck around was Ryder Hesjedal (Subaru/Gary Fisher). Roland
Green (Trek/VW), Kiara Bisaro (Gears Racing) and several others headed
west to the NORBA in Vermont to prepare for the final Olympic
qualification race, the Triple World Cup in Mt. Ste-Anne, Que. next weekend.
In the cross-country race, Hesjedal achieved the best Canadian men’s result
this year to date: 11th place. Julien Absalon, (FRA, Bianchi/Agos), after
two third place results and a DNF at Fort William, finally took control
and grabbed the gold medal at Schladming. The rest of the podium was new,
with Bart Brentjens (NED, T-Mobile) taking silver, trailing Absalon by
1:32. Jose Antonio Hermida (ESP, Multivan/Merida) slid into the bronze
medal position. Roel Paulissen (BEL, Siemens Mobile/Cannondale) still
leads the series with 740 points.
With all the favorites absent in the women’s race, it was time for some
others to shine. Irina Kalentieva (RUS, Multivan/Merida) took the win,
followed by Maja Wloszczowska (POL, Lotto-Pzu S.A) in second and fellow
Pole Anna Szafraniec (POL, Lotto-Pzu S.A) taking third. Dahle keeps a
strong hold on the overall lead with 750 points.
Downhill
In the Downhill competitiot riders ripped down 481 vertical metres over two
and a half kilometres in Schladming. George Atherton (GBR, Team Muddy Fox)
completed the fastest run of the day in 3:57.79. Nathan Rennie (AUS, Santa
Cruz Syndicate) trailed by only 0.77, which was good enough for a silver
medal. Samuel Hill (AUS, Intense) zoomed into third place. Steve Peat
(GBR, Team Orange) continues to lead the series after three events.
Former series leader Anne-Caroline Chausson (FRA, Commencal/Oxbow) was
absent from the race, allowing Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Intense) to take the
overall series lead. Second in the series, Marielle Saner (SUI,
Maxxis/MSC) took the World Cup #3 win, while Jonnier crossed the finish
with the second fastest women’s time. Kiwi Vanessa Quin (NZL) was third.
4X
Riders commented that the 40- to 50-second four-cross course covering 80
vertical metres was long compared to the usual 20- to 30-second four-rider
hammerfests. France’s Karim Amour beat out the competition, winning the
third four-cross race of the season. Kamil Tatarkovic (CZE) was second.
Cedric Gracia (FRA, Siemens Mobile/Cannondale) took third and Michal
Prokop (CZE), the current series leader, was fourth.
Jonnier now has a chokehold on both the women’s downhill and four-cross
series. She took the four-cross victory at Schladming, followed by Anneke
Beerten (NED), Tracy Moseley (GBR, Kona/Clarks/Les Gets) and Mio Suemasa
(JPN) in second, third and fourth place, respectively.
UCI MTB World Cup XC#4 Results
Schladming, Austria, June 20, 2004
Men
1. Julien Absalon (FRA, Bianchi/Agos) 1:55:39
2. Bart Brentjens (NED, T-Mobile) at 1:32
3. Jose Antonio Hermida (ESP, Multivan/Merida) 2:19
4. Thomas Frischknecht (SUI, Swisspower) 3:49
5. Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA, Lapierre International) 4:48
Canadians
11. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Subaru-Gary Fisher 8:00
Women
1. Irina Kalentieva (RUS, Multivan/Merida) 1:48:10
2. Maja Wloszczowska (POL, Lotto-Pzu S.A) at 1:14
3. Anna Szafraniec (POL, Lotto-Pzu S.A) 3:23
4. Annabella Stropparo (ITA, AS Sperafico/Olympus) 3:42
5. Paola Pezzo (ITA, Gatorade) 4:33
UCI MTB World Cup DH#3 Results
Schladming, Austria, June 19, 2004
Men
1. George Atherton (GBR, Team Muddy Fox) 3:57.79
2. Nathan Rennie (AUS, Santa Cruz Syndicate) at 0.77
3. Samuel Hill (AUS, Intense) 1.09
4. Steve Peat (GBR, Team Orange) 3.93
5. Cedric Gracia (FRA, Siemens Mobile/Cannondale) 4.2
Canadians
33. Mathieu Laurin (Iron Horse/Mad Catz) 18.0
Women
1. Marielle Saner (SUI, Maxxis/MSC) 4:30.56
2. Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Intense) at 0.9
3. Vanessa Quin (NZL) 3.5
4. Tracy Moseley (GBR, Kona/Clarks/Les Gets) 7.3
5. Emmeline Ragot (FRA) 14.1
UCI MTB World Cup 4X#3 Results
Schladming, Austria, June 19, 2004
Men
1. Karim Amour (FRA)
2. Kamil Tatarkovic (CZE)
3. Cedric Gracia (FRA, Siemens Mobile/Cannondale)
4. Michal Prokop (CZE)
Women
1. Sabrina Jonnier (FRA, Intense)
2. Anneke Beerten (NED)
3. Tracy Moseley (GBR, Kona/Clarks/Les Gets)
4. Mio Suemasa (JPN)