September 3, 2010 (Mont-Sainte-Anne, QC) – Czech rider Tomas Slavik defeated reigning champ Jared Graves (Australia) in a surprise upset while Caroline Buchanan (Australia) defended her title and took home the win under the lights at Mont Ste-Anne to a packed house as spectators lined the track from top to bottom for the evening event.

The late night affair under a moonless, starless night, meant visibility was an issue in some sections of the course making it tougher on racers, fans and photographers.

Buchanan rode off the front all night, seemingly untouchable by the other women on the track. Top racer Anneke Beerten (Netherlands) was out early and Anita Molcik (Austria), the World Cup champ, did not advance to the final where Buchanan held off Czech riders Jana Harakova and Romana Labounkova along with Katie Kurd (Great Britain) for the win. Anne Laplante, Canada’s only competitor, finished in 9th.

In the men’s race defending champion Graves spent the entire night out front and also looked untouchable. He was first out of the gate in final and had a 3-bike length lead but gave away the win with only two corners to go when he went inside over a short rock garden leaving the outer fast line wide open for Slavik. Michal Prokop (Czech Republic) took third and Roger Rinderchnect (Switzerland) was 4th.

Canadians Matt Zdriluk, Kye Walstrom, and Drew Paulter went out in the 1/8th finals, finishing 19th, 29th and 31st, respectively.

Results

Big Final
1. Caroline Buchanan (Australia)
2. Jana Horakova (Czech Republic)
3. Romana Labounkova (Czech Republic)
4. Katy Curd (Great Britain)

Small Final
5. Luana Maria De Souza Oliveira (Brazil)
6. Anita Molcik (Austria)
7. Sarsha Huntington (Australia)
8. Fionn Griffiths (Great Britain)

1/4 Finals
9. Anne Laplante (Canada)
10. Anneke Beerten (Netherlands)
11. Neza Knez (Slovenia)
12. Lucia Oetjen (Switzerland)
13. Joanna Petterson (South Africa)
14. Steffi Marth (Germany)
15. Angelika Hohenwarter (Austria)
16. Neven Steinmetz (United States Of America)

Men

Big Final
1. Tomas Slavik (Czech Republic)
2. Jared Graves (Australia)
3. Michal Prokop (Czech Republic)
4. Roger Rinderknecht (Switzerland)

Small Final
5. Joost Wichman (Netherlands)
6. Johannes Fischbach (Germany)
7. Barry Nobles (United States Of America)
8. Filip Polc (Slovakia)

1/4 Finals
9. Romain Saladini (France)
10. Nico Seidel (Germany)
11. Felix Beckeman (Sweden)
12. Kamil Tatarkovic (Czech Republic)
13. Blake Carney (United States Of America)
14. Jurg Meijer (Netherlands)
15. Randal Huntington (Australia)
16. Scott Beaumont (Great Britain)

1/8 Finals
17. Daniel Franks (New-Zealand)
18. David Habicht (Australia)
19. Matt Zdriluk (Canada)
20. Erik Nelson (United States Of America)
21. Camilo Andres Sanchez Paez (Colombia)
22. Michal Marosi (Czech Republic)
23. Matej Stapic (Slovenia)
24. Jakub Riha (Czech Republic)
25. Aurélien Giordanengo (France)
26. Hannes Slavik (Austria)
27. David Graf (Switzerland)
28. Petr Muhlhans (Czech Republic)
29. Kye Walstrom (Canada)
30. Richard Levinson (Australia)
31. Drew Pautler (Canada)
32. Ross Milan (United States Of America)