MTB World Cup XC #3 & DH #2 - CDM

Champéry, Switzerland, June 9-10, 2007

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Race 4 - June 9: Elite Women 4X

Kintner passes all

By Rob Jones in Champéry, Switzerland

Jill Kintner (GT)
Photo ©: Rob Jones

Jill Kintner from GT Bikes scored a win in round two of the 4-cross World Cup event in Champéry, Switzerland, on Saturday and also got the leader's jersey for the series, despite having to come from behind in her final to win.

After only three heats torrential rain moved in, sending everyone scurrying for cover. Officials elected to wait out the rain, which proved to be the right move, since racing was able to resume within half an hour of being stopped.

The rain made some sections slick, especially at the bottom out of the last turn when the riders hit pavement - which a number did literally. A big mud puddle in that last corner added greatly to spectator amusement when riders went face first into it.

Kintner, Rachel Seydoux of Switzerland, Fionn Griffiths (Norco) and Mio Suemasa made the women's final, with World Cup leader Anneke Beerten (Bikepark.ch) missing it and having to settle for winning the ride-off for fifth. Beerten unclipped in her semi-final and didn't finish in the top-2 to move on.

Kintner hit the gate early, and therefore didn't not come to the first corner in her usual place at the front. In fact, she was last out of the gate, but showed that she was the class of the field by picking off the other three riders easily by the halfway mark.

"I thought I was ready and hit it right, but I hit the gate. After that I had to make three passes, but I had everybody covered on the straightaway, or I could get by them on the final sprint on the pavement."

Newcomer Seydoux took second, with Griffiths third.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com

Jill Kintner (GT)
Anneke Beerten (BikeparkCh Tui)
Fionn Griffiths (Norco/Griffiths)
Rachel Seydoux
When the sun shone the view was fantastic.
The women's 4X podium (l-r): Mio Suemasa, Rachel Seydoux, Jill Kintner (GT), Fionn Griffiths (Norco/Griffiths) and Anneke Beerten (BikeparkCh Tui).

Results

Final

1 Jill Kintner (USA) GT
2 Rachel Seydoux (Sui)
3 Fionn Griffiths (GBr) Norco/Griffiths
4 Mio Suemasa (Jpn)

Small final

5 Anneke Beerten (Ned) BikeparkCh Tui
6 Diana Marggraff (Ecu) Zenith
7 Lucia Oetjen (Sui)
8 Elisa Canepa (Ita) Playbiker - Iron Horse

Qualifications

9 Patarina Tothova (Cze)
10 Laura Brethauer (Ger)
11 Melissa Buhl (USA)
DNS Eva Castro Fernandez (Esp)