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MTB World Cup XC, DH & 4X #1 - CDM
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, April 10-12, 2009
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Race 8 - April 11: Elite men four cross
Brave Graves secures series lead
By Rob Jones in Pietermaritzburg
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Following the cross country spectators immediately moved over to the four cross course to watch the riders prepare for their competition. Over the course of an hour, 32 men were whittled down to four riders for the final.
The two men who appeared to be the strongest were UCI World Champion and defending World Cup champion Rafael Alvarez de Lara Lucas (Specialized Factory Team) and Australian Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox Factory), the fastest qualifier. Both easily moved through the heats to reach the final, along with former world champion Michal Prokop of the Czech Republic and Roger Rinderknecht of the Netherlands.
Alvarez had problems in the first turn of the final, dropping back to third behind Prokop. Graves once again took over the front spot to claim the win and the series leader's jersey for the first time in his career.
"I think my downhill background helped on this course," said Graves. "I like the high speed stuff, so this suited me well. The jersey will certainly drive me in my training for the next World Cup."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Sven Martin
- Australia's Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) leads the men's race.
- Two riders on a crash course in the 4X race.
- Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) held the final lead all the way to the finish.
Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com
- Michal Prokop races down the course.
- British rider Scott Beaumont (Rocky Mountain UK) finished seventh.
- Filip Polc (MS Evil Racing) was 14th overall.
- Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas (Specialized Factory Racing) took third place.
- Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) was the quickest rider.
- Swiss Roger Rinderknecht took fourth place.
- Cédric Gracia from France could only manage sixth.
- Michal Prokop was second overall.
- Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas
- Guido Tschugg (Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team) rounded out the top 10.
- Romain Saladini (Team Sunn) was fifth.
- Podium (L-R): Roger Rinderknecht, Michal Prokop, Jared Graves, Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas and Romain Saladini.
Results
1 Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team 2 Michal Prokop (Cze) 3 Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas (Spa) Specialized Factory Racing 4 Roger Rinderknecht (Swi) 5 Romain Saladini (Fra) Team Sunn 6 Cédric Gracia (Fra) 7 Scott Beaumont (GBr) Rocky Mountain UK 8 Johannes Fischbach (Ger) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team 9 Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 10 Guido Tschugg (Ger) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team 11 Sascha Meyenborg (Ger) 12 Darryn Stow (RSA) 13 Joost Wichman (Ned) 14 Filip Polc (Svk) MS Evil Racing 15 Lukas Mechura (Cze) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 16 Premek Tejchman (Cze) 17 Kamil Tatarkovic (Cze) 18 Bernard Kerr (GBr) 19 Jordan O'keefe (RSA) 20 Jurg Meijer (Ned) 21 Dominik Gspan (Swi) 22 William Evans (GBr) 23 Oliver Jones (RSA) 24 Stefan Scherz (Ger) 25 Luke Madill (Aus) 26 Joey Van Veghel (Ned) 27 Lewis Lacey (GBr) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 28 Nicolas Gspan (Swi) 29 Adrian Hanko (Ger) 30 Stefan Garlicki (RSA) 31 Fabien Cousinie (Fra) 32 Adrian Weiss (Swi) Scott 11 Team 1 Suspension Center 50 pts 2 Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team 40 3 Norco World Team 30 4 Specialized Factory Racing 30 5 Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team 28 6 Team Sunn 22 7 Rocky Mountain UK 18 8 Animal Commencal 14 9 MS Evil Racing 7 10 Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 6 World Cup standings after one round Individual 1 Jared Graves (Aus) Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team 125 pts 2 Michal Prokop (Cze) 100 3 Rafael Alvarez De Lara Lucas (Spa) Specialized Factory Racing 75 4 Roger Rinderknecht (Swi) 60 5 Romain Saladini (Fra) Team Sunn 50 6 Cédric Gracia (Fra) 40 7 Scott Beaumont (GBr) Rocky Mountain UK 30 8 Johannes Fischbach (Ger) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team 25 9 Dan Atherton (GBr) Animal Commencal 20 10 Guido Tschugg (Ger) Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team 17 11 Sascha Meyenborg (Ger) 14 12 Darryn Stow (RSA) 11 13 Joost Wichman (Ned) 8 14 Filip Polc (Svk) MS Evil Racing 6 15 Lukas Mechura (Cze) Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 4 16 Premek Tejchman (Cze) 2 Team 1 Suspension Center 50 pts 2 Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team 40 3 Specialized Factory Racing 30 4 Norco World Team 30 5 Ghost A.T.G. Pro Team 28 6 Team Sunn 22 7 Rocky Mountain UK 18 8 Animal Commencal 14 9 MS Evil Racing 7 10 Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense 6
