World Cup XC # 4/DH/4X # 2 - B

Willingen, Germany, June 4-5, 2005

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Race 5 - June 5: Women's DH

Chausson tops in Willingen

By Rob Jones in Willingen

The 1.5 kilometre course was quite different from most World Cups runs. To begin with, it was built from scratch for this event with a gravel base and many jumps in the upper half - none of the usual rocks, roots and mud. The lower section sent the riders out onto a grassy field, which turned to mud after it rained the night before (and during the latter part of the men's race).

The women did not face rain, but the mud that had been churned up in training was expected to make it a strength sapping slog on the lower sections. Combined with the power required to successfully make the jumps at the top, it was a course made for Chausson.

Chausson came through the lower section noticeably faster than the other women, and was getting bigger air and longer jumps than the rest, showing that her long layoff has not hurt her abilities.

"It was hard. This was my first big race since Les Gets, and I could tell, because it was harder for me to do the jumps. I just got back on my downhill bike three weeks ago, so I am still improving everyday. Now, I just need to race more."

Chausson's heir apparent, 19 year old Emmeline Ragot (QBS) was second. The young French rider is a two time Junior world champion, and beat the current world champion, Vanessa Quin, by just over half a second. Sabrina Jonnier, winner of the first round in Vigo, Spain, was fifth and managed to hold onto the series lead, ahead of Rachel Atherton.

Results

1 Anne-Caroline Chausson (Fra)      2.42.88
2 Emmeline Ragot (Fra)              0.04.50
3 Vanessa Quin (NZl)                0.05.04
4 Rachel Atherton (GBr)             0.06.65
5 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra)             0.11.67
6 Marielle Saner (Swi)              0.14.24
7 Helen Gaskell (GBr)               0.14.32
8 Fionn Griffiths (GBr)             0.17.51
9 Miriam Ruchti (Swi)               0.21.57
10 Petra Bernhard (Aut)             0.24.31
11 Antje Kramer (Ger)               0.24.81
12 Angelika Hohenwarter (Aut)       0.26.47
13 Diana Marggraff (Ecu)            0.26.73
14 Tracy Moseley (GBr)              0.27.51
15 Michaela Thaler (Ita)            0.32.93
16 Daniela Bossard (Swi)            0.36.50
17 Anja Rees Jones (GBr)            0.37.08
18 Maria Conway (GBr)               0.37.74
19 Karen Ballentine (GBr)           0.38.05
20 V. Alfageme Janeiro (Spa)        0.38.84
21 Silja Stadler (Swi)              0.42.86
22 Jayne Cann Calamaty (GBr)        0.42.89
23 Alice Kuhne (Swi)                0.48.10
24 Zsofia Koczka (Hun)              0.52.83
25 Celine Spicher (Swi)             0.54.06
26 Jaymie Mart (GBr)                0.55.41
DNS Scarlett Hagen (NZl)                   
DNS Helena Boskova (Svk)                   
DNS Stephanie Bergner (Ger)

World Cup standings after round 2

1 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra)               362 pts
2 Rachel Atherton (GBr)               325
3 Emmeline Ragot (Fra)                280
4 Vanessa Quin (NZl)                  277
5 Tracy Moseley (GBr)                 259
6 Anne-Caroline Chausson (Fra)        240
7 Marielle Saner (Swi)                233
8 Helen Gaskell (GBr)                 198
9 Kathy Pruitt (USA)                  151
10 Céline Gros (Fra)                  140
11 Petra Bernhard (Aut)               121
12 Diana Marggraff (Ecu)              100
13 Fionn Griffiths (GBr)               98
14 Mio Suemasa (Jpn)                   95
15 Anja Rees Jones (GBr)               92
16 Antje Kramer (Ger)                  86
17 Daniela Bossard (Swi)               82
18 Miriam Ruchti (Swi)                 80
19 Nolvenn Le Caer (Fra)               76
20 Scarlett Hagen (NZl)                75
21 Violeta Alfageme (Spa)              72
22 Melissa Buhl (USA)                  67
23 Angelika Hohenwarter (Aut)          67
24 Anita Molcik (Aut)                  59
25 Claire Buchar (Can)                 55
26 Michaela Thaler (Ita)               55
27 Pascaline Reusser (Swi)             52
28 Miriam Blas Otondo (Spa)            49
29 Maria Conway (GBr)                  46
30 Karen Ballentine (GBr)              43
31 Mireia Bosca Ballester (Spa)        40
32 Silja Stadler (Swi)                 37
33 Victoria Hernandez Molinas (Spa)    34
34 Jayne Cann Calamaty (GBr)           34
35 Alice Kuhne (Swi)                   32
36 Zsofia Koczka (Hun)                 30
37 Jules Coventry (GBr)                28
38 Celine Spicher (Swi)                28