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MTB World Cup XC #5 & DH #3 - CDM

Fort William, Scotland, June 6-8, 2008

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Race 3 - June 7: Elite women cross country

Premont captures first victory

By Luke Webber in Fort William

Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain)
Photo ©: Dave McElwaine
(Click for larger image)

Marie Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain), overall leader of the mountain bike World Cup series, has always finished consistently. Podiums at every event have put her amongst the best, if not the most feared. But her victory in Fort William left everyone with something to think about heading into the second half of the season.

After a fast start on yet another perfect day in Fort William, Premont and Marga Fullana (Massi) both distanced themselves from the chasers. Neither looked likely to be caught but on the downhill it was obvious Premont wanted to get into clearer air. On lap two she got that break but it came to nothing. Fullana was too strong, countering on the brutal climb and making a gap of her own.

Premont was patient though, waiting for the time when Fullana would tire which eventually came on the final lap. With nowhere to hide Premont overtook her competitor on the upper slopes and attacked again on the downhill without fear of repercussion and claim her first victory of the year.

Margarita Fullana (Massi)
Photo ©: Dave McElwaine
(Click for larger image)

After the race Premont spoke about the closing stages. "I took some risks on the final downhill, I had to," she said. "On lap two I tried to get away but when Marga could follow me she could keep up but not on the final lap. I'm really happy that I have finally won a race. Marga was very strong today I knew it was her kind of course and I had to stay with her if I was to get a result.

"The longer I could stay on her wheel the better, but on lap three she got a gap," said Premont. "I kept trying though and on the last lap I gave it everything I had. I knew I was faster on the downhill but it was not easy. Tomorrow I go back home to train and rest for the worlds where I can hopefully keep my good form going."

All other riders were three minutes in arrears of the leading duo. Sabine Spitz (Ghost) made her comeback to international competition after resting in Andorra with third place on the podium.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Dave McElwaine / www.trailwatch.net

Results

1 Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain                          2.00.42
2 Margarita Fullana (Spa) Massi                                         0.14
3 Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team                             3.11
4 Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing                          3.20
5 Laurence Leboucher (Fra)                                              3.34
6 Ying Liu (Chn)                                                        3.54
7 Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Giant Italia Team                               4.49
8 Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team             4.57
9 Petra Henzi (Swi) Fischer-BMC                                         4.59
10 Maroussia Rusca (Swi)                                                5.20
11 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Womens MTB Team                             5.29
12 Catherine Pendrel (Can) Luna Womens MTB Team                         5.56
13 Adelheid Morath (Ger)                                                6.41
14 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Womens MTB Team                             6.59
15 Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Team Ghost International                         7.11
16 Tanja Zakelj (Slo)                                                   7.16
17 Mary Mc Conneloug (USA)                                              7.17
18 Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher                             7.21
19 Alexandra Engen (Swe)                                                7.28
20 Lea Davison (USA) Trek-VW                                            7.31
21 Elsbeth Van Rooij-Vink (Ned) Beone Chainreaction Mountainbiketeam    7.41
22 Maria Osl (Aut) Sunshine Racers Asv Nals                             8.04
23 Katrin Leumann (Swi)                                                 8.21
24 Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Team Lapierre International                      8.27
25 Chengyuan Ren (Chn)                                                  8.31
26 Ivonne Kraft (Ger)                                                   8.44
27 Kiara Bisaro (Can)                                                   9.38
28 Maaike Polspoel (Bel)                                               10.22
29 Wendy Simms (Can) Kona                                              10.58
30 Dellys Starr (Aus)                                                  11.19
31 Janka Stevkova (Svk)                                                11.27
32 Githa Michiels (Bel)                                                11.28
33 Kate Potter (Aus)                                                   12.13
34 Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) Team Lapierre International               12.27
35 Laura Turpijn (Ned)                                                 12.31
36 Arielle Van Meurs (Ned)                                             12.35
37 Susan Haywood (USA) Trek-VW                                         13.07
38 Katrin Schwing (Ger) Dolphin-Trek Mountainbike Racing Team          13.19
39 Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher                             13.28
40 Sandra Walter (Can)                                                 13.50
41 Jingjing Wang (Chn)                                                 14.12
42 Francisca Campos Salas (Chi) Massi                                  16.58
43 Zoe King (Aus)                                                      20.16
44 Maria Kalnes (Nor)                                                  20.55
45 Fiona Macdermid (GBr)                                               23.26

Behind one lap

46 Daniela Bunzli Rojas (Chi)                                               
47 Anja Mcdonald (NZl)   

Teams

1 Luna Womens MTB Team                     56 pts
2 Rocky Mountain                           40
3 Massi                                    35
4 Central Ghost Pro Team                   32
5 Specialized Factory Racing               30
6 Giant Italia Team                        24
7 Multivan Merida Biking Team              23
8 Fischer-BMC                              22
9 Team Ghost International                 16
10 Subaru-Gary Fisher                      13
11 Trek-VW                                 11
12 Beone Chainreaction Mountainbiketeam    10
13 Sunshine Racers Asv Nals                 9
14 Team Lapierre International              7
15 Kona                                     2