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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

Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) held the final lead
Photo ©: Sven Martin
(Click for larger image)

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

Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com

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