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2002 MTB Worlds - CDM
Kaprun, Austria, 24 August - 1 September, 2002
Results Team Relay Cross Country Downhill Four Cross Other events
September 1 - Men's XC Live Coverage
Start time: 14:05 CEST
Finish time: 16:00 CEST
Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of the men's Cross Country World Championships in Kaprun. The skies opened up at the start of the race and the torrential downpour resumed, making things very tricky for the competitors. The terrible conditions have seen several spectacular crashes already, although quite a few spectators have shown up to watch, despite the rain.
14:45 CEST
We're halfway through the second lap of the race, and already a break has occurred
with three of the favourites, Thomas Frischknecht (Swi), Roland Green (Can),
Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) leading the charge, 20 seconds in front of Canadian Seamus
McGrath. Olympic champion Miguel Martinez (Fra) is in fifth spot.
14:56 CEST
They're starting the third of five laps, and the rain is continuing to pour
down. Roland Green seems to be feeling his oats now, and is looking stronger.
He moved to the front on the climb and gapped Frischknecht, with Meirhaeghe
hanging on desperately. Frischy is running up the climb, 5 seconds behind the
two leaders. Lado Fumic is now into fourth, passing Seamus McGrath, but they're
at a minute. Thomas Kalberer (Swi) and Miguel Martinez (Fra) are in the next
group at 1'30.
15:08 CEST
We're two thirds of the way through lap 3, and it's the same three riders in
the lead: Roland Green (Can), Thomas Frischknecht (Swi), and Filip Meirhaeghe
(Bel). After struggling on the first climb, Frischy recaught Green and Meirhaeghe,
and the trio are now in close contact with Green leading the way.
Four riders are chasing at a minute: Fumic, McGrath, Palhuber, Kalberer. Miguel Martinez is at 1'45.
The course is so slippery that even the lead KTM motorcycles are crashing! Christoph Sauser (Swi) is having a bad day too, and has crashed several times.
On the second climb, McGrath and Palhuber have moved away from Fumic and Kalberer.
15:23 CEST
Starting the fourth lap, and it's Roland Green and Filip Meirhaeghe in the lead,
with Thomas Frischknecht falling back to 31 seconds behind. Palhuber is at 1'28
in fourth spot, and looking strong. McGrath is at 1'35, but slowing down. Fumic
is at 2'00, Kalberer is 2'30, and Paulissen is 2'45. Miguel Martinez has abandoned.
It looks like Green is starting to put some time into Meirhaeghe. You can see how painful it is - it looks like Frischknecht is suffering a lot, and his legs are cramping on the climb which he has chosen to run up.
15:38 CEST
Green has now dropped Meirhaeghe about halfway through the fourth lap, and has
15 seconds on the Belgian. Green looks to be heading to his second consecutive
World Cross Country gold medal, barring unforseen circumstances.
His compatriot Seamus McGrath crashes, while in fifth spot.
15:48 CEST
Green is still in the lead 15 seconds in front of Meirhaeghe, despite a crash
on the descent of the second climb. Frischknecht is at 55 seconds, with Palhuber
in fourth place at 2'41, then Fumic at 3'21 and McGrath at 3'50.
The conditions are so muddy and slippery that a lot of the riders are forced to walk uphill and down.
15:58 CEST
At the beginning of the last lap, Filip Meirhaeghe made a last ditch effort
to get across to Green, managing to get within five seconds of the Canadian
leader. However, Green put it to him on the first climb, and is putting time
into Meirharghe again. Meanwhile, further back Lado Fumic is making a big surge,
trying to come up Palhuber who is in fourth spot behind Frischknecht.
16:15 CEST
1/4 of a lap to go, and at this point Roland Green has pulled about 30 seconds
on Filip Meirhaeghe. Green looks really fluent, despite a couple of minor crashes,
and should win confortably. Thomas Frischknecht is grimly hanging on to third
place, 1'45 behind Green.
16:30 CEST
A very muddy Roland Green wins his second World MTB Championship in a time
of 2.19.02, with Belgian Filip Meirhaeghe coming in second at 19 seconds. Third
place goes to Frischknecht, 1'35 back, with Lado Fumic and Thomas Kalberer finishing
in fourth and fifth respectively.
Results
Provisional 1 Roland Green (Can) 2.19.02 2 Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) 0.19 3 Thomas Frischknecht (Swi) 1.35 4 Lado Fumic (Ger) 6.12 5 Thomas Kalberer (Swi) 6.35
