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Sunshine Cup #1 - E1
Larnaca, Cyprus, February 20, 2005
Swedish dominate opening race of the Euro season
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The new European MTB calendar 2005 has started in Cyprus on the 20th of February with the first of the three events of the Sunshine Cup Series, which is organized by Delta Wings Leisure and the Cyprus Cycling Federation.
The race, which covered a 35,5 km distance around Stavrovouni Mountain, was a fast start for many top European mountain bikers. The good weather (20 degrees), the clear sky and the nice scenery offered the riders a nice event to start the season.
On the start line were many top European and American riders, including world number one Roel Paulissen, Manuel Fumic, Fredrik Kessiakof, Ivonne Kraft and many others. From the beginning, the Swedish team, which has chosen Cyprus for their preparation, led the race and Frederik Kessiakof of the Siemens Cannondale team took the lead followed by his compatriot Emil Lindgren of team Bianchi Agos. This order was kept until the finish line, where for the third place there was a sprint finish between Roel Paullisen (GIANT int MTB team) and Calle Friberg of Bikin’Cyprus Int. MTB team, with Paulissen coming up trumps. Fifth was the U23 World Champion Manuel Fumic.
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In the women's race, Swedish rider Maria Ostergreen won the race ahead of Cypriot Elina Sophokleous (Bikin’Cyprus Int. MTB team) and third, Katrin Josefson, also from Sweden. Fourth was Ivonne Kraft (Fuji Bikes team).
The racing season continues with more events in Cyprus as follows:
February 27: 5th Voroklini Int MTB Race E1 – XC-OX
March 4-6: 9th Afxentia Stage Race D2
March 13: Sunshine Cup #2 Ag. Georgios Alamanos E1 XC-OX
March 27: Sunshine Cup #3 Lythrodontas Macheras E1 PP
April 3: National Marathon Championships
April 9: Cyprus Challenge PP (Masters And Juniors)
April 10: UCI World Cup Marathon #1
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by David Elmfeldt/www.elmfeldt.com
- The start of the men's race
- There's a mountain biker in them thar hills
- Fredrik Kessiakoff (Siemens/Cannondale) was the eventual winner of the men's race
- Emil Lindgren (Bianchi/Agos) was second on the day
- Roel Paulissen (Belgium) on his way to third
- Ivonne Kraft wants a piece of the action
- Fredrik Kessiakoff (Siemens/Cannondale) gets the winner's trophy
- Emil Lindgren (Bianchi/Agos) accepts his trophy for finishing second
- The men's podium: Emil Lindgren (2nd), Fredrik Kessiakoff (1st) and Roel Paulissen (3rd)
- The full men's podium with Calle Friberg (4th, L) and Manuel Fumic (5th, R) rounding out the top 5
Results
Elite Men 1 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Siemens Cannondale 1.15.09 2 Emil Lindgren (Swe) Bianchi Agos 1.08 3 Roel Paulissen (Bel) Giant Int Mtb Team 3.03 4 Calle Friberg (Swe) Bikin'cyprus Int Mtb Team 5 Manouel Fumic (Ger) German National Team 3.41 6 Phillip Spencer (GBr) 5.15 7 James Ouchterlony (GBr) 5.45 8 Richard Mccauley (Irl) Fuji Bikes 7.07 9 Tobias Witzak (Ger) 7.22 10 Olaf Rochow (Ger) 10.22 11 Nikodemos Protopapas (Cyp) Bikin'cyprus Int Mtb Team 13.24 12 Giorgos Fattas (Cyp) 17.26 13 Andreas Reischl (Ger) 19.02 14 Marco Pheiffer (Ger) 22.32 15 Marios Athanasiades (Cyp) Bikin'cyprus Int Mtb Team 24.29 16 Mehmet Sevinc (Tur) 25.25 17 Mustafa Cevdet (Tur) 26.13 18 Mehmet Silahsor (Tur) 29.29 19 Salih Yalizat (Tur) DNF Nick Agate (USA) DNS Fredrik Modin (Swe) DNS Zsolt Vinczeffy (Hun) DNS Oleg Bimbash (Ukr) DNS Walter Torsten (Ger) DNS Andreas Danielsson (Swe) Elite Women 1 Maria Ostergren (Swe) 1.30.12 2 Elina Sophocleous (Cyp) Bikin'cyprus Int Mtb Team 4.52 3 Catrine Josefsson (Swe) 10.15 4 Ivonne Kraft (Ger) Fuji Bikes 14.24 5 Antroulla Kyprianou (Cyp) 28.15 6 Elena Aristidou (Cyp) 31.42 7 Marina Theodorou (Cyp) 33.57
