Hanka Kupfernagel, Germany, won the first Cyclo Cross World Championships for women ahead of Louise Robinson, Great Britain. Kupfernagel dominated the 13 kms race from the start and went solo all the way. Van den Brand hung on to Robinson but had to let her go on the last lap. The German, who also is ranked no 1 on the road has used cyclo cross as winter training for several years and the victory was not surprising.

Alison Dunlap (USA) was among Kupfernagel's early pursuers but fell back as Daphny van den Brand and Laurence Leboucher took over, along with Kupfernagel. Then Louise Robinson of Great Britain caught the two chasers, and attacked on the last lap as her only rival van den Brand changed bikes. "Hanka, the girl from Holland (van den Brand) and I were in the lead. We then hit a muddy section, and Hanka accelerated through and took over the race and pulled away. I just did not have good power today," said Dunlap, who is ranked second in the UCI world cross-country mountain biking rankings. "I did not have that raw power you needed to ride through the thick mud. It was like riding on a sponge. If the race course been dry and fast, I know I could have done better."

Carmen Richardson (USA) posted an eighth-place finish. "I came over for Wetzikon last week (finished seventh) and then put in the final preparation I am glad to compete at Wetzikon because it helped me get ready for the race," said Richardson, who was making her world championship debut. "I think the whole team would have performed better with a drier course. The rain had big impact on course. "I had not planned on making cyclo-cross a big part of year. The original plan was to compete in a few, but since I was in competition with Ann (Grande) for the SuperCup title, I wanted to try to even things up in Chicago. After that race, I focused on nationals, and the world championship was a great finish for the season and a kick-start for the 2000 mountain bike season."

(Thanks to Rich Wanninger/Tomas Nilsson for the reporting)

1. Hanka Kupfernagel (Ger)       42.10 (19.245 kph)
2. Louise Robinson (Gbr)          0.57
3. Daphny Van den Brand (Bel)     1.16
4. Laurence Leboucher (Fra)       2.03
5. Alison Dunlap (USA)            2.30
6. Corine Dorland (Ned)           2.55
7. Gera Epifanova (Rus)           3.14
8. Carmen Richardson (USA)        3.15
9. Inge Velthuis (Ned)            3.36
10. Chantal Daucourt (Swi)        3.57
11. Danielle Jansen (Ned)         4.12
12. Ann Grande (USA)              4.18
13. Ruth Matthes (USA)            4.21
14. Nadia Triquet (Fra)           4.23
15. Chrissy Redden (Can)          4.35
16. Nicole Leijten (Ned)          4.59
17. Regina Marunde (Ger)          5.12
18. Nicole Cooke (Gbr)            5.18
19. Jana Jerabkova (Cze)          5.37
20. Pavla Havlikova (Cze)         5.37
21. Giuliana Tovaglieri (Ita)     5.55
22. Lory Laroy (Bel)              6.20
23. Mika Ogishima (Jpn)           6.40
24. Shari Kain (USA)              6.57
25. Alexandra Baehler (Swi)       7.44
26. Sandra Missbach (Ger)         7.46
27. Paola Bortoun (Ita)           7.46
28. Anja Nobus (Bel)              8.12
29. Helen Macgregor (Gbr)         8.21
30. Marzena Wasiuk (Pol)          8.24
31. Veronica Sala (Ita)           8.40
32. Jenny Copnall (Gbr)           8.59
33. Katleen Vermeiren (Bel)       9.13
34. Rocio Gamonal Ferrera (Spa)   9.13
35. Susan Carter (Gbr)            9.27
36. Lidia Fuentes Moledo (Spa)    1 lap
37. Aida Nuno Palacio (Spa)