World Mountain Bike Championships - CDMVail, Colorado, USA, September 12 - 16, 2001Schedule
PreviewThe world mountain bike championships gets underway on Wednesday, September 12 with the team relay world championships. [postponed to Thursday, September 13]. This four-rider event is contested by a team consisting of an elite male, a junior male, an under 23 male and an elite woman cross-country racer. After a day of downhill qualifying runs on Thursday, Friday sees the first of the more traditional events with the junior and under 23 cross country championships. The senior events come at the weekend, kicking off with the downhill on Saturday and after the World Cup season we've had, the field is wide open. In the men, World Cup champion Greg Minnaar of South Africa is a strong favourite, but multiple world champion Nicolas Vouilloz (France) will be strongly motivated to hang on to his crown, and Australian Christopher Kovarik has been an unmistakable presence when visa hassles have actually allowed him to race this season. Then there are riders like Mickael Pascal (France), Cedric Gracia (France) and Fabien Barel (France), any one of whom could take the titles if they have a good day. The women's downhill is less muddy. France's Anne-Caroline Chausson has dominated the World Cups this season, and looks likely to retain her world title. That said, Missy Giove has the home country advantage and the strong motivation to land one last win as her career enters it closing years. Brian Lopes may be the closest the host country has to a certainty of a medal in these championships; he's clear favourite in the Dual after a strong World Cup season. Most likely to cause an upset is reigning champion Wade Bootes from Australia. In the women, it may also come down to a USA vs Australia contest: Leigh Donovan against Katrina Miller, though Anne-Caroline Chausson can never be underestimated when she turns her hand to Dual. The championships closes with Sunday's cross-country, and the men's race will see Canada's Roland Green looking to cap off an awesome 2001 season with a world championship title. Green recently became the first Canadian to win the World Cup series, and almost casually picked up the NORBA XC and short track series along the way. Threats to Green come from Spain's Jose Hermida, 2000 champion Miguel Martinez of France and Australia's Cadel Evans; the latter two in particular will be looking for recompense for slightly disappointing seasons in which Green simply rolled over them. The women's cross-country will lack reigning champion Marga Fullana who pulled out last week complaining of tiredness caused by a virus. Without Fullana it's hard to see a serious challenger to World Cup champion Barbara Blatter (Switzerland) though her Specialized team-mate Caroline Alexander has said the worlds is a major goal for her. Australian Mary Grigson has had a strong year on the NORBA circuit, winning the series, and local hero Alison Dunlap is reported to be in exceptional form. Cyclingnews will be covering all of these races with as-soon-as-possible results and reports and live coverage of the senior downhill and cross-country. |