World Mountain Bike Championships - CDM

Vail, Colorado, USA, September 12 - 16, 2001

2000 Results    Main page

Day 4 - September 16: Junior M/w, U23, Elite M/W cross country

Elite Men's cross-country

Green caps perfect season

By Brett R. Lindstrom

Roland Green
Photo: © Rob Karman

Like the women's, the men's race ended with an upset caused by a mechanical and a sentimental finish by two Swiss cyclists. Though Roland Green and Michael Rasmussen battled it out in a one-two exchange for the majority of the race, in the end it would be Green who is crowned the World Champion. When Rasmussen faltered, the window opened for the two Swiss cyclists Thomas Frischknecht and Christof Sauser to move up from the chasing group to the podium.

It was a storybook plot for Green: cap off a perfect season with a win at the Worlds, and what a win it was, thirty some seconds ahead of the second and third place finishers. Afterwards Green expressed his deep gratitude at winning a race against his role model Frischknecht.

Live report

Photography

• Miguel Martinez - takes an honorary holeshot
• Roland Green - was right on Martinez' wheel at the start
• Roland Green - led from lap one and proved unstoppable
• The bunch - heads out into the Vail woods
• The Jetta Jump - was a walk for most riders
• The lead group - in hot pursuit of Green and Rasmussen in the first lap
• Roland Green - rides the singletrack early in the race, past former Tour de France star Gert-Jan Theunisse
• Michael Rasmussen - was determination on two wheels
• Michael Rasmussen - rode hard to hold Green before fading in the final lap.
• Christof Sauser- powered the chase, eventually earning a bronze
• Christof Sauser - rides in the evening sunshine
• The bunch - unusually tight and numerous on the second lap climb
• Thomas Frischknecht - saved his best till last
• Roland Green - celebrates as crosses the line alone to take the 2001 world championships
• The podium - Thomas Frischknecht (Swi), Roland Green (Can) and Christof Sauser (Swi)
• Roland Green on the giant screen
• Vast hordes of spectators - cheered on the riders

Results

1 Roland Green (Canada)                             1.58.52
2 Thomas Frischknecht (Switzerland)                    0.44
3 Christof Sauser (Switzerland)                        0.50
4 Cadel Evans (Australia)                              1.01
5 Ludovic Dubau (France)                               1.16
6 Bart Brentjens (Netherlands)                         1.27
7 Cédric Ravanel (France)                              1.28
8 Filip Meirhaeghe (Belgium)                           2.12
9 Martino Fruet (Italy)                                2.27
10 José Antonio Hermida R. (Spain)                     2.48
11 Michael Rasmussen (Denmark)                         2.57
12 Kashi Leuchs (New Zealand)                          3.36
13 Pavel Tcherkassov (Russia)                          4.04
14 Cristophe Dupouey (France)                          4.26
15 Ziranda Madrigal Alvarez (Mexico)                   4.29
16 Salvador Barriga Vidales (Mexico)                   4.47
17 Hubert Pallhuber (Italy)                            5.07
18 José Adrian Bonilla (Costa Rica)                    5.15
19 Seamus Mc Grath (Canada)                            5.20
20 Marco Bui (Italy)                                   5.45
21 José Marquez Granados (Spain)                       6.04
22 Roberto Lezaun Zubiria (Spain)                      6.06
23 Marek Galinski (Poland)                             6.24
24 Thomas Kalberer (Switzerland)                       6.29
25 Massimo De Bertolis (Italy)                         6.49
26 Todd Wells (USA)                                    7.04
27 Nick Craig (Great Britain)                          7.14
28 Geoff Kabush (Canada)                               7.54
29 Filip Paulissen (Belgium)                           7.59
30 Thomas Hochstrasser (Switzerland)                   8.02
31 Dario Acquaroli (Italy)                             8.07
32 Oliver Beckingsale (Great Britain)                  8.23
33 Stefan Sahm (Germany)                               8.42
34 Andreas Hestler (Canada)                            9.19
35 Craig Gordon (Australia)                            9.21
36 Rune Hoydahl (Norway)                               9.30
37 David Juarez (USA)                                  9.40
38 Lado Fumic (Germany)                               10.13
39 Bas Van Dooren (Netherlands)                       10.28
40 Thomas Bonne (Denmark)                             10.50
41 Peter Presslauer (Austria)                         10.52
42 Carsten Bresser (Germany)                          10.55
43 Bas Peters (Netherlands)                           11.12
44 Radim Korinek (Czech Republic)                     11.51
45 Miguel Martinez (France)                           12.10
46 Josh Fleming (Australia)                           12.28
47 Diego Garavito (Colombia)                          12.58
48 Mathieu Toulouse (Canada)                          13.18
49 Jean Christophe Peraud (France)                    13.21
50 Paul Redenbach (Australia)                         13.23
51 Robert Kircher (Austria)                           13.43
52 Carl Swenson (USA)                                 14.18
53 Beat Wabel (Switzerland)                           14.54
54 Antonio Ortiz Barranco (Spain)                     15.00
55 Milan Spesny (Czech Republic)                      15.32
56 Travis Brown (USA)                                 16.09
57 Chris Sheppard (Canada)                            16.21
58 Mirko Pirazzoli (Italy)                            16.44
59 Paul Rowney (Australia)                            17.13
60 Robin Seymour (Ireland)                            17.26
61 Perren Delacour (Australia)                        17.58
62 James Killen (USA)                                 18.26
63 Tim Vincent (New Zealand)                          19.18
64 Marcin Karczynski (Poland)                         19.24
65 Sigvard Kukk (Estonia)                             19.34
66 Mannie Heymans (Namibia)                           19.50
67 Barrie Clarke (Great Britain)                      20.05
68 Takanori Yamaguchi (Japan)                         22.35
69 Ales Habe (Slovenia)                               23.10
70 Gregor Miklic (Slovenia)                           25.36
71 Melt Swanepoel (South Africa)                      26.16
72 Raita Suzuki (Japan)                               26.30
73 Fritz Pienaar (South Africa)                       38.07
74 Jeroen Swart (South Africa)                        39.42
75 Geddan Ruddock (South Africa)                      42.18
DNF Jure Golcer (Slovenia)
DNF Marti Gispert Labarta (Spain)
DNF Marc Hanisch (Germany)
DNF David Galle (Belgium)
DNF Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA)
DNF Kirk Molday (USA)
DNF Mariusz Kowal (Poland)
DNF Armando Zacarias G. (Mexico)
DNF Jason Gasperoni (San Marino)

Elite Women's Cross Country

By Brett R. Lindstrom

Alison Dunlap
Photo: © Rob Karman

If there were a theme for the day it was of American victory. The day after the US declared war there was darkness and gloom hanging over the heads of the American spectators and the cyclists. But not long after the start of the women's race an American rider took control of the race and eventually won, raising everyone's spirits and the good old Stars and Stripes over the winner's podium.

The race was lead primarily by Gunn- Rita Dahle, but a flat tire eventually led to a disappointing DNF for the Norwegian. Alison Sydo (Canada) rode a strong race from the beginning and eventually held on to second place. However it wasn't until the last lap of the race that Dunlap surged to pass Sydor and take the lead and the win.

"Ohhh man was it exciting!" proclaimed Dunlap as she describing the overwhelming feeling she had as she finished. So excited was Dunlap that in a gesture of gratefulness and love for her homeland, Dunlap climbed off her bike and kissed the ground.

Live report

Photography

• Caroline Alexander leads the bunch up the first climb
• Alison Sydor takes it carefully down a technical section
• Alison Dunlap smiles as the crowd cheers her on
• Alison Dunlap framed by the mountains of her native Colorado
• Ruthie Mathes and Shonny Vanlandingham, the old hand and the young gun in team USA
• Shonny Vanlandingham was the third USA rider in the top ten
• Ruthie Mathes rode to a satisfying top ten. It was the last world's for the 1991 world champion.
• Laurence Leboucher moved up through the field to take fifth
• Gunn-Rita Dahle looked to have a commanding lead before falling victim to the Puncture Gods
• Mary Grigson couldn't quite find the speed she's shown at the NORBA races this season
• Barbara Blatter put in a surprise late surge to finish just outside the medals
• Caroline Alexander led the first lap but couldn't maintain the pace
• Alison Dunlap - followed by on-bike videocam pilot Dave Weins
• Alison Dunlap waves a US flag as she crosses the line
• Alison Dunlap walks into the pits after finishing
• The podium - Alison Sydor (Can), Alison Dunlap (USA) & Sabine Spitz (Ger)
• Alison Dunlap - salutes the crowd from top spot on the podium
• Podium flags - flew at half mast all weekend in commemoration
• Caroline Alexander - from Great Britain on her way to 6th place
• Doing her home town of Denver proud - Alison Dunlap looks like she absolutely loves winning.
• Audrey Augustin - takes lucky thirteenth place
• Audrey Augustin - hydrating as the race takes its toll.
• Just one more flag shot - with Alison Dunlap
• Germanys Sabine Spitz - powers into 3rd place.

Results

1 Alison Dunlap (USA)                                1.51.28.00
2 Alison Sydor (Canada)                                    0.12
3 Sabine Spitz (Germany)                                   0.50
4 Barbara Blatter (Switzerland)                            1.24
5 Laurence Leboucher (France)                              1.35
6 Caroline Alexander (Great Britain)                       1.50
7 Mary Grigson (Australia)                                 2.44
8 Ruthie Matthes (USA)                                     3.01
9 Shonny Vanlandingham (USA)                               3.12
10 Kiara Bisaro (Canada)                                   3.23
11 Camilla Bertossi (Italy)                                4.26
12 Katerina Hanusova (Czech Republic)                      4.37
13 Audrey Augustin (USA)                                   4.59
14 Chrissy Redden (Canada)                                 5.10
15 Jimena Florit (Argentina)                               5.11
16 Silvia Rovira Planas (Spain)                            7.25
17 Anna Enocsson (Sweden)                                  7.26
18 Anna Szafraniec (Poland)                                7.29
19 Hiroko Nambu (Japan)                                    7.36
20 Trish Sinclair (Canada)                                 8.14
21 Katrin Schwing (Germany)                                8.24
22 Petra Henzi (Switzerland)                               8.56
23 Lesley Tomlinson (Canada)                               9.49
24 Irina Kalentieva (Russia)                              10.35
25 Anna Baylis (Australia)                                10.42
26 Birgit Braumann (Austria)                              11.17
27 Susan Haywood (USA)                                    11.47
28 Sadie Parker (New Zealand)                             13.04
29 Suzanne Thomas (Great Britain)                         13.35
30 Melissa Thomas (USA)                                   13.48
31 Yukari Nakagome (Japan)                                14.07
32 Regina Marunde (Germany)                               14.37
33 Claire Townsend (Canada)                               16.07
34 Blaza Klemencic (Slovenia)                             16.29
35 Sonja Traxel (Switzerland)                             17.13
36 Jacequine Low (Australia)                              17.21
37 Jacqueline Mourao (Brazil)                             17.51
38 Claire Baxter (Australia)                              17.56
39 Dellys Franke (Australia)                              17.57
40 Jenny Hopkinson (New Zealand)                          18.24
41 Janka Stevkova (Slovakia)                              19.07
42 Lisa Savage (New Zealand)                              19.36
43 Robyn Wong (New Zealand)                               21.05
44 Brenda Clapp (New Zealand)                             24.35
45 Rebecca Cullen (New Zealand)                           25.20
46 Karen Matamoras Zuniga (Costa Rica)                    26.51
47 Carla Salgado Gonzalez (Mexico)                        30.15
48 Willow Koerber (USA)                                   34.00
49 Dora Elizondo Lizano (Costa Rica)                      35.34
DNF Janet Puiggros Miranda (Spain)
DNF Claudia Marsilio (Italy)
DNF Magdalena Sadlecka (Poland)
DNF Gunn-Rita Dahle (Norway)
DNF Veronica Leal Balderas (Mexico)
DNS Tarja Owens (Ireland)

Under-23 Men's Cross Country

JuJu takes it easy

By Brett R. Lindstrom

Dominating from the beginning, Julien Absalon — "JuJu" to his fans that dotted the course — had the race signed, sealed and delivered. JuJu rode away from pre-race favourite Ryder Hesjedal and although the Canadian rider battled to regain contact, he was never able to even begin to close the gap, and by the finish looked completely worn out. Ryder's trainer had to help him off the bike and to a chair waiting for him close to the finish.

The big surprise of the day was when Walker Furguson, a Colorado native and former Junior World Champion, crossed the finish line in third place. The crowd's reaction was explosive, much louder than that for the French champion. The young American rider appeared to be as surprised of his medal position as the crowd. Asked how he felt today his reaction was, "I was so excited when I came through the Finish line, I couldn't feel my legs at that point!"

Absolon was definitely the man with the great legs today, though. Asked if he knew he was going to have a good race today, his reply was: "Friday I felt bad, however; yesterday, I started feeling good, and today I was 'en forme.'" Absolon finished 1:38 minutes ahead of Hesjedal, in what appeared to be an easy victory for JuJu.

Photography

• JuJu Absalon - shadowed by Ryder Hesjedal early in the Under-23 race
• JuJu Absalon - celebrates as he solos across the line in first place
• Ryder Hesjedal and Julien Absalon - the Canadian struggled to remain in contact, but couldn't hold the French rider's pace
• Walker Ferguson - concentrates through the rocks on his way to bronze
• Andy Guptill working hard
• Adam Craig - looking very glad to be over the hill
• Would you believe - this is a planned move?
• Ross Schnell - looking for lift-off over the hill
• Ryder Hesjedal - showing how the drop-off is done
• Davy Coenen - in complete control

Results

1 Julien Absalon (France)
2 Ryder Hesjedal (Canada)
3 Walker Ferguson (USA)

Junior Men's Cross Country

Photography

• Australia's Trent Lowe - leading Lars Petter Nordhaug
• Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spain) - on his way to winning the Junior Men's Cross Country
• Inaki Lejarreta Errasti - leaving the field in the trees
• Nick Waite - from the USA leading his countryman, Ryan Edwards
• Frank Lehmann - looking powerful out of the saddle
• This climb doesn't look much - but it sorted out the riders!

Results

1 Inaki Lejarreta Errasti (Spa)            1.33.35
2 Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor)                  2.14
3 Trent Lowe (Aus)                            2.31
4 Henry Raabe Mendez (Crc)                    2.44
5 Romain De Waele (Fra)                       3.58
6 Frank Lehmann (Ger)                         4.31
7 Jurg Graf (Swi)                             5.44
8 Rene Henke (Ger)                            6.09
9 Alexei Medvedev (Rus)                       6.44
10 Thibault Legastelois (Fra)                 6.53
11 Marco Kipfer (Swi)                         6.56
12 Adam Quadroni (Ita)                        7.01
13 Emmanuel Valencia G. (Mex)                 7.04
14 Michal Talavasek (Cze)                     7.07
15 Adam Coates (Can)                          7.08
16 Lukas Flueckiger (Swi)                     7.47
17 Krzysztok Kuzniak (Pol)                    8.08
18 Philip Spencer (GBr)                       8.13
19 Mike Felderer (Ita)                        8.16
20 Jordan Aveyard (GBr)                       8.35
21 Martin Grad (Slo)                          9.41
22 Daniel Van Der Ploeg (Aus)                10.02
23 Simon Richardson (GBr)                    10.28
24 Rudi Van Houts (Ned)                      10.48
25 Aiden Lefmann (Aus)                       12.11
26 Anze Bizjak (Slo)                         12.16
27 Ryan Edwards (USA)                        12.21
28 Paul Werner (Aus)                         12.30
29 Frederic Bussieres (Can)                  12.31
30 Dan Birkholm Andersen (Den)               12.34
31 Marek Nebesar (Cze)                       13.04
32 Peter Hatton (Aus)                        13.08
33 Adam Swartzbaugh (USA)                    13.10
34 Nick Waite (USA)                          13.27
35 Hannes Wenzl (Aut)                        13.27
36 John Paul Pearton (RSA)                   13.29
37 Markus Kaufmann (Ger)                     13.31
38 Hugo Chavez (Mex)                         13.46
39 Simone Lanteri (Ita)                      13.59
40 Bostjan Pahovnik (Slo)                    14.39
41 Andy Guptill (USA)                        14.43
42 Johannes Groenewald (RSA)                 15.16
43 Aaron Bradford (USA)                      15.24
44 Will Routley (Can)                        15.38
45 Jan Jedlicka (Cze)                        15.54
46 Colin Eggleton (USA)                      16.44
47 Dany Garcia Fallas (Crc)                  16.51
48 Felix Schmidt (Ger)                       16.57
49 David Schmets (Bel)                       17.01
50 Makoto Hirose (Jpn)                       17.33
51 Ricardo Escuela (Arg)                     17.59
52 Pavel Adel (Cze)                          19.08
53 Javier Puschell (Chi)                     19.55
54 Pedro Munoz (Chi)                         21.22
55 Daniel Van Tonder (RSA)                   22.52
56 Michael Galland (Bel)                     25.08
57 Graham Slater (RSA)                       29.41
58 Fernando Munoz (Chi)                      30.41
59 Ryan Iddings (USA)                        33.34

1 lap behind

60 Boris Ivan Campos Salas (Chi)

DNF Gion Manetsch (Swi)
DNF Loic Guerin (Fra)
DNF Ismael Esteban Aguero (Spa)
DNF Apolonio Carneiro Pinto (Bra)

Junior Women's Cross Country

Photography

• The top three placings - in reverse order during the race
• Liza Winne - given another day, and it looks like a really nice ride.
• Julie Rajol - kept the French colours flying, taking 4th place
• Maja Wloszczowska - looking very much in control
• Magen Long - from the USA pushes hard to take 5th place
• The USA's Lea Davison - looking very comfortable

Results

1 Nicole Cooke (GBr)                       1.11.46
2 Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)                     0.06
3 Julie Pesenti (Fra)                         0.26
4 Julie Rajol (Fra)                           1.29
5 Magen Long (USA)                            2.30
6 Maureen Guichardot (Fra)                    3.28
7 Lea Davison (USA)                           5.32
8 Martina Feldman (Can)                       6.07
9 Sarah Koba (Aut)                            7.38
10 Sophie Anne Blanchette (Can)               7.50
11 Anna Motchalova (Rus)                      9.48
12 Liza Winne (USA)                          10.34
13 Jean Ann Mc Kirdy (Can)                   11.06
14 Katarina Henry (Can)                      11.23
15 Karin Scholtz (RSA)                       15.51
16 Maaris Meier (Est)                        16.43
17 Erika Fernanda Gramiselli (Bra)           21.38
18 Helena Coney (Can)                        25.23
DNF Pavla Havlikova (Cze)