Americans place seventh in team relay at Mountain Bike World Championships
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Print Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (August 28, 2013) — The United States contingent on Wednesday placed seventh in the cross-country team relay on the first day of competition at the 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
The quartet, which featured three American national champions, finished 5:18 behind the Italian foursome, which won the race with a time of 58:12.
Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C./BMC U23 Development MTB Team), who won the U23 men’s cross-country national championship in July, started the squad’s race, completing his effort in 15:42 in 12th place before elite women’s national champion Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt./Specialized Factory Racing) entered the race. Davison finished her lap in 17:19, maintaining 12th place. Neilson Powless’ (Roseville, Calif./Folsom Bike-VW-Giant) time of 16:05 moved the U.S. into 11th place before elite men’s national champion Stephen Ettinger (Bozeman, Mont./BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team) drilled it to move into seventh place after completing his turn in 14:24.
Italy’s Gerhard Kerschbaumer helped his country defend its world championship in the event by outsprinting France’s Maxime Marotte.
“Our team had solid rides, but not fast enough to contend for a medal unfortunately,” USA Cycling Mountain Bike & Cyclo-cross Program Director Marc Gullickson said. “Hopefully the race pace effort for one lap will help them all with their cross-country preparation.”
The racing in Pietermaritzburg continues until Sept. 1. Thursday’s competition includes the juniors men’s and women’s cross-country races as well as the first official downhill timed session.
For more information, including the complete schedule, please visit the event website.
2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Aug. 26-Sept. 1
Team Relay
1. Italy 58:12
2. France +0:00
3. Germany +2:21
7. USA +5:18
Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt./Specialized Factory Racing), Stephen Ettinger (Bozeman, Mont./BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team), Neilson Powless (Roseville, Calif./Folsom Bike-VW-Giant) and Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C./BMC U23 Development MTB Team)
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This Article Updated August 28, 2013 @ 10:26 PM For more information contact:
