Davison’s top-10 highlights penultimate day of Mountain Bike Worlds
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Print Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (August 31, 2013) - The 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships on Saturday staged the elite cross-country races and seeding runs for the elite downhill competition in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. On a day that saw the 2012 cross-country world champions defend their titles, the Americans' performance was topped by Lea Davison's (Jericho, Vt./Specialized Factory Racing XC) top-10 result in the elite women's cross-country race. Additionally, Mitch Ropelato (Ogden, Utah/Factory Specialized DH) posted the second-fastest time in the elite men's downhill seeding run.
After several days of hot and dry conditions, an overnight rain improved the riders' grip on the course and dampened the previously dusty areas.
CROSS-COUNTRY
Davison's ninth-place finish paced the Americans in the six-lap, 28.2-kilometer elite women's cross-country race on Saturday. Davison finished 3:41 behind the winner, Julie Bresset (FRA), who defended her world championship with a time of 1:42:54. Maja Wloszczowska (POL) earned the silver medal, finishing only five seconds behind Bresset and Esther Suss (SUI) was third, finishing 1:06 back. Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna Pro Team) was America's next rider, finishing 10:23 behind Bresset in 27th place. Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./KENDA-Stan's NoTubes) finished 30th, 12:29 off Bresset's pace while Judy Freeman (Littleton, Colo./Crankbrothers Race Club) placed 36th.
Davison turned in six steady laps to record her top-10 finish. Davison finished her initial circuit in ninth place, slipped into 10th place after the second and third laps before regaining ninth place for the last half of the contest.
The American elite men's national champion Stephen Ettinger (Bozeman, Mont./BMC Mountain Bike Team) paced his country's effort by placing 23rd, 5:06 behind the winner Nino Schurter (SUI). Schurter completed the seven-lap, 32.9-kilometer race in 1:40:17. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing XC) completed his race 1:11 behind Ettinger in 32nd place. Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Stan's NoTubes) finished his race in 57th place.
Ettinger and Wells found themselves behind a crash early in the race and were unable to make up the lost time.
Schurter quickly decided the race, setting a fast pace and gradually building an insurmountable lead. A late crash allowed his chasers to gain ground, but Schurter defended his elite men's world championship, finishing the race seven seconds faster than silver medalist Manuel Fumic (GER) and 21 seconds ahead of José Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP), who earned the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
DOWNHILL
Ropelato turned in a stellar seeding run on Saturday, completing his descent only 2.208 seconds behind Steve Smith (CAN), who topped the elite men's field with a time of 4:03.021. Ropelato will be the second-to-last rider to contest the world championship run on Sunday. Neko Mulally (Reading, Pa./Trek World Racing) placed 17th, 12.815 behind Smith while Logan Binggeli (Saint George, Utah/KHS Factory Racing) was 25th, 17.466 back. Kevin Aiello (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./KHS Factory Racing) stopped the clock at 4:27.539, 24.518 behind Smith. Aaron Gwin (Wildomar, Calif./Specialized Racing DH) flatted early in his ride before recording a time of 9:05.162, 5:02.141 behind Smith.
Jill Kintner's (Seattle, Wash./Team Norco International) seeding run was hampered by a flat tire as she placed 14th in the elite women's downhill seeding run. Rachel Atherton (GBR) posted the fastest time, stopping the clock at 4:35.013. Kintner finished 7:18.160 behind Atherton. Tracey Hannah (AUS) registered the second-fastest time, 16.802 behind Atherton. Morgane Charre (FRA) posted the third-fastest time, 18.536 slower than Atherton.
The 2013 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships conclude Sunday in Pietermaritzburg with the elite downhill and cross-country eliminator competitions.
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
Cross-Country
Elite Men
1. Nino Schurter (SUI) 1:40:17
2. Manuel Fumic (GER) +0:07
3. José Antonio Hermida Ramos (ESP) +0:21
23. Stephen Ettinger (Bozeman, Mont./BMC Mountain Bike Team) +5:06
32. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing XC) +6:17
57. Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./KENDA-Stan's NoTubes) -2LAP
Elite Women
1. Julie Bresset (FRA) 1:42:54
2. Maja Wloszczowska (POL) +0:05
3. Esther Suss (SUI) +01:06
9. Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt./Specialized Factory Racing XC) +03:41
27. Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo./Luna Pro Team) +10:23
30. Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./ Kenda-Seven-Stan’s No Tubes) +12:29
36. Judy Freeman (Littleton, Colo./Crankbrothers Race Club) -1LAP
Downhill
Elite Men-Seeding
1. Steve Smith (CAN) 4:03.021
2. Mitch Ropelato (Ogden, Utah/Factory Specialized DH) +2.208
3. Gee Atherton (GBR) +2.513
17. Neko Mulally (Reading, Pa./Trek World Racing) +12.815
25. Logan Binggeli (Saint George, Utah/KHS Factory Racing) +17.466
45. Kevin Aiello (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./KHS Factory Racing) +24.518
69. Aaron Gwin (Wildomar, Calif./Specialized Racing DH) +5:02.141
Elite Women-Seeding
1. Rachel Atherton (GBR) 4:35.013
2. Tracey Hannah (AUS) +16.802
3. Morgane Charre (FRA) +18.536
14. Jill Kintner (Seattle, Wash./Team Norco International) +7:18.160
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This Article Updated September 1, 2013 @ 02:30 PM For more information contact:
