Richard Rude Descends To Silver In Junior Downhill at MTB Worlds

  
  


Richard Rude en route to his silver medal
Richard Rude en route to his silver medal
Leogang, Austria (September 1, 2012) – Richard Rude (Redding, Conn./Yeti Fox Shox factory Race Team) claimed the first medal for the U.S. at the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships on Sunday with the second fastest time in the junior men’s downhill contest.
 
Clocking a time of 3:32.260, the 17-year-old finished three seconds off the winning pace set by new world champion Loic Bruni of France. Collecting the bronze medal was Australian rider Connor Fearon.
 
Also securing notable results in the junior men’s downhill portion of the event were Austin Warren (Alpine, Calif./DRD X-Fusion Intense) in tenth and Kevin Littlefield (Auburn, Wash.) in 19th while Austin Hackette-Klaube (Dillon, Colo.) placed 45th,Cody Kelley placed 48th, and Cole Picchiottino (Murrieta, Calif.) placed 62nd.
 
In elite competition, Jacqueline Harmony (Sedona , Ariz./IXS-510-Smith Optics) had the top finish for the U.S. in 15th after completing the course about 18 seconds off the winning pace set by Frenchwoman Morgane Charre. Lauren Daney (Stafford, Va./DRD Intense) was 28th for the U.S. and Jaime Rees (Spokane, WA/The Bike Hub) was 32nd.
 
Rude on the podium on the left
Rude on the podium on the left
Luke Strobel (Ussaqua, Wash.) was the top U.S. rider among elite men with a 22nd-place effort while South African Greg Minnar (RSA) posted the winning time of 3:21.790. Americans Neko Mulally (Reading, Pa./Trek World Racing), Mitch Ropelato (Ogden, Utah/Monster Energy/Specialized), and Logan Binggeli (Saint George, Utah/KHS) finished in 27th, 31st, and 33rd.
 
The four-cross competitions took place on Saturday in which Melissa Buhl (Chandler, ARiz.) was close to the podium for the U.S. in sixth in the women’s race and Blake Carney (Camarillo, Calif.) placed 18th for the U.S. in the men’s race.
 
Mountain Bike Worlds will continue, September 6-9, with the cross country and the brand new cross country eliminator competitions in Sallfelden, Austria. Click here for the event website.
 
Visit the UCI website for complete results thus far.
 
Elite Men Four-Cross
1. Roger Rinderknecht (SWI)
2. Michael Mechura (CZE)
3. Tomas Slavik (CZE)
18. Blake Carney (Camarillo, Calif.)
 
Elite Women Four-Cross
1. Anneke Beerten (NED)
2. Romana Labounkova CZE)
3. Celine Gros (FRA)
6. Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz.)
 
Junior Men Downhill
1. Loic Bruni (FRA) 3:29.100
2. Richard Rude Jr. (Redding, Conn./Yeti Fox Shox Factory Race Team) :03.121
3. Connor Fearon (AUS)
10. Austin Warren (Alpine, Calif./DRD X-Fusion Intense)
19. Kevin Littlefield (Auburn, Wash.)
45. Austin Hackette-Klaube (Dillon, Colo.)
48. Cody Kelley
62. Cole Picchiottino (Murrieta, Calif.)
 
Elite Women Downhill
1. Morgane Charre (FRA) 3:50.654
2. Emmeline Ragot (FRA)
3. Manon Carpenter (GRB)
15. Jacqueline Harmony (Sedona , Ariz./IXS-510-Smith Optics)18.377
28. Lauren Daney (Stafford, Va./DRD Intense)  
32. Jaime Rees (Spokane, WA/The Bike Hub)
 
Elite Men Downhill
1. Greg Minnar (RSA) 3:21.790
2. Gee Atherton (GBR)
3. Steve Smith (CAN)
22. Luke Srobel (Issaqua, Wash.)
27. Neko Mulally (Reading, Pa./Trek World Racing)
31. Mitch Ropelato (Ogden, Utah/Monster Energy/Specialized)
33. Logan Binggeli (Saint George, Utah/KHS)
61. Eliot Jackon (Westlake Village, CA/)
65. Duncan Riffle (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dirt Norco Race Team)
83. Aaron Gwin (Temecula, Calif./Trek World Racing)
 
 
 


This Article Updated September 2, 2012 @ 05:05 PM For more information contact: