Three Americans land top 10 finishes at La Bresse MTB World Cup

Georgia Gould placed 6th in the elite women's XC race.

La Bresse, France (May 21, 2012) — Brian Lopes (Laguna Beach, Calif./Lopes 55 Racing), Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo. /Luna Pro Team) and Keegen Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale Factory Racing) all earned top-10 finishes to lead the American effort at the RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Presented by Shimano in La Bresse, France, over the weekend.

Lopes take Eliminator bronze

In Friday’s cross-country eliminator, Lopes put in strong rides in the opening rounds to move to the final, where he overcame a tough start to finish third behind Swiss riders Patrick Luthi and Stefan Peter. For Lopes, it was his second podium spot in the eliminator after he rode to victory in the event in Houffalize, Belgium, in April.

Elite Cross-Country

Coming off her fourth-place finish in Nove Mesto na Morave a week ago, Gould again placed in the top 10 of the women’s elite field, this time riding to sixth, two minutes and 46 seconds behind the winner, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa of Norway. Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt. /Specialized Racing) added another American to the top 20 with her 16-place finish.

In the elite men’s race, Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va./Cannondale Factory Racing) was the highest-placed American at 27th, six minutes and 54 seconds behind race winner Julien Absalon of France.

U23 & Juniors

Swenson’s seventh-place result highlighted the U.S. presence in the men’s juniors race. It was his third top-10 finish at a World Cup this season after coming in sixth in Nove Mesto na Morave and third in Houffalize. On Saturday, Howard Grotts (Durango, Colo.) was the top American in the men’s U23 race, placing 29th.

The fourth stop on the 2012 World Cup season, it was the last cross-country event in the UCI’s Olympic qualifying period, which ends on May 22. The next two World Cup events, in Vale di Sole, Italy, on June 2-3 and Fort William, England, on June 9-10, will feature downhill racing only. The final mountain bike team that will compete for the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games will be announced on June 15.

Keegan Swenson took his third top 10 in as many World Cups in 2012.

2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup #4
La Bresse, France
May 18-20, 2012

Full Results    Photo Gallery

Elite Women’s Cross-Country
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Norway) 1:39:57
2. Katerina Nash (Czech Republic) +0:16
3. Julie Bresset (France) +0:55

6. Georgia Gould (Fort Collins, Colo. /Luna Pro Team) +2:46
16. Lea Davison (Jericho, Vt. /Specialized Racing) +7:14
26. Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-NoTubes) + 10:47
36. Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-Trek) +14:43
48. Judy Freeman (Brighton, Colo./Crankbrothers Race Club 11) +20:56
63. Krista Park (Madison, S.D./ Cannondale/NoTubes) -2 laps
69. Chloe Woodruff (Tucson, Ariz./Crankbrothers Race Club 11) -3 laps

Elite Men’s Cross-Country
1. Julien Absalon (France) 1:37:33
2. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republic) +0:07
3. Ralph Naef (Switzerland) +0:40

27. Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va./Cannondale Factory Racing) +6:54
34. Samuel Schultz (Missoula, Mont. /Subaru-Trek) +8:06
36. Stephen Ettinger (Cashmere, Wash. /BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team) +8:55
47. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo. /Subaru-Trek) +10:44
50. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) +11:11
52. Adam Craig (Bend, Ore. /Rabobank Giant Off-Road Team) +11:37
64. Spencer Paxson (Seattle, Wash. /Kona) -1 lap
86. Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-NoTubes) -2 laps

U23 Men’s Cross-Country
1. Alexander Gehbauer (Austria) 1:22:24
2. Markus Schulte-Luenzum (Germany) +1:37
3. Matthias Stirneman (Switzerland) +2:01

29. Howard Grotts (Durango, Colo.) +7:02
39. Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Subaru-Trek) +8:52
41. Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C./BMC MTB Development Team) +9:27

Junior Men Cross-Country
1. Victor Koretzky (France) 1:15:20
2. Dominic Zumstein (Switzerland) +0:13
3. Titouan Carod (France) +0:17

7. Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale Factory Racing) +2:43
40. Richard Cypress Gorry (Payson, Ariz./Whole Athlete-Specialized) +9:19

Men’s Cross-Country Eliminator
1. Patrick Luthi (Switzerland)
2. Stefan Peter (Switzerland)
3. Brian Lopes (Laguna Beach, Calif./Lopes 55 Racing)

Women’s Cross-Country Eliminator
1. Jenny Rissveds (Sweden)
2. Alexandra Engen (Sweden)
3. Kathrin Stirnemann (Switzerland)

10. Chloe Woodruff (Tucson, Ariz./Crankbrothers Race Club 11)
16. Joanna Petterson (Jericho, Vt.)