09.01.11 - FRANCE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

France adds two World titles in as many races today; Néron, Pichette top Canadians

(Champéry, SUI – September 1, 2011) The 2011 UCI Mountain Bike and Trial World Championships continued on Thursday in Champéry, Switzerland, with the presentation of the cross-country race for the junior men, as well as with the U23 women’s race, and France is continued their domination by winning both titles on day two of this most important event on the international calendar.

In the Women’s U23 race, the race proved to be quite difficult for the majority of riders. Of the 44 women who started the race, only 15 were able to finish by crossing the finish line, the majority of them being lapped and pulled off the race.

Andréanne Pichette of Quebec, QC posted the best Canadian results in 22nd position; she was overlapped by Bresset in the final lap.

Mikaela Kofman of Toronto, ON, took part in the race despite suffering from a fractured rib and a broken nose, a result of a crash during training. The U23 Canadian champion in the discipline showed great determination and competitiveness to take the 26th place, fighting both injuries and two pit stops for mechanical issues.

“It was a long race, with five laps. Everyone stayed together until we got to the single track. Yesterday was prime conditions, you couldn’t have asked for better. Today, it was slippery following the storm last night. That’s mountain biking, you got to adapt,” reflected Kofman after the race. “With the injury and the broken chain, it was a tough day. I can’t breathe off my nose, and the rib definitely hurts now.”

Laura Bietola of Greenwood, ON finished 33rd.

It’s no surprise that Julie Bresset of France won the World Title, posting a time of1:32:29. Bresset, the 2011 World Cup Champion in the Elite category, led the way from the starting whistle to the finish line. Great Britain’s Annie Last won the battle for the silver medal, while Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of France took the third position.

Rebecca Beaumont of Alma, QC did not participate, suffering from a shoulder injury and a slight concussion following a crash last Friday

NÉRON RACES TO 36TH POSITION IN MEN’S JUNIOR

Canada had three riders in the men’s junior race earlier in the day, with Canadian champion Marc-Antoine Nadon, Timmins, ON, Alexandre Vialle, Prévost, QC and Thomas Néron of Québec.

Thomas Néron posted the fastest Canadian time, stopping the clock at 1:16:10, finishing 36th amongst the peloton of 96 riders. Néron posted the 43rd time in the long start loop, and jumped to the 37th position after one lap, to the 35th place after the second lap, and to the 32nd place on the third crossing.

“It was pretty slippery out there. I feel good right now,” said Néron, racing for the first time at World Championships. “I was bit nervous at the beginning of the race, but it ended up going very well today. These World Championships are certainly not the same racing as we have in North America, and even different from the World Cups. I am satisfied with this season as a whole. This was the biggest race of the calendar.”

Alexandre Vialle crashed in the start loop and went on to fall on a crowd-control metal fencing. Its without hesitation that he continued to race with a bleeding nose for the first two laps. In the 64th position after the start loop, he then showed great athleticism, jumping to the 48th position after the first lap, and continued to improve his positioning on the second lap sitting 44th. He finished 49th.

Victor Koretzky of France crossed the line first with a time of 1:07:18 to be crowned World Champion and receiving the famous “rainbow” jersey. Koretzky was sixth after the start loop, but took control of this race right from the first lap and never looked back. Koretzky gained 26 seconds on the second place after the first lap, and increased his lead to 1:20 on the second lap, then to 1:38 on the third lap. In the end, Koretzky crossed the line with a lead of 1:18 on second place.

New Zealand’s rising star Anton Cooper, winner of the last two World Cup races, won the silver medal, while Andrey Fonseca of Costa Rica took the third position. In doing so, Fonseca won the first ever World Championships medal for Costa Rica in Mountain biking.

The 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships continues tomorrow with the presentation of the men’s U23 race as well as the four-cross finals and the downhill seeding runs.