Americans contest U23 men’s XC race at MTB World Championships
Americans Contest U23 Men’s XC Race at MTB World Championships
Trentino, Italy (June 20, 2008)— The United States best finish in the U23 Men’s Cross Country contest at the 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships came in the form of a 41st-place finish by the relatively inexperienced Tim Allen of Flagstaff, Ariz. None of the four American competitors were able to complete all six laps with top-ranked U.S. rider, Sam Jurekovic (Colorado Springs, Colo.) suffering an early race-ending crash.
More than 100 riders took to the start of the U23 Men’s Cross Country competition amongst a boisterous crowd in the mid-day heat of northern Italy. Allen, the United States most inexperienced rider, took his start in the very back row. The first year pro rider, making his first visit overseas, did not however let that thwart his effort, moving up 40 spots in the first two laps.
“This was definitely an eye opening experience – incredible,” said Allen. “The start was just insane, like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It was very aggressive and intimidating. I wasn’t able to go that hard on the first lap. With all the bottlenecks and crashes I was just trying to stay upright and make as many moves as I could. After that I felt good and just started making my way through the field.”
Although pulled just before his final lap, Allen was able to earn 41st place in a race where only 34 riders completed all six laps. Mitchell Peterson (Sandy, Utah) also had a strong ride for the U.S. placing 67th after racing three laps of the contest. Colin Cares (Boulder, Colo.) ended the race in 85th.
After starting in the 15th spot in a call-up system based on UCI points, Jurekovic was amongst the top riders near the completion of the race’s first lap. Luck however was not on his side as he suffered a crash in which his shoes came unclipped on a violent downhill resulting in a completely broken bike frame and forcing him out of the competition.
“I wanted to go hard out of the gate and get amongst the leaders and then set my pace,” explained Jurekovic. “The plan was working great up until that last descent on the first lap.”
Friday’s 35-kilometer race was dominated by Switzerland with the European nation placing three riders in the top five and four inside the top ten. Overall winner Nino Schurter (SUI) set a blistering pace with sub-18-minute lap times, besting those of any of Tuesday’s elite male competitors in the Team Relay.
In the evening’s four cross preliminaries, the United States qualified five athletes for tomorrow’s finals. Last year’s World Champion, American Brian Lopes (San Clemente, Calif.) qualified eighth, only 0:98 behind number one qualifier Jared Graves of Australia. Ross Milan (Golden, Colo.) qualified in the 12th spot, while Michael Haderer (Concord, Calif.) qualified 23rd and Blake Carney (Camarillo, Calif.) 37th. On the women’s side, last year’s bronze medalist Melissa Buhl (Chandler, Ariz.) qualified third, 0:26 behind Anneke Beerten (NED).
The 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships continue on Saturday with all gravity finals. The junior and elite men and women will contest a highly technical downhill course that drops more than 1,350 meters. Later in the evening competitors will go head-to-head on a four cross course filled with more than 15 jumps, drop-offs, step-downs and step-ups.
Click here for complete results from the 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.
Many of the events at the 2008 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships can be viewed live online at www.freecaster.com.
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This Article Published 2008-06-20 10:27:32
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