Canberra, AUS (September 2, 2009) – Chloe Forsman (Tuscon, Ariz./Luna) posted the top result for the U.S. on day two of the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships with a 15th-place effort in the U23 Women’s cross country contest.
The U23 women’s field completed four laps of the very technical 6.47-kilometer course with Forsman and teammate Amy Dombrowski (Boulder, Colo./Webcor Builders) getting off to a slow start and struggling to make up for time lost on lap one. Forsman’s 15th-place finish was seven minutes and 23 seconds off the winning pace set by Poland’s Aleksandra Dawidowicz. Sweden’s Alexandra Engen and Frenchwoman Julie Bresset rode to the silver and bronze medals. Riding in her first world championship event, Dombrowski crossed the line in 18th-place.
Earlier in the day, the junior women lined up for three laps of the course with the duo of Jill Behlen (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joes) and Essence Barton (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) representing the U.S. Behlen was the first from the pair to cross the finish line, eight minutes and 17 seconds behind race winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (FRA). Michelle Hediger (SUI) and Candice Neethling (RSA) collected the silver and bronze medals, and Barton followed Behlen over the line in a strong 18th-place.
For complete results from the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike National Championships, please click here.
On tap for Thursday is the Junior Men’s cross country contest, as well as four cross qualification rounds. Stay tuned to www.usacycling.org for coverage of the action.
Photo caption: Amy Dombrowski completed the very technical course in 18th place in the U23 women's contest.
Photos courtesy of www.canadiancyclist.com
