MTB News & Racing Round-up, July 30, 2009

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Date published:

July 30, 2009, 15:48

Edited by Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

Welcome to our regular roundup of what's happening in mountain biking. Feel free to send feedback, news, & releases to mtb@cyclingnews.com and results, reports & photos to cyclingnews@cyclingnews.com.

• Gee Atherton heads up British contingent heading Down Under

  

  Article published:

  July 29, 2009, 19:39

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Squad picked for mountain bike worlds in Canberra, Australia

  Gee Atherton is among the 28 riders selected by British Cycling  to travel to Canberra in Australia for the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships on September 1-7.

  As current World Champion, Atherton will be aiming to retain his title in the downhill.  His toughest competition may come from his own teammate, Steve Peat, who is second place in the downhill World Cup competition after six rounds.  Last year's junior world downhill champion, Josh Bryceland will be racing in the senior ranks this time around.

  Commonwealth Cross Country Gold medallist Liam Killeen has also made it onto the men's cross country team.  He and Oli Beckingsale will be two riders to watch on the circuit in Canberra.

  Great Britain will field a strong crop of youngsters at the event, including Annie Last who has shown fantastic form recently when she beat champion Sabine Spitz twice and finished second overall in the recent Tour de l'Ain. Junior downhill rider Danny Hart, currently leading the junior World Cup series, has also made it onto the squad along with current junior European Downhill Champion Bernard Kerr.

  Missing from the squad is defending downhill World Champion Rachel Atherton, who been sitting out all competitions as she recovers from a shoulder injury sustained in an accident with a vehicle during training earlier this year.

  British National Team for 2009 UCI World Mountain Bike Championships
  Elite men cross country: Oli Beckingsale, Liam Killeen
  Elite women cross country: Sue Clarke
  
  Under 23 men cross country: David Fletcher, Scott Thwaites
  Under 23 women cross country: Annie Last, Lily Matthews
  
  Junior men cross country: Kenta Gallagher, Steve James
  
  Elite men downhill: Gee Atherton, Marc Beaumont, Josh Bryceland, Brendan Fairclough, Steve Peat
  Elite women downhill: Fionn Griffiths, Tracy Moseley
  
  Junior men downhill: Gareth Brewin, Arran Gannicott, Danny Hart, Harry Heath, Bernard Kerr
  
  Elite men four cross: Dan Atherton, Gee Atherton, Scott Beaumont
  Elite women four cross: Fionn Griffiths
  
  Elite men trials: Andrei Burton, Daniel Butler, Ben Savage, Ben Slinger
  
  Junior men trials: Joe Oakley, Sam Oliver

• Gravity East heads to Sugarbush

  

  Article published:

  July 29, 2009, 17:01

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Round seven to be run at historically signficant venue

  Sugarbush continues celebrating its return to mountain biking by hosting round seven of the Gravity East Downhill Series on August 1 and 2. The huge, two-mountain ski resort in Warren, Vermont, used to host regular mountain bike events before gradually fading from the scene.

  When Summit Ventures purchased the resort, mountain biking again became a priority and the resort has spent six years restoring and constructing trails and park features. Today, Sugarbush has a freeride park and over 18 miles of lift-assisted cross country and downhill trails. Last year, Sugarbush hosted its first mountain bike race in nearly a decade as the Gravity East Series roared down the resort's Lincoln Peak.

  The race track used at Sugarbush, and first unveiled last year, fittingly represents the history of downhill racing at "the 'Bush". The course starts with an old-school fire road section reminiscent of the type of downhill racing that was in vogue in Sugarbush's mountain bike halcyon days. The riders fast forward through the opening section and find themselves in a thoroughly modern downhill course with bermed corners, steep drops and difficult technical sections.

  As part of its efforts to return to its mountain bike roots, erlier this season, Sugarbush hosted an Xterra off-road duathlon and a Women's Wrench and Ride clinic. Lift-assisted riding will continue through October 11.

  For more information on the Gravity East round, visit www.SportsBaseOnline.com.
   

• Leuchs steps down from international mountain bike racing circuit

  

  Article published:

  July 29, 2009, 14:59

  By:

  Cycling News

  New Zealander to promote cycling-based climate change action

  Three-time Olympic cross country mountain bike racer Kashi Leuchs has announced his departure from the international racing circuit. He is returning home to New Zealand to take up new challenges.

  "I'm leaving France and my career as a pro mountain biker to return home to Dunedin to follow a new passion," 31-year-old Leuchs said.

  Leuchs's new passion is a blend of environmental stewardship as an ambassador for the 350.org.nz movement. Also, his newly formed company, Adventure Media Group Ltd, will focus on marketing within the adventure sports industry.

  "The aim of Adventure Media Group is to raise the global profile of some of the amazing mountain biking and adventure destinations and events we have in New Zealand," Leuchs said.

  Leuchs has also re-enrolled for further study through University of Otago.

  "My interest in the environment and concern over the changes taking place led me to a course in Environmental Studies. I have been involved with www.350.org.nz already for quite a while and now with Adventure Media Group, we have a platform to make a really big difference. Adventure Media Group has volunteered its services to run a cycling-based climate-change action to raise awareness on issues of climate change, and hopefully influence our political leaders to be bold and brave when they travel to Copenhagen later this year for the super important UN meeting on climate change," he said.

  In association with 350 NZ, Leuchs' company is organising the "350 Riders" climate-change movement.

  "We want to encourage all New Zealand cyclists to get involved by joining us and placing a green number plate with the number 350 on their bikes, then riding them anywhere and everywhere. The idea is that people throughout the country will start noticing them and asking what they are about, inspiring conversation and education," Leuchs said.

  The 350 Riders movement hopes to gather as many 350 riders as possible, initially in Rotorua in collaboration with the UCI Trials World Cup there on September 13, and then in Dunedin at the 350 Spring Food Festival on October 24.

  "October 24 is also the international 350 day of action, when thousands of events will take place around the globe, so we really hope riders join in and make it huge," Leuchs said.

  Despite all these new projects, Leuchs refuses to accept that he has "retired".

  "I am still as passionate about my sport as ever. I have not ruled out the possibility of returning to the Olympic discipline one day in the future either," he said.

  Leuchs has been racing professionally for 12 years including representing New Zealand in three Olympics, 14 World Championships and countless World Cups.

  His decision to return home was aided by the dissolution of the Felt International mountain bike team, with which he'd signed for four years starting in 2009.

  "One week before the international season was to begin, I proved to myself that I was still capable of racing fast by winning New Zealand's biggest race, the Motatapu Icebreaker," Leuchs said.

  But as soon as Leuchs arrived in South Africa for the first event for the Felt team he realised that the team was in a terrible state.

  "We had no support people, the organisation was a mess, and we were missing all sorts of equipment. One month later the team company collapsed and had to let go of its riders."

  When Leuchs looks back at his international career he says he "is proud of his results", but that this was not the most important part of the adventure.

  "I was able to share it with many wonderful people, in particular, Benoit Nave, my coach for 10 years. For me the best thing was probably learning to live in a new culture and just being passionate about something and giving my absolute best."

  Discuss on the Cyclingnews' forum.

• Sauser to lead Swiss world championship mountain bike team

  

  Article published:

  July 29, 2009, 11:52

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Swiss select 41 racers to represent in Australia

  The Swiss cycling federation selected its team for the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Canberra, Australia from September 1-6. A complete roster of cross country, downhill, four cross and trials team members is below.

  Perhaps the best-known member of the squad is Christoph Sauser (Specialized Factory Racing), who will head Down Under to defend his cross country world championship title, which he won last year in Val di Sole, Italy.

  Swiss Team for the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships

  Elite women cross country: Nathalie Schneitter, Petra Henzi, Katrin Leumann, Marielle Saner Guinchard, Esther Süss
  Elite men cross country: Ralph Näf, Florian Vogel, Nino Schurter, Martin Gujan, Lukas Flückiger, Christoph Sauser
  
  Under 23 women cross country: Kathrin Stirnemann, Vivienne Meyer
  Under 23 men cross country: Thomas Litscher, Lukas Kaufmann, Mathias Flückiger, Fabian Giger, Martin Fanger, Sepp Freiburghaus
  
  Junior women cross country: Michelle Hediger, Vania Schumacher, Nicole Hanselmann, Reto Indergand
  Junior men cross country: Matthias Stirnemann, Roger Walder, Lukas Loretz, Emilien Barben, Pascal Meyer
  
  Downhill women: Emilie Siegenthaler
  Downhill men: Nick Beer, Marcel Beer
  
  Four cross men: Roger Rinderknecht, David Graf, Lucia Oetjen
  
  Trials women: Karin Moor
  Trials men: Roger Keller, Stefan Moor, Sebastian Honegger, Loris Braun, Lars Zysset, Louka Réal

• Participation up for US Mountain Bike Nationals

  

  Article published:

  July 28, 2009, 18:20

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  New location and terrain attracted more racers

  If the numbers are any indication, the US Mountain Bike National Championship, run earlier this month from July 15 to 19, was a success. The event was held for the first time in Granby, Colorado, after a few years in Mount Snow, Vermont. With a total of 1,875 entrants, participation was up approximately 150 riders or 8.7 percent from 2009 to 2010.

  "We attribute the increase to the sheer number of Colorado riders," said Andrea Smith of USA Cycling to Cyclingnews. "But it was also an accessible venue - just one and a half hours from a major metropolitan airport - Denver.

  "And there was great terrain," she added referring to the location in the Rocky Mountains. Most races were run on courses that ranged from 8,000 to 9,000 feet elevation, adding the element of coping with high altitude to the list of challenges many racers faced earlier this month.

  A look at the start lists showed a majority of riders from Colorado. Many made the trip from Texas and California, as well.

  Cross country racers comprised most of the entrants with 869, but downhill was not far with 500 entrants. 173 short track, 163 super D and 160 four cross racers also competed.

  Although in recent years, USA Cycling has had many venues host multiple years of national championships, no venue is has been picked officially for the 2010 US Mountain Bike National Championships.

• More challenging Mont Sainte Anne track wins over racers

  

  Article published:

  July 28, 2009, 18:07

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Favorites pleased and looking forward to worlds

  The long-running Mont Sainte Anne World Cup mountain bike venue in Quebec, Canada, is well-liked by many of the cross country circuit's racers. On Sunday, organizers only improved their reputation by making the course more technically challenging.

  "It's the most technical track of the year," said men's winner Julien Absalon (Orbea). "I'm very excited the World Championships will be here next year." Absalon, who is no stranger to winning at Mont Sainte Anne, took his fourth World Cup victory of the season on Sunday.

  A man-made, rocky section of course drew spectators and photographers alike.  Racers had the option to ride the rock garden or take a more meandering way around.  It wasn't any easy place to have to make a decision.  Even the lead moto crashed upon the approach to the rock garden during the men's race.  Fortunately, with a more than one-minute advantage, the driver had time to right his machine and get back underway before Absalon came along.

  While the men faced slippery conditions on the 5.7km course that added to the technical challenge, the women raced in an outright downpour earlier in the day. The heavens opened up as the women stood on the start line on a cold, chilly summer morning.

  "It was a tough race with the conditions and the course," said former world champion Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon), who finished in second place behind winner Catharine Pendrel (Luna).

  Local hero and past winner Marie-Helene Premont (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles), who finished 10th, praised the course. "It's a nice course. I really like it, and I know I can do well here." When asked if she'd be back racing next year at the worlds, she laughed and said, "I might be!". Premont had planned to retired at the end of 2008, but then changed her mind to extend her career into 2009.

  Third place finisher Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles) was happy to see the addition of features like a rock garden. "This course really suits me," he said.