MTB News & Racing Round-up, June 19, 2009

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Date published:

June 19, 23:03

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.

• Gravity racers ready for next round of UCI World Cup

  

  Article published:

  June 19, 11:00

  By:

  Rob Jones

  Maribor, Slovenia hosts downhill and four cross

  Downhill

  This weekend the final event in the spring campaign of the UCI World Cup presented by Shimano will take place in Maribor, Slovenia. Maribor, one of the friendliest and most intimate stops on the World Cup Tour, will play host to round five of the downhill series. While the teams are enjoying sunny weather in training, there is a strong possibility of rain for the weekend, which could have a huge impact on racing.

  The 2.5 kilometre downhill run drops 448 metres, with a mixture of terrain that requires riders to be all-round performers. Out of the start gate, riders cut across a fast meadow sections before hitting the first wooded section of the course, with rocks, roots and dropoffs. From here it is back to the meadow and carving through bermed corners and a rock garden before ducking back into the forest for the remainder of the run. This is where the course becomes very technical, and time can easily be lost with the slightest bobble. If it rains, this section will become even harder. Finally, the riders burst out of the woods on a spectacular jump before a final sprint to the finish line in front of spectators.

  In the women's field, Sabrina Jonnier (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) has taken a commanding lead with three straight wins, and is clearly the favourite. Tracy Moseley (Trek World Racing), the winner of round one, is anxious to get back onto the top step of the podium, however, the British rider faces a whole contingent of French riders in her quest, after France swept the women's podium at round four in Fort William, Scotland two weeks ago. In timed training today, Moseley was the fastest, two seconds ahead of Jonnier.

  On the men's side, the question is whether anyone can beat the Santa Cruz Syndicate duo of Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar? Between them, the pair have won all four of the previous World Cup rounds, with Peat retaining the series lead over his teammate after Fort William by a slim four points. If anyone can beat them, it will likely be Sam Hill (Specialized Factory Racing), who finished second to Minnaar in Fort William, and won at Maribor in 2007 and 2008. Nathan Rennie is the only big name to have pulled out of competition, having decided to cut his injury-plagued season short and return home to Australia to prepare for the Worlds in Canberra. Canadian freestyle star Thomas Vanlandingham has joined the start list, so it will be interesting to see how this technically proficient rider does. Steve Smith (MS Evil Racing) was the fastest in timed training.

  Four cross

  Maribor is also hosting round five of the UCI World Cup four cross series. While the riders are enjoying sunny weather in training, there is a strong possibility of rain for the weekend, which could have a huge impact on racing.

  The four cross course, at 400 metres, has undergone some tweaking by UCI course designer Phil Saxena, which should make it even faster and more exciting for spectators. Unlike many four cross courses, Maribor sends the riders into the woods as well as down the ski slope, meaning changing light conditions as well as terrain. For spectators, probably the most spectacular feature is the wall ride halfway down the course - stay low to be fast, or go high for the greatest cheers!

  Jill Kintner (Red Bull/Intense/Crankbrothers) took the series lead from Anneke Beerten (Suspension Center) for the women with her win in Fort William, but the women's race is still close, with three women having won World Cups so far this season, and Kintner only leads Beerten by 15 points, with round three winner Fionn Griffifths (Norco World Team) at 45 points. Kintner was first in qualifying earlier today, finishing over one second in front of Beerten, with Australian Caroline Buchanan third at nearly two seconds.

  In the men's series, Jared Graves (Yeti Fox Shox) clearly dominates, having won three out of four events, and leading second placed Romain Saladini (Team Sunn) by a staggering 210 points. Even if Graves loses in Maribor to Saladini or one of his other rivals like Roger Rinderknecht (GT Bicycles) or round three winner Joost Wichman (Netherlands), his lead is safe. In qualifying, Graves showed that he has lost none of his speed, by qualifying number one, and quarter of a second in front of Rinderknecht, with Saladini eight-tenths back.
   

• 2010 Mountain bike World Cup to return to the US

  

  Article published:

  June 19, 10:23

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Windham, New York to host World Cup

  After a several-year absence, the UCI's mountain bike World Cup will return to the US in 2010. A ski resort in Windham, New York, which last year and this year has hosted a round of the US national series, will host a triple event, featuring cross country, downhill and four cross. The event will take place a few days before the World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada.

  The UCI Management Committee met in Lausanne, Switzerland, and approved the 2010 World Cup calendar on Friday. It will include six rounds for each of the three disciplines and will take place at nine venues in eight countries.

  Another new venue will be Dalby Forest, in North Yorkshire, Great Britain. This region, in the north of England, is hosting a World Cup for the first time. It will open the cross country competition for the season.

  Other stops will include Houffalize, Belgium; Maribor, Slovenia; Offenburg, Germany; Fort William, Germany; Schladming, Austria; Champéry, Swizerland; and Val di Sole, Italy. The latter is new to the World Cup calendar, but hosted the World Championships in 2008.

  The US lasted hosted a mountain bike World Cup at Angel Fire resort in New Mexico in the summer of 2005.

  The popular Mont-Sainte-Anne venue is not a World Cup stop since it will be hosting the World Championships.

  2010 World Mountain Bike Calendar

  April 24-25: World Cup XCO #1, Dalby Forest, Great Britain
  May 1-2: World Cup XCO #2 & 4X #1, Houffalize, Belgium
  May 15-16: World Cup DHI #1 & 4X #2, Maribor, Slovenia
  May 22-23: World Cup XCO #3, Offenburg, Germany
  June 5-6: World Cup DHI #2 & 4X #3, Fort William Great Britain
  June 19-20: World Cup DHI #3 & 4X #4, Schladming, Austria
  June 7-10: European Continental Championships, Haifa, Israel
  July 17-18: National Championships Weekend
  July 24-25: World Cup XCO #4 and DHI #4, Champéry, Switzerland
  July 31 - August 1: World Cup XCO #5, DHI #5 and 4X #5, Val di Sole, Italy
  August 8: World Marathon Championships, St. Wendel, Germany
  August 28-29: World Cup XCO #5, DHI #6, and 4X #6, Windham, New York, USA
  August 31 - September 5: World XCO, DHI & 4X Championships, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, Canada
  September 25-26: National Marathon Championships weekend
   

• Georgia to host 2010 IMBA international summit

  

  Article published:

  June 19, 09:50

  By:

  Cyclingnews

  World's advocates to converge in Augusta

  The 2010 International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) World Summit is going to August, Georgia, on May 5-8. The event, expected to be the largest yet in IMBA's history, will be open to the public and will have the theme "Great communities build great trails."

  "It is truly an honor to host the IMBA gathering in Augusta," said Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver. "Our city continues to grow in its reputation as a bicycling destination, and this event will showcase our region to a worldwide audience of trail enthusiasts."

  Summit topics will cover destination and urban trail networks, land conservation and sustainable trails, youth outreach and new programs designed to grow local capacity for the 700+ clubs and patrols in IMBA's global network. The gathering will also include parties and riding at the local Forks Area Trail System (FATS), an IMBA Epic location.

  "The Augusta summit will serve as an essential clearinghouse to advance information on everything to do with mountain biking and trail-based recreation," said IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. "We will bring leaders in trail design together with land managers, the bicycle industry and IMBA's thriving grassroots clubs. These are the key influencers that shape the sport, and only an IMBA summit can connect them all in the same place, at the same time."
   

  Tags:

  International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA)

• Cowbell Challenge offers double header

  

  Article published:

  June 19, 07:42

  By:

  Cyclingnews

  Back-to-back marathon and cross country races in North Carolina

  In an area better known for motorsports racing, human-powered racing takes center stage at the 2009 Cowbell Challenge on June 20-21 at the Fisher Farm Park in Davidson, North Carolina. A marathon, part of the USA Cycling National Ultra-Endurance Calendar (NUEC) event, will take off from
  downtown Davidson at 10:00 am on Saturday, and is followed on Sunday with a cross country that is part of the US Cup East series.

  "We're thrilled to have the Cowbell Challenge back in Davidson again this year," said Steve Fraher, Director of Recreation and Parks for the Town of Davidson. "Having the marathon start from downtown will be exciting for residents and spectators." Davidson Mayor John Woods will serve as "Celebrity Bellringer" to start the race. More than 200 racers will follow a five-plus mile route to Fisher Farm Park where they will complete five laps on a nine-mile course.

  "Cowbell Challenge has always been a racer's race, and this year is no exception," said Taylor Sullivan, the race director. "The pros who've competed here before rave about how much fun it is." Rebecca Rusch (Specialized/Red Bull), current 24-Hour World Solo Champion, is one pro who will be there. She is looking for her third consecutive win. 2009 Ultra-Endurance points leader Harlan Price (Independent Fabrication) will be looking to extend his lead over Ernesto Marenchin (Asylum Cycles) in the 2009 points standings.

  Saturday's festivities will conclude with a showing of "Freedom Riders," a movie produced by Gravinetic Productions that tells the story of a group of free riders who move from building trails covertly, to working with the National Parks Service to create some of the best free-riding trails in the country.
   

• De Brink-Ten Tusscher mountain bike team signs two

  

  Article published:

  June 19, 07:14

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Lindgren and McConvey move on post -Felt team

  The Dutch De Brink-Ten Tusscher Mountain Bike Team picked up two new riders: Connor McConvey and Emil Lindgren. The 21-year-old McConvey hails from Ireland while Lindgren, 24, is from Sweden.

  Team manager Jan ten Tusscher is happy with the signings. "A little sooner than we'd planned, we have made the next step," he said. "But we had a unique opportunity to contract these two talented bikers."

  "I've been following Connor for a long time. He is the number three-ranked cyclist in the world among Under 21 riders. Emil had a very good start of the season. I think he can be a consistent top rider. And I like the North-European mentality. They are no nonsense guys."

  Lindgren was part of a two-man team with Andreas Kugler at the Cape Epic where the pair finished third overall. The Swede also won two rounds of the Cyprus Sunshine Cup earlier this season.

  Both riders were part of the Felt International Mountain Bike team, which recently lost it's support from Felt Bicycles.
   

• La Ruta shakes up organization ahead of 17th edition

  

  Article published:

  June 18, 17:04

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Favorites already committed for November stage race

  Leading up to the 17th edition, La Ruta de los Conquistadores founder Roman Urbina is getting back to running the show after a major shake-up in the race organization in recent weeks.

  The first hint that anything was wrong comes from the message that displays upon visiting the race's website. "Luis Diego Viquez, former race director, has NOTHING to do with LA RUTA DE LOS CONQUISTADORES anymore (commercial, legal or otherwise)..." is the message that automatically pops up upon entering the site and picking the English language option.

  "The whole organization is different now," said Urbina to Cyclingnews," except for two of us - a logistics guy who has been with us for 14-15 years and me."

  "We've had in-house problems with the people who were helping me - mainly in management," he said. "They've done terrible things - they've caused us grief and monetary loss. So I had to go out and look for better people."

  "Even though it's been a good race the past four years, as far as the economics go and dealing with money, it didn't work for us."

  Although he founded the race, Urbina had taken a step back from the day-to-day management. "In recent years, I was only on the lead moto and I travelled the world as a sort of PR person. I let the boat go with a different captain, and now I'm motivated to be back in it." Urbina had stepped aside from the helm as he travelled the globe and participated in other stage and epic mountain bike race events. He's hoping his travels and diverse race experience will pay off.

  "I hope to pull all my experiences from being a rider and a racer in to make La Ruta better. It's always been a good race, and each year it's improved." He believes it can become better still.

  Urbina is aiming to make the race a more customer-friendly event. "Stage one will still be the make it or break it day, but we'll have better hotels, closer to where the race ends. We're also switching over to have the National Red Cross provide support for the race rather than a local, private service. There'll be better food, too."

  "We're instituting specific requirements for all staff. Everyone will have to be certified in first aid and be bilingual." The race attracts both Spanish and English-speaking competitors.

  The race's roots are in tracing the path of the Spanish Conqueror Juan de Cavallón on his trip in the mountains of Costa Rica. His expedition started at the Pacific Coast and finished on the Caribbean. Given the terrain that makes race so famous, riders face noteworthy hike-a-bike sections - something Urbina does not expect to change.

  "Some of the terrain is so rugged that we can't get vehicles in their to support the race - not even ATVs. In those places, we have to use horses."

  What makes the race such an adventure is its unpredictability. "Everything happens in real-time. You never know if there will be a landslide or a hurricane that requires a last-minute course change."

  Several top endurance racers have already committed to this year's edition of the race, scheduled for November 11-14. Among those are Jeremiah Bishop and Tinker Juarez (MonaVie Cannondale), Nat Ross (Subaru / Gary Fisher), Paolo Montoya (Giant Italia) and some of his yet-to-be identified teammates, Manuel Prado and Max Plaxton (Sho-Air / Specialized), and former Vuelta a Espana winner Roberto Heras. Top Costa Rican adventure racer Ligia Madrigal is committed for the women's race.

  For more information, visit www.adventurerace.com
  

• Giove in custody for marijuana drug charges

  

  Article published:

  June 18, 15:43

  By:

  Cyclingnews

  US federal agents charge her conspiring to possess and distribute

  US federal agents took Former downhill World Champion Missy Giove, 37, into their custody on drug charges after they linked her to over 200 pounds of marijuana in a vehicle she was driving in upstate New York.

  Along with Giove, Eric Canori, 30, was charged with "conspiring to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana" according to the Associated Press. The two are being held in custody as they await detention hearings set for Thursday afternoon in Albany.

  Authorities discovered the pair's plans following a stop by the Illinois State Police of a woman driving a truck with trailer including 220 pounds of marijuana last weekend. After authorities took over the delivery to Albany, Giove picked it up and headed to the home of Canori, near Saratoga Springs.

  A search of Canori's home yielded 150 more pounds of pot plus one million [US] dollars hidden on the premises according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Giove was later arrested in nearby Saratoga Lake.

  Giove won the downhill World Championships in Vail in 1994. She also took the silver medal three times at the worlds in 1993, 1996 and 2002 and was twice World Cup overall champion. She retired near the end of the 2003 season. She was known as "The Missle" and wore a distinctive piranha necklace.

  Discuss on the Cyclingnews' forum.