MTB News & Racing Round-up, October 21, 2009

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Date published:

October 21, 2009, 21:40

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.

• Slovenians face rough start to Crocodile Trophy

  

  Article published:

  October 21, 2009, 21:18

  By:

  John Flynn / Crocodile Trophy

  Mugerli crashes out, Robic takes wrong turn

  The Slovenians experienced a rough start to the 10-day Crocodile Trophy mountain bike stage race in Australia. Slovenian Matej Mugerli made an unplanned, early exit from the race during the opening stage one on Tuesday following a crash.

  The former ProTour stage winner crashed heavily while racing at the front of the lead group on the first major descent of the day.
  He was transported to hospital after sustaining a potentially serious concussion, a move that marked the end of his first Crocodile Trophy campaign after barely one hour on the trail.

  Organizers reported that Mugerli suffered a massive hematoma on his head, but is alright now.

  It was a nightmare day for the Slovenians. In the same opening stage, Mugerli's teammate Jure Robic (Matej & Jure), a four-time winner of the Race Across America and previous Crocodile Trophy participant, lost valuable minutes after taking a wrong turn at a well-signposted intersection.

  Fortunately, Robic seemed to have a much better stage two. He made the lead group with stage two winner Bart Brentjens (Trek-Brentjens MTB Racing Team) and stage one winner Urs Huber (Team Stöckli-Craft). Robic finished with them, in third place and sits fifth overall going into stage three. Before the race, he had said he would work for teammate Mugerli.

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• Enaux signs with Felt Ötztal X-Bionic

  

  Article published:

  October 21, 2009, 19:39

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Frenchwoman joins World Cup team for three years

  The Felt Ötztal X-Bionic World Cup Team, which debutted at the Eurobike Trade Show in early September, signed Sabrina Enaux for the next three years.

  The 31-year-old Frenchwoman has logged numerous top-20 places in the World Cup in recent years including 16th at Mont-Sainte-Anne, 18th at Bromont, 15th at Champery and 18th at Schladming in recent months. She also finished in the top 10 in both the European and World Championships and won the German Bundesliga series in 2008.

  "Sabrina is an athlete with much potential. Within the professional working environment of the team, we can expect a lot from her in the future," said Jörg Scheiderbauer, director of Scheiderbauer Sports GmbH which runs the team. "She is able to be among the top 10 in the Olympic cross country races of the World Cup."

  Longterm, Enaux is looking forward to the Olympic Games in London in 2012, but this weekend, she will compete at the Xterra World Championships in Hawaii.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed.

• Swanguen tests positive for marijuana metabolites

  

  Article published:

  October 21, 2009, 18:02

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  American accepts suspension

  Gravity racer J.D. Swanguen (Intense/Troy Lee Designs) was suspended from competition after he tested positive for a metabolite of marijuana. The mountain biker's positive doping test happened during the US National Mountain Bike Championships in July in Colorado where he finished third in the elite men's downhill and fourth in the four cross.

  The substance found in his sample from July 19 was Carboxy THC, a metabolite of marijuana or hashish. The 20-year-old rider from San Diego accepted a three-month suspension, which took effect October 9, 2009; however, he forfeits all competitive results, medals, points and prizes obtained since July 19.

  According to the United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA), cannabinoids are listed as "Specified Substances" and are prohibited under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the WADA Prohibited List.

  Cannabinoids are listed as "Specified Substances" because they could be susceptible to a credible non-doping explanation, and therefore use of those substances can result in a reduced sanction.

  Prior to the suspension, Swanguen was ranked 18th in the final US Pro Gravity Tour standings.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed.

• Fullana returns to riding her bike

  

  Article published:

  October 20, 2009, 22:16

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Spaniard's recovery well under way one month after broken back

  A month after a crash prematurely ended her mountain bike season, Marga Fullana is well on her way to recovery. The crash, two days before the World Cup in Champéry, Switzerland, in mid-September, fractured the Spaniard's L2 vertebra, but her rehabilitation has gone well and no long-term issues are expected.

  Fullana reported that the intense pain that had plagued her in recent weeks has subsided, and she is resuming training on the bike this week. While off the bike, Fullana has been walking and spending time in the gym to maintain some fitness and to strengthen and reinforce the areas surrounding her injured back.

  Doctors have been surprised by the speed of Fullana's recovery. They said that on average, a recovery time for her injury can be as much as six months, but Fullana is back to riding her bike after just one month.

  The former World Champion and current Spanish National Champion, who finished fifth overall in the World Cup cross country, is already looking ahead to the 2010 season.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed.

• TX Active Bianchi Team signs Marinheiro

  

  Article published:

  October 20, 2009, 20:02

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Portuguese rider to race with Italian team

  Cross country racer Ricardo Marinheiro signed a three-year contract with the Italian TX Active Bianchi team, effective in 2010. Marinheiro finished second behind Italy's Gerhard Kerschbaumer in the junior cross country race at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Canberra, Australia.

  Marinheiro, who hails from Portugal, will join Under 23 rider Cristian Cominelli and elites Stephane Tempier, Leonardo Paez and Julio Caro as part of the team run by Massimo Ghirotto.

  "The choice to introduce a good, young rider to the team is consistent with our team's policies," said team president Felice Gimondi. "We are relying on young rider for a three-year project that looks toward the London Olympic Games."

  "In the next few weeks, we'll announce more signings," he promised.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed.

• TransAlp stage race gets new title sponsor

  

  Article published:

  October 20, 2009, 16:38

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  Dates set for 2010 edition

  The TransAlp signed a new title sponsor for 2010. Swedish clothing manufacturer Craft will take over from Jeantex. The company is already the title sponsor of the TransAlp's sister race, the TransGermany.

  "After having been a reliable partner for the Trans Germany for three years, we are happy to be the title sponsor for the Transalp from 2010 on. The sponsorship ... provides many new chances for us as a mountain bike clothing manufacturer," said Craft CEO Holger Hoffman, who has finished the Trans Germany and plans to contest the TransAlp next summer.

  The 13th TransAlp will run from July 17 to 24. It will kick off in Fuessen, Germany, and run for eight stages across the Alps to the finish in Riva del Garda, Italy.

  The TransGermany extended its sponsorship deal with Craft for another year. It is scheduled for June 2 to 5, 2010.

  Registration for the TransAlp will open on December 9 at noon sharp.

  For more information about the race, visit www.bike-transalp.de.

• Junior downhill sensation Mulally signs with 23 Degrees

  

  Article published:

  October 20, 2009, 16:15

  By:

  Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor

  American star looks forward to first World Cup season

  Rising American downhill star Neko Mulally signed an agreement to be represented by 23 Degrees Sport Management this week. The 16-year-old Mulally from Reading, Pennsylvania, had an impressive 2009 season despite not being old enough to race the World Cups.

  Mulally was a dominant figure at the American Gravity East Series, in which he took victories and the overall win among the elite men. He turned heads at the Crankworx in Whistler when he finished fourth in the elite men's dual slalom - behind Kyle Strait, Brian Lopes and Johannes Fischbach. Then, in the Canadian Open Downhill, he was fifth, just seconds behind World Cup stars Brendan Fairclough and Steve Smith. Finally, he won the finals at the US ProGravity Tour.

  Mulally is keen to hit the World Cup circuit for the first time in 2010. The young rider is currently a member of Team Specialized America, but is open to racing a new program for 2010. He raced BMX since 1999 and began mountain bike racing in 2006. He excels at long, muddy wet tracks that require pedalling.

  "Next year is a really important year for me. I want to build on the experience I gained this year with my current team, and chase down my goals of being one of the top juniors on the downhill circuit next year and hopefully gain a medal at my first World Championships," said Mulally. "It was really cool to see the Mont-Sainte-Anne course this year, and it's one I'm really looking forward to racing in 2010." Mont-Sainte-Anne will host the World Championships in 2010.

  "Neko's been well known in the US for a little while now and he's been getting some pretty impressive results for his age," said Martin Whiteley of 23 Degrees Sports Management. " His skill level is right up there and since one of our other clients, Kyle Strait, is on the same team, we got to spend some time with Neko in Whistler. He impresses me greatly. He is a grounded young man who clearly comes from a very supportive family."

  "We haven't signed any new athletes to our management program for more than two years as we've been waiting for just the right rider to come along and Neko fits that bill. I'm very excited by what the future holds for this young talent".

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed.

• New Zealand festival adds mountain bike event

  Article published:

  October 20, 2009, 14:29

  By:

  Cycling News

  Top Kiwi riders commit to inaugural race

  Organisers of the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling have announced the addition of a mountain biking event to this year’s event in Christchurch, New Zealand. The 35 kilometre off road event and a BMX race are new additions to the December 5-6 event’s harbor ride, city criterium.

  Taking part in the mountain biking event will be Olympic and Commonwealth Games representative Kashi Leuchs, from Dunedin. Leuchs won a round of the Mountain Bike Marathon World Cup last year, which will serve him well on the Festival’s new Port Hills course.

  Rotorua’s Mark Leishman, a former New Zealand representative, has also signed on for the inaugural race. Among women, New Zealand number two Nic Leary has been the first elite rider to sign up.

  The new mountain bike ride will cater for riders of all age and ability, according to the organiser. The 35 kilometre route will start at McCormacks Bay Reserve in Redcliffs and head to the scenic trails of the Ports Hills. Experienced riders will take on the toughest, trickiest tracks, while a more sedate course will be on offer for rookies.

  Organisers added that five dollars from every mountain bike entry will go back to trail maintenance on the very tracks participants will ride.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed