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MTB World Cup XC #2 - CDM

Offenburg, Germany, April 25-26, 2009

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Race 3 - April 26: Elite women cross country

Ren comes back for win

By Rob Jones in Offenburg, Germany

Chengyuan Ren (Chinese National Team) wins
Photo ©: Rob Jones
(Click for larger image)

China's Chengyuan Ren demonstrated that her absence from the World Cup scene has not slowed her down. She won round two of the mountain bike World Cup after a perfectly timed attack, while Austrian Elisabeth Osl (Central Ghost Pro Team) hung onto the women's World Cup overall lead by virtue of her fifth place result.

The weather conditions were perfect as the women rolled to the line for their six lap, 36 kilometre race held in Offenburg, Germany, before a crowd of 20,000.

After a short start loop, it was Swiss rider Katrin Leumann who led the 93 rider field out onto the main circuit. However, the top names in the pro field quickly moved to the forefront, with world champion Marga Fullana (Massi), Lene Byberg (Specialized) and Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon) leading after the first lap. They were closely followed by Osl, American Willow Koerber (Subaru-Gary Fisher) and Catharine Pendrel (Luna Women's Team).

Pendrel had impressively worked her way up from 52nd on the start grid within one lap. Defending World Cup champion Marie-Helene Premont (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain), who started next to Pendrel, struggled more in the early laps, but moved into the mid-teens, and eventually finished 14th.

World Champion Margarita Fullana (Massi) leads
Photo ©: Rob Jones
(Click for larger image)

Fullana then attacked the rest of the lead group, carving out a lead that approached a minute by the fourth lap. The chase had reshuffled, with Kalentieva, Byberg, Pendrel and Osl dropping Koerber and Lechner, but being joined by Ren, who had also moved up from a poor start position.

Fullana looked to be in control, but Ren launched a strong attack in the fifth lap, with only Pendrel able to follow. Pendrel couldn't maintain the pace of the former Under 23 world champion and dropped back to the chasers, while Ren continued to steadily reel in Fullana, catching and dropping her on the final lap.

Lene Byberg (Specialized Factory Racing)
Photo ©: Rob Jones
(Click for larger image)

"It was the same place that Ren attacked last year, on the climb," said Pendrel. "I was able to get on her wheel, but the pace she was going on the climb was too high, and I had to back off. I was feeling really good, but that first lap, having to chase up so hard definitely had an effect."

Fullana hung for second, with Byberg repeating her third place from round one, followed by Kalentieva, Osl and Pendrel. Canada's Emily Batty was the top Under 23 finisher in tenth place, with Julie Bresset (Breiz Mountain) retaining the overall Under 23 lead.

"I had no idea that I was moving up so much," exclaimed Batty. "I was working my way up, from group to group, and then I caught up with Marie-Helene. It was such an honour to ride with her at that level. She is one of my heroes."

According to a Chinese journalist, Ren will only attend the Offenburg and Houffalize World Cups, before returning to China to prepare for the World Championships.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Rob Jones /www.canadiancyclist.com

Results

1 Chengyuan Ren (Chn)                                                     1.49.56
2 Margarita Fullana Riera (Spa) Massi                                        0.49
3 Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing                               1.24
4 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team                            1.37
5 Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Central Ghost Pro Team                                 1.51
6 Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team                                      2.05
7 Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini                                    3.44
8 Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team                                  4.06
9 Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Colnago Cap Arreghini                            4.08
10 Emiliy Batty* (Can)                                                           
11 Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher                                   4.31
12 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team                                         4.56
13 Anna Szafraniec (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team                         5.09
14 Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles            5.18
15 Petra Henzi (Swi) Fischer-BMC                                             5.53
16 Laura Turpijn (Ned)                                                       6.04
17 Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt International MTB Team                         6.18
18 Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice                                     6.43
19 Rowena Fry (Aus) Discovertasmania.Com                                     7.06
20 Caroline Mani* (Fra) Team Bikepark.ch                                         
21 Katrin Leumann (Swi)                                                      7.57
22 Julie Bresset* (Fra) Breiz Mountain                                       7.58
23 Anja Gradl (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team                                       
24 Adelheid Morath (Ger)                                                     8.28
25 Mary Mcconneloug (USA)                                                    8.55
26 Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International                          9.13
27 Hanna Klein* (Ger)                                                        9.28
28 Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher                                  9.55
29 Githa Michiels (Bel) Team Saeco                                          10.13
30 Janka Stevkova (Svk)                                                     10.22
31 Anna Villar Argente (Spa) Massi                                          10.24
32 Vera Andreeva* (Rus)                                                     10.28
33 Barbara Benko* (Hun)                                                          
34 Lea Davison (USA) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles                    10.36
35 Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice                                        
36 Amanda Sin (Can)                                                         11.02
37 Esther Süss (Swi)                                                        11.10
38 Tanja Zakelj* (Slo) Mbk Orbea                                            11.35
39 Alexandra Engen* (Swe)                                                   11.54
40 Aleksandra Dawidowicz* (Pol) CCC Polkowice                               12.26
41 Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-Suntour                                           12.33
42 Julie Krasniak* (Fra)                                                         
43 Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Swi) Team Bikepark.ch                          13.14
44 Rosara Joseph (NZl)                                                      13.18
45 Helene Marcouyre (Fra) BH-Suntour                                        13.30
46 Ivonne Kraft (Ger)                                                       13.36
47 Kate Potter (Aus)                                                        13.37
48 Sabrina Enaux (Fra) BH-Suntour                                           13.51
49 Nataliya Krompets* (Ukr)                                                 13.54
50 Vivianne Meyer* (Swi) Colnago Cap Arreghini                              14.05
51 Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Team Scott Valloire Galibier              14.20
52 Mical Dyck (Can)                                                         14.26
53 Maria Osl (Aut) Fischer-BMC                                              14.39
54 Jean Ann Mckirdy (Can)                                                   14.54
55 Silke Schmidt* (Ger)                                                     15.18
56 Evelyn Staffler (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini                              15.20
57 Katherine O'shea (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition                             
58 Tatjana Dold (Ger)                                                       15.41
59 Fanny Bourdon* (Fra)                                                     16.27
60 Gracie Elvin* (Aus) Discovertasmania.Com                                 16.51
61 Oksana Rybakova (Rus)                                                    17.17
62 Kajsa Snihs* (Swe)                                                       17.24
63 Fiona Macdermid (GBr)                                                    17.36
64 Fabienne Heinzmann (Swi) Team Bikepark.ch                                17.46
65 Melanie Spath (Ger)                                                      18.37
66 Elisabeth Brandau (Ger)                                                  18.56
67 Fabienne Niederberger (Swi)                                              19.01
68 Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Spa) Cemelorca-Trek-Lorca Taller Del Tiempo    19.04
69 Lorraine Truong* (Swi)                                                   19.25
70 Zoe King (Aus)                                                           19.55
71 Carina Ketonen (Fin)                                                     20.02
72 Stephanie Wiedner* (Aut) DS-Rennsport                                    21.02
73 Kristien Nelen (Bel)                                                     21.45
74 Coralie Redelsperger (Fra)                                               23.15
Behind one lap
75 Sandra Walter (Can)                                                           
76 Virginie Pointet* (Swi) Team Bikepark.ch                                      
Behind two laps
77 Kathrin Stirnemann* (Swi)                                                     
78 Judith Pollinger* (Ita) Sunshine Racers ASV Nals                              
79 Nicoletta De Jager (Ned)                                                      
80 Jennifer Sägesser * (Swi)                                                     
81 Nadine Rieder* (Ger) Fumic.Brothers.International                             
82 Jeanette Gerrie (NZl)                                                         
83 Lucie Vesela (Cze)                                                            
84 Irina Slobodyan* (Ukr)                                                        
85 Camille Devi* (Fra)                                                           
86 Karin Rappo* (Swi)                                                            
87 Cristina Mascarreras Sabria (Spa) Conor - Camping La Siesta                   
88 Silja Vetter* (Ger)                                                           
89 Marie-Claude Surprenant* (Can)                                                
90 Laure Boulay (Fra) Keops                                                      
DNF Ines Thoma* (Ger)                                                            
DNF Alla Boyko* (Ukr)                                                            
DNF Sarah Holmes* (Aus)   

*indicates Under 23                                                       

Teams

1 Central Ghost Pro Team                 59 pts
2 Colnago Cap Arreghini                  46
3 Luna Pro Team                          45
4 Massi                                  35
5 Specialized Factory Racing             32
6 Topeak Ergon Racing Team               30
7 Subaru-Gary Fisher                     23
8 JBG-2 Professional MTB Team            18
9 Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles    17
10 Fischer-BMC                           16
11 Felt International MTB Team           14
12 CCC Polkowice                         13
13 Discovertasmania.com                  12
14 Team Bikepark.ch                      11
15 Breiz Mountain                         9
16 Lapierre International                 5
17 Team Saeco                             2

World Cup standings after two rounds

Individual

1 Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Central Ghost Pro Team                                    390 pts
2 Margarita Fullana Riera (Spa) Massi                                           350
3 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team                               350
4 Lene Byberg (Nor) Specialized Factory Racing                                  320
5 Chengyuan Ren (Chn)                                                           250
6 Willow Koerber (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher                                       220
7 Sabine Spitz (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team                                     200
8 Mary Mcconneloug (USA)                                                        196
9 Katrin Leumann (Swi)                                                          184
10 Petra Henzi (Swi) Fischer-BMC                                                176
11 Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini                                      166
12 Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher                                     160
13 Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice                                        144
14 Adelheid Morath (Ger)                                                        143
15 Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt International MTB Team                            142
16 Janka Stevkova (Svk)                                                         141
17 Julie Bresset* (Fra) Breiz Mountain                                          140
18 Laura Turpijn (Ned)                                                          140
19 Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Colnago Cap Arreghini                              132
20 Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team                                        130
21 Rowena Fry (Aus) Discovertasmania.com                                        122
22 Caroline Mani* (Fra) Team Bikepark.ch                                        114
23 Cécile Rode Ravanel (Fra) Lapierre International                             110
24 Githa Michiels (Bel) Team Saeco                                              108
25 Anna Villar Argente (Spa) Massi                                              106
26 Esther Süss (Swi)                                                            104
27 Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice                                       104
28 Helene Marcouyre (Fra) BH-Suntour                                            103
29 Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Swi) Team Bikepark.ch                              101
30 Emiliy Batty* (Can)                                                           95
31 Aleksandra Dawidowicz* (Pol) CCC Polkowice                                    86
32 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team                                             85
33 Anna Szafraniec (Pol) JBG-2 Professional MTB Team                             80
34 Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles                78
35 Sabrina Enaux (Fra) BH-Suntour                                                72
36 Yolande Speedy (RSA)                                                          64
37 Kate Potter (Aus)                                                             63
38 Anja Gradl (Ger) Central Ghost Pro Team                                       60
39 Gracie Elvin* (Aus) Discovertasmania.com                                      58
40 Hanna Klein* (Ger)                                                            52
41 Katherine O'shea (Aus) Torq Performance Nutrition                             49
42 Ivonne Kraft (Ger)                                                            45
43 Maaike Polspoel* (Bel)                                                        44
44 Vera Andreeva* (Rus)                                                          42
45 Barbara Benko* (Hun)                                                          40
46 Fiona Macdermid (GBr)                                                         40
47 Lea Davison (USA) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles                         38
48 Melanie Spath (Ger)                                                           36
49 Amanda Sin (Can)                                                              34
50 Inbar Ronen (Isr)                                                             34
51 Tanja Zakelj* (Slo) MBK Orbea                                                 30
52 Kathrin Stirnemann* (Swi)                                                     30
53 Alexandra Engen* (Swe)                                                        29
54 Tania Raats (RSA)                                                             29
55 Sara Muhl (RSA)                                                               28
56 Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-Suntour                                                27
57 Shawna Thunder (RSA)                                                          27
58 Julie Krasniak* (Fra)                                                         26
59 Janneke Leask* (RSA)                                                          26
60 Heletje Van Staden* (Nam)                                                     25
61 Rosara Joseph (NZl)                                                           24
62 Hilana Marais (RSA)                                                           24
63 Carmen Bassingthwaighte (Nam)                                                 22
64 Carla Freysen (RSA)                                                           21
65 Nataliya Krompets* (Ukr)                                                      19
66 Vivianne Meyer* (Swi) Colnago Cap Arreghini                                   18
67 Christel Ferrier-Bruneau (Fra) Team Scott Valloire Galibier                   17
68 Mical Dyck (Can)                                                              16
69 Maria Osl (Aut) Fischer-BMC                                                   15
70 Jean Ann Mckirdy (Can)                                                        14
71 Silke Schmidt* (Ger)                                                          13
72 Evelyn Staffler (Ita) Colnago Cap Arreghini                                   12
73 Tatjana Dold (Ger)                                                            10
74 Fanny Bourdon* (Fra)                                                           9

Team standings
1 Central Ghost Pro Team                                                        119 pts
2 Massi                                                                          74
3 Subaru-Gary Fisher                                                             72
4 Topeak Ergon Racing Team                                                       65
5 Specialized Factory Racing                                                     64
6 Colnago Cap Arreghini                                                          47
7 CCC Polkowice                                                                  47
8 Luna Pro Team                                                                  45
9 Fischer-BMC                                                                    38
10 Team Bikepark.ch                                                              29
11 Felt International MTB Team                                                   27
12 Breiz Mountain                                                                26
13 BH-Suntour                                                                    22
14 Discovertasmania.com                                                          20
15 JBG-2 Professional MTB Team                                                   18
16 Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain Bicycles                                           17
17 Lapierre International                                                        11
18 Team Saeco                                                                    10