Bresset races to Nove Mesto cross country victory

As the end of the Olympic qualification period approaches, the intensity of racing is increasing at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. Round 3 of the cross country series, in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, produced a close battle in the elite women's race on Sunday, when Julie Bresset (BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry) became the third winner and leader of the women's series.

In the 25.5-kilometre race, world champion and series leader Catharine Pendrel (Luna) struggled in the opening loop, dropping back to the mid-20s in the field and losing over 40 seconds on her rivals. Her Luna teammate Katerina Nash, racing in front of home fans, jumped into an early lead, before being joined by Bresset after one lap.

A group of chasers attempted to join the leaders, including Maja Wloszczowska (CCC Polkowice), the winner of round one, Blaza Klemencic (Felt Oetztal X-Bionic) and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida). However, only Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon) and, amazingly, Pendrel, were able to make it to the front. Kalentieva joined Bresset on lap three and Pendrel bridged up a lap later, with one lap to go. Nash at that point had faded to fourth, just ahead of another Luna teammate Georgia Gould, who had moved up steadily all race.

Bresset attacked on the climb on the final lap, dropping first Pendrel and then Kalentieva, to solo in for her first World Cup win of the year. Kalentieva hung on for second, but Pendrel faded to sixth, with Nash taking a very popular third and Gould finishing fourth by outsprinting Klemencic in fifth.

In the overall standings, Bresset leads with 590 points to Pendrel's 540, with Wloszczowska a further 10 points back.

"I had a good feeling in my legs," said Bresset, "and I like this course very much. Katerina [Nash] went out very fast at the start, but I was slowly able to bring her back. I was most worried when Catharine [Pendrel] joined us, because she is a very strong and experienced rider, who won here against me last year."

"Some days everything goes perfect, and other days it doesn't," said Pendrel. "I was shocked after the start lap to find out I had lost over 40 seconds. I was able to make it back to third for a while, but I could really feel it in my legs on the last lap. This just makes me a little more hungry for the next one. It's exciting with the level of the riders right now, and three different winners in three races."

The Luna Pro Team won both day's team category and leads the overall World Cup team rankings.

Full Results

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Elite women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry1:29:17
2Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:00:29
3Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team0:00:48
4Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team0:00:59
5Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team0:01:10
7Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice0:01:17
8Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:01:32
9Marie-Helene Premont (Can)0:02:11
10Emily Batty (Can) Subaru - Trek0:02:56
11Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:03:09
12Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Colnago Sudtirol0:03:21
13Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol0:03:26
14Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:03:41
15Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:03:44
16Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team0:03:52
17Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team0:04:10
18Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Swi) Bikepark.Ch Craft0:04:21
19Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) Isd Mtb Team0:04:27
20Annie Last* (GBr) Milka Brentjens Mtb Racing Team0:04:45
21Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:05:08
22Rosara Joseph (NZl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:05:26
23Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges0:05:38
24Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - IXS Team0:06:08
25Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:06:28
26Karen Hanlen (NZl)0:06:44
27Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice0:07:03
28Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry0:07:21
29Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix0:07:41
30Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru - Trek0:07:46
31Mary Mcconneloug (USA)0:07:47
32Sarah Koba (Swi)0:08:02
33Anne Terpstra* (Ned)0:08:13
34Vera Andreeva (Rus)0:08:24
35Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team0:08:30
36Janka Stevkova (Svk)0:08:34
37Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing0:08:36
38Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix0:08:39
39Judy Freeman (USA)0:08:47
40Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:08:49
41Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team0:09:11
42Laura Turpijn (Ned) MPL Specialized Mtb Team0:09:15
43Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus Mig Team0:09:34
44Jean Ann Berkenpas (Can)0:09:38
45Silke Schmidt (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team0:09:49
46Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries0:09:55
47Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Fischer - BMC0:10:41
48Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team0:10:52
49Qinglan Shi (Chn)0:11:00
50Githa Michiels (Bel) Trek-KMC Trade Team0:11:37
51Hanna Klein (Ger)0:11:38
52Rowena Fry (Aus)0:12:13
53Pavla Havlikova (Cze)0:12:53
54Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls0:13:36
55Jenni King (Aus)0:14:09
56Katherine O'shea (Aus)0:14:25
57Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:14:28
58Pavlina Sulcova (Cze) Merida Biking Team0:15:25
59Samantha Sanders (RSA)0:15:53
60Anna Villar Argente (Spa)0:16:24
-1lapZephanie Blasi (USA) WXC World RacingRow 60 - Cell 2
-1lapNicoletta De Jager (Ned) MPL Specialized Mtb TeamRow 61 - Cell 2
-1lapFanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda ChamonixRow 62 - Cell 2
-1lapChloe Woodruff (USA)Row 63 - Cell 2
-1lapLucie Vesela (Cze) GT Bicycles OpportunityRow 64 - Cell 2
-1lapIvonne Kraft (Ger)Row 65 - Cell 2
-1lapMichalina Ziolkowska (Pol)Row 66 - Cell 2
-1lapMaxine Filby (GBr)Row 67 - Cell 2
-1lapTracy Moseley (GBr)Row 68 - Cell 2
-1lapAngelica Edvardsson (Swe)Row 69 - Cell 2
-1lapRie Katayama (Jpn)Row 70 - Cell 2
-1lapKrista Park (USA)Row 71 - Cell 2
-2lapsElisa Maria Garcia (Chi)Row 72 - Cell 2
-2lapsErica Zaveta (USA) Moda-Bikemagic Racing TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
-2lapsAna Zupan (Slo) Energijateam.ComRow 74 - Cell 2
-2lapsJudith Pollinger (Ita) Hard Rock Canossa MeridaRow 75 - Cell 2
-2lapsJoanne Clay (GBr) WXC World RacingRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFLaura Metzler (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey VallandryRow 77 - Cell 2
DNFCaroline Mani (Fra)Row 78 - Cell 2
DNFElisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix NakamuraRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFAleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC PolkowiceRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC PolkowiceRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFCatherine Vipond (Can)Row 82 - Cell 2
DNFKatarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol)Row 83 - Cell 2
DNFInbar Ronen (Isr)Row 84 - Cell 2
DNFLee Craigie (GBr)Row 85 - Cell 2
DNFDaniela Storch (Ger)Row 86 - Cell 2
DNFAnneke Beerten (Ned) Milka-Superior Mtb Racing TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFJoanna Petterson (USA)Row 88 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luna Pro Team88pts
2Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team45Row 1 - Cell 3
3BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry43Row 2 - Cell 3
4Ghost Factory Racing Team42Row 3 - Cell 3
5Colnago Sudtirol37Row 4 - Cell 3
6Topeak Ergon Racing Team35Row 5 - Cell 3
7Sabine Spitz Haibike Team29Row 6 - Cell 3
8CCC Polkowice28Row 7 - Cell 3
9Multivan Merida Biking Team23Row 8 - Cell 3
10Subaru - Trek22Row 9 - Cell 3
11Rabobank Giant Offroad Team19Row 10 - Cell 3
12Bikepark.Ch Craft13Row 11 - Cell 3
13ISD MTB Team12Row 12 - Cell 3
14Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team11Row 13 - Cell 3
15Specialized Solodet Vosges8Row 14 - Cell 3
16Wheeler - IXS Team7Row 15 - Cell 3
17GT Skoda Chamonix2Row 16 - Cell 3
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Elite women individual World Cup standings after three rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry590pts
2Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team540Row 1 - Cell 3
3Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice530Row 2 - Cell 3
4Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team425Row 3 - Cell 3
5Emily Batty (Can) Subaru - Trek415Row 4 - Cell 3
6Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team309Row 5 - Cell 3
7Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team294Row 6 - Cell 3
8Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team288Row 7 - Cell 3
9Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team280Row 8 - Cell 3
10Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - Ixs Team272Row 9 - Cell 3
11Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team263Row 10 - Cell 3
12Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team254Row 11 - Cell 3
13Marie-Helene Premont (Can)242Row 12 - Cell 3
14Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team242Row 13 - Cell 3
15Karen Hanlen (NZl)234Row 14 - Cell 3
16Annie Last* (GBr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team232Row 15 - Cell 3
17Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team230Row 16 - Cell 3
18Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol229Row 17 - Cell 3
19Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team213Row 18 - Cell 3
20Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Colnago Sudtirol207Row 19 - Cell 3
21Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Swi) Bikepark.Ch Craft188Row 20 - Cell 3
22Rosara Joseph (NZl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team182Row 21 - Cell 3
23Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing178Row 22 - Cell 3
24Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges168Row 23 - Cell 3
25Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team159Row 24 - Cell 3
26Annika Langvad (Den) Team Fujibikes Rockets150Row 25 - Cell 3
27Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru - Trek145Row 26 - Cell 3
28Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix142Row 27 - Cell 3
29Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team133Row 28 - Cell 3
30Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus Mig Team127Row 29 - Cell 3
31Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice126Row 30 - Cell 3
32Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team124Row 31 - Cell 3
33Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team123Row 32 - Cell 3
34Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice120Row 33 - Cell 3
35Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice104Row 34 - Cell 3
36Mary Mcconneloug (USA)103Row 35 - Cell 3
37Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry98Row 36 - Cell 3
38Laura Turpijn (Ned) Mpl Specialized MTB Team95Row 37 - Cell 3
39Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura86Row 38 - Cell 3
40Hanna Klein (Ger)86Row 39 - Cell 3
41Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team86Row 40 - Cell 3
42Vera Andreeva (Rus)84Row 41 - Cell 3
43Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing78Row 42 - Cell 3
44Rie Katayama (Jpn)74Row 43 - Cell 3
45Anne Terpstra* (Ned)72Row 44 - Cell 3
46Judy Freeman (USA)71Row 45 - Cell 3
47Qinglan Shi (Chn)69Row 46 - Cell 3
48Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) ISD MTB Team68Row 47 - Cell 3
49Janka Stevkova (Svk)68Row 48 - Cell 3
50Silke Schmidt (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team65Row 49 - Cell 3
51Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries64Row 50 - Cell 3
52Sarah Koba (Swi)58Row 51 - Cell 3
53Laura Metzler (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry58Row 52 - Cell 3
54Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix57Row 53 - Cell 3
55Katherine Compton (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team51Row 54 - Cell 3
56Rowena Fry (Aus)51Row 55 - Cell 3
57Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol)40Row 56 - Cell 3
58Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Fischer - BMC36Row 57 - Cell 3
59Chloe Woodruff (USA)36Row 58 - Cell 3
60Githa Michiels (Bel) Trek-KMC Trade Team28Row 59 - Cell 3
61Samantha Sanders (RSA)26Row 60 - Cell 3
62Jean Ann Berkenpas (Can)24Row 61 - Cell 3
63Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing24Row 62 - Cell 3
64Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix23Row 63 - Cell 3
65Ivonne Kraft (Ger)20Row 64 - Cell 3
66Pavla Havlikova (Cze)15Row 65 - Cell 3
67Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls14Row 66 - Cell 3
68Willow Rockwell (USA) Trek World Racing14Row 67 - Cell 3
69Jenni King (Aus)13Row 68 - Cell 3
70Jodie Willett (Aus)13Row 69 - Cell 3
71Katherine O'shea (Aus)12Row 70 - Cell 3
72Caroline Mani (Fra)11Row 71 - Cell 3
73Pavlina Sulcova (Cze) Merida Biking Team10Row 72 - Cell 3
74Catherine Vipond (Can)9Row 73 - Cell 3
75Julia Colvin (RSA)9Row 74 - Cell 3
76Anna Villar Argente (Spa)8Row 75 - Cell 3
77Jane Nussli (GBr) Fischer - BMC8Row 76 - Cell 3
78Melanie Palframan (RSA)8Row 77 - Cell 3
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Elite women's team World Cup standings after three rounds
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luna Pro Team205pts
2CCC Polkowice135Row 1 - Cell 3
3BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry106Row 2 - Cell 3
4Ghost Factory Racing Team104Row 3 - Cell 3
5Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team99Row 4 - Cell 3
6Subaru - Trek97Row 5 - Cell 3
7Rabobank Giant Offroad Team87Row 6 - Cell 3
8Topeak Ergon Racing Team82Row 7 - Cell 3
9Colnago Sudtirol80Row 8 - Cell 3
10Sabine Spitz Haibike Team62Row 9 - Cell 3
11Wheeler - IXS Team47Row 10 - Cell 3
12Multivan Merida Biking Team35Row 11 - Cell 3
13Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team33Row 12 - Cell 3
14Team Fujibikes Rockets31Row 13 - Cell 3
15Specialized Racing29Row 14 - Cell 3
16Bikepark.Ch Craft28Row 15 - Cell 3
17Notebooksbilliger.De Team22Row 16 - Cell 3
18Specialized Solodet Vosges18Row 17 - Cell 3
19ISD MTB Team12Row 18 - Cell 3
20GT Skoda Chamonix9Row 19 - Cell 3
21Salcano Factory Team8Row 20 - Cell 3
22Focus MIG Team7Row 21 - Cell 3
23Team Crampfix Nakamura2Row 22 - Cell 3

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