Zakelj wins second straight World Cup cross country

Despite intense heat that saw many riders wilt, the leader in the cross-country mountain bike World Cup extended her lead in the elite women's series at Val di Sole, Italy. Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools) now holds a commanding lead in the overall standings at the halfway mark of the 2013 World Cup series.

The Val di Sole course is renowned for steep climbs, technical singletrack and hot, humid conditions; and this year was no different. Riders that went out hard early in the races were fading by the halfway point, and those who had played a tactical game then moved to the front.

In the elite women's six-lap race, defending World Cup overall champion Catharine Pendrel (Luna) blazed off the front, opening a 15-second gap on Zakelj, Katerina Nash (Luna) and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida). However, by the second lap the other three had caught her, and the Canadian faded to eventually finish sixth.

Zakelj and Nash had dropped Dahle Flesjaa and Pendrel by the end of lap three, and the pair rode together at the front for a lap before Nash attacked. The Czech rider carved out a slim eight-second lead, which she held into the final lap, but then also faded in the final half lap to finish 20 seconds down on Zakelj. Emily Batty (Trek World Racing), moving up steadily all race, moved into third on the fourth lap, and held it to the line.

"This course fits me well," said Zakelj. "Yes, I suffered so much; the uphills are very steep, but I am very fit now. I have my fan club here and from this race I have great memories. I always do great here.

"I didn't expect to win again, because there are so many strong girls, but of course I was ready to win. After Katerina [Nash] was in front on the last lap, I was prepared for second place, so i was surprised when I caught her again. Now I have the mental feeling that I am at the top so I am always ready to win."

Zakelj now leads the overall standings with 650 points, followed by Maja Wloszczowska (Giant Pro XC) at 490 and round one winner Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtirol) with 470 points.

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Full Results
1Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team1:36:37
2Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team0:00:20
3Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing0:00:50
4Adelheid Morath (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team0:01:34
5Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:01:59
6Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team0:02:58
7Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - IXS Team0:03:08
8Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing XC0:03:14
9Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:03:26
10Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:04:04
11Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Giant Pro XC Team0:04:40
12Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team0:05:03
13Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol0:05:25
14Jolanda Neff (Swi) Giant Pro XC Team0:05:39
15Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:06:05
16Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Specialized Racing XC0:06:22
17Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) Bi&Esse Carrera0:06:41
18Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Fischer-BMC0:07:31
19Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB Team0:07:48
20Mary McConneloug (USA)0:08:47
21Daniela Campuzano (Mex)0:09:10
22Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team0:09:45
23Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) ISD MTB Team0:10:03
24Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Calcit Bike Team0:10:26
25Vera Andreeva (Rus) Team Protek0:10:30
26Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:10:44
27Annika Langvad (Den) Team Davinci - Specialized0:11:12
28Sabrina Enaux (Fra)0:12:08
29Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Team Colnago Sudtirol0:12:11
30Lene Byberg (Nor)0:12:12
31Serena Calvetti (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop0:12:51
32Nina Wrobel (Ger)0:13:16
33Hanna Klein (Ger)0:13:28
34Anna Villar Argente (Spa)0:13:35
35Judith Pollinger (Ita)0:14:13
36Kateryna Naberezhna (Ukr) ISD MTB Team-1lap
37Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg)Row 36 - Cell 2
38Samara Sheppard (NZl) Toka Print MTB TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMCRow 38 - Cell 2
40Irina Slobodyan (Ukr)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Jacquelina Alvarez (Arg)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Fanny Bourdon (Fra) Look - Beaumes De VeniseRow 41 - Cell 2
43Kate Fluker (NZl)Row 42 - Cell 2
44Katherine O'Neill (NZl)-2laps
45Barbara Benko (Hun) Focus XC TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Anja Gradl (Ger) Team BullsRow 45 - Cell 2
47Lucie Vesela (Cze)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Elisabeth Sveum (Nor)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Franziska Brun (Swi)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Andréanne Pichette (Can)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Helle Qvortrup Bachmann (Den)-3laps
52Elvira Khayrullina (Rus)Row 51 - Cell 2
DNFAnnie Last (GBr) Trek Factory RacingRow 52 - Cell 2
DNFElisabeth Brandau (Ger)Row 53 - Cell 2
DNFKatarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol)Row 54 - Cell 2
DNFNadine Rieder (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
DNFJitka Skarnitzlova (Cze)Row 56 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Oberparleiter (Ita)Row 57 - Cell 2
DNFPaula Gorycka (Pol) 4F Racing TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
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Teams
1Luna Pro Team70pts
2Ghost Factory Racing Team59Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team49Row 2 - Cell 3
4Unior Tools Team40Row 3 - Cell 3
5Specialized Racing XC38Row 4 - Cell 3
6Giant Pro XC Team37Row 5 - Cell 3
7Trek Factory Racing32Row 6 - Cell 3
8Multivan Merida Biking Team28Row 7 - Cell 3
9Wheeler - IXS Team24Row 8 - Cell 3
10Team Colnago Sudtirol20Row 9 - Cell 3
11Bi&Esse Carrera14Row 10 - Cell 3
12Fischer-BMC13Row 11 - Cell 3
13Toka Print MTB Team12Row 12 - Cell 3
14Isd MTB Team8Row 13 - Cell 3
15Calcit Bike Team7Row 14 - Cell 3
16Team Protek6Row 15 - Cell 3
17Scott-3Roxracing5Row 16 - Cell 3
18Team Davinci - Specialized4Row 17 - Cell 3
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World Cup standings - Individuals
1Tanja Zakelj (Slo)650pts
2Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)490Row 1 - Cell 3
3Eva Lechner (Ita)470Row 2 - Cell 3
4Katerina Nash (Cze)415Row 3 - Cell 3
5Emily Batty (Can)390Row 4 - Cell 3
6Alexandra Engen (Swe)385Row 5 - Cell 3
7Catharine Pendrel (Can)375Row 6 - Cell 3
8Katrin Leumann (Swi)326Row 7 - Cell 3
9Adelheid Morath (Ger)326Row 8 - Cell 3
10Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor)299Row 9 - Cell 3
11Lea Davison (USA)292Row 10 - Cell 3
12Esther Süss (Swi)280Row 11 - Cell 3
13Jolanda Neff (Swi)266Row 12 - Cell 3
14Irina Kalentieva (Rus)250Row 13 - Cell 3
15Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi)205Row 14 - Cell 3
16Tereza Hurikova (Cze)202Row 15 - Cell 3
17Blaza Klemencic (Slo)198Row 16 - Cell 3
18Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol)194Row 17 - Cell 3
19Annika Langvad (Den)192Row 18 - Cell 3
20Vera Andreeva (Rus)182Row 19 - Cell 3
21Georgia Gould (USA)178Row 20 - Cell 3
22Corina Gantenbein (Swi)174Row 21 - Cell 3
23Nathalie Schneitter (Swi)170Row 22 - Cell 3
24Mary McConneloug (USA)168Row 23 - Cell 3
25Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra)164Row 24 - Cell 3
26Elisabeth Osl (Aut)162Row 25 - Cell 3
27Daniela Campuzano (Mex)154Row 26 - Cell 3
28Sabrina Enaux (Fra)144Row 27 - Cell 3
29Hanna Klein (Ger)142Row 28 - Cell 3
30Annie Last (GBr)141Row 29 - Cell 3
31Githa Michiels (Bel)132Row 30 - Cell 3
32Nina Wrobel (Ger)99Row 31 - Cell 3
33Marianne Vos (Ned)90Row 32 - Cell 3
34Mikaela Kofman (Can)90Row 33 - Cell 3
35Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol)88Row 34 - Cell 3
36Anna Villar Argente (Spa)85Row 35 - Cell 3
37Lene Byberg (Nor)84Row 36 - Cell 3
38Nataliya Krompets (Ukr)79Row 37 - Cell 3
39Anja Gradl (Ger)79Row 38 - Cell 3
40Kate Fluker (NZl)78Row 39 - Cell 3
41Paula Gorycka (Pol)75Row 40 - Cell 3
42Chengyuan Ren (Chn)74Row 41 - Cell 3
43Anna Szafraniec (Pol)70Row 42 - Cell 3
44Serena Calvetti (Ita)70Row 43 - Cell 3
45Amanda Sin (Can)66Row 44 - Cell 3
46Samara Sheppard (NZl)64Row 45 - Cell 3
47Fanny Bourdon (Fra)60Row 46 - Cell 3
48Barbara Benko (Hun)50Row 47 - Cell 3
49Kateryna Naberezhna (Ukr)49Row 48 - Cell 3
50Nadine Rieder (Ger)49Row 49 - Cell 3
51Judith Pollinger (Ita)48Row 50 - Cell 3
52Jacquelina Alvarez (Arg)47Row 51 - Cell 3
53Lee Craigie (GBr)47Row 52 - Cell 3
54Judy Freeman (USA)45Row 53 - Cell 3
55Franziska Brun (Swi)45Row 54 - Cell 3
56Katherine O'Neill (NZl)44Row 55 - Cell 3
57Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze)39Row 56 - Cell 3
58Lucie Vesela (Cze)39Row 57 - Cell 3
59Erin Huck (USA)34Row 58 - Cell 3
60Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg)32Row 59 - Cell 3
61Nikki Harris (GBr)32Row 60 - Cell 3
62Elvira Khayrullina (Rus)32Row 61 - Cell 3
63Julie Bresset (Fra)29Row 62 - Cell 3
64Sarah Koba (Swi)29Row 63 - Cell 3
65Irina Slobodyan (Ukr)28Row 64 - Cell 3
66Anna Oberparleiter (Ita)23Row 65 - Cell 3
67Elisabeth Sveum (Nor)20Row 66 - Cell 3
68Andréanne Pichette (Can)18Row 67 - Cell 3
69Laura Metzler (Fra)18Row 68 - Cell 3
70Helle Qvortrup Bachmann (Den)17Row 69 - Cell 3
71Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra)16Row 70 - Cell 3
72Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa)14Row 71 - Cell 3
73Hielke Elferink (Ned)14Row 72 - Cell 3
74Lenka Bulisova (Cze)13Row 73 - Cell 3
75Elisabeth Brandau (Ger)13Row 74 - Cell 3
76Ruth Owen-Evans (GBr)12Row 75 - Cell 3
77Asuman Bura Balci (Tur)11Row 76 - Cell 3
78Laura Turpijn (Ned)8Row 77 - Cell 3
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World Cup standings - Teams
1Giant Pro XC Team182pts
2Luna Pro Team180Row 1 - Cell 3
3Ghost Factory Racing Team162Row 2 - Cell 3
4Unior Tools Team110Row 3 - Cell 3
5Team Colnago Sudtirol105Row 4 - Cell 3
6Trek Factory Racing105Row 5 - Cell 3
7Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team103Row 6 - Cell 3
8Specialized Racing XC95Row 7 - Cell 3
9Wheeler - IXS Team60Row 8 - Cell 3
10Multivan Merida Biking Team59Row 9 - Cell 3
11Topeak Ergon Racing Team50Row 10 - Cell 3
12Calcit Bike Team33Row 11 - Cell 3
13Bi&Esse Carrera31Row 12 - Cell 3
14Team Davinci - Specialized30Row 13 - Cell 3
15Team Protek25Row 14 - Cell 3
16Fischer-BMC21Row 15 - Cell 3
17Toka Print MTB Team12Row 16 - Cell 3
18ISD MTB Team8Row 17 - Cell 3
19Scott-3Roxracing5Row 18 - Cell 3
204F Racing Team1Row 19 - Cell 3

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