Spitz wins Vallnord women's cross country World Cup

Sabine Spitz (Sabine Spitz Haibike) made a strong return to competition, after missing the first half of the season due to injury, by winning the fourth round of the UCI Cross Country Mountain Bike World Cup in Vallnord, Andorra. Altitude, heat and strong winds all played a factor in making this one of the hardest races of the season. Tanja Zakelj (Unior Tools) held onto the women's overall lead with a fifth place result.

Katerina Nash (Luna) set an aggressive pace in the first lap of the women's race, quickly shattering the field. Five riders joined Nash at the front of the race by lap two: Spitz, Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtirol), Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida), Maja Wloszczowska (Giant Pro XC) and Jolanda Neff (Giant Pro XC). Zakelj was just behind, but losing ground.

A lap later, both Neff and Wloszczowska were gone, unable to hold the pace. The front four stayed together through most of lap four until Nash attacked, opening a five-second gap as she began the final lap. The Luna rider extended her lead to 10 seconds by the halfway mark of the lap, as the chase began to fall apart.

Spitz, who is just back from shoulder surgery that took her out of action just before the start of the World Cup season, began to surge in the final two kilometres, catching Nash in the final 600 metres as the pair entered the last section of singletrack before a short climb to the finish.

Spitz, the 2008 Olympic champion, put in a last effort over the final 200 metres to take her first World Cup win since 2002, finishing just one second in front of Nash, with Lechner at four seconds and Dahle Flesjaa at nine seconds - one of the closest finishes in recent history.

"With the headwind, nobody wanted to go into the lead," said Spitz. "Eight weeks ago I crashed on my home course in Albstadt [before the World Cup], and, yeah, it's amazing to win. I never expected to come back like this."

"I had hoped for a top ten place...but this win is unbelievable. It [the win] means so much because when you have an accident and have to go out of competition, then you are not sure how your fitness is when you get back to the World Cup circuit. It means so much to me."

Zakelj now leads the women's World Cup standings with 790 points, with two races remaining. Lechner moves up from third to second, 160 points back, and Nash moves up a spot to third, a further 15 points in arrears.

Full Results

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Elite women cross country
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team1:26:54
2Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team0:00:01
3Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol0:00:04
4Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:00:09
5Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team0:01:24
6Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:01:35
7Jolanda * Neff (Swi) Giant Pro XC Team0:01:49
8Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:02:20
9Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Calcit Bike Team0:02:32
10Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC0:02:43
11Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Giant Pro XC Team0:02:54
12Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - Ixs Team0:03:05
13Adelheid Morath (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team0:03:09
14Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:03:20
15Hanna Klein (Ger)0:03:23
16Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:04:01
17Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Team Colnago Sudtirol0:04:43
18Jacquelina Alvarez (Arg)0:05:17
19Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Fischer-BMC0:05:38
20Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team0:05:47
21Elisabeth Brandau (Ger)0:05:52
22Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team0:06:13
23Marianne Vos (Ned)0:06:18
24Annika Langvad (Den) Team Davinci - Specialized0:06:26
25Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg)0:08:17
26Elisabeth Sveum (Nor)0:08:37
27Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC0:08:57
28Sabrina Enaux (Fra)0:09:20
29Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB Team0:09:40
30Nadine Rieder (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:09:58
31Fanny Bourdon (Fra) Look - Beaumes De Venise0:10:20
32Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Specialized Racing XC0:10:25
33Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze)0:10:44
34Anna Villar Argente (Spa)0:10:51
35Judy Freeman (USA)0:11:06
36Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Spa)0:11:11
37Lee Craigie (GBr)0:11:16
38Ann Berglund (Swe)0:11:39
39Barbara Benko (Hun) Focus XC Team0:12:26
40Oksana Rybakova (Rus)0:13:15
41Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa)0:15:38
42Joana Barbosa (Por)0:15:55
-2lapsElvira Khayrullina (Rus)Row 42 - Cell 2
DNFKate Fluker (NZl)Row 43 - Cell 2
DNFSamara Sheppard (NZl) Toka Print MTB TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
DNSEmily Batty (Can) Trek Factory RacingRow 45 - Cell 2
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Elite Women Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team67pts
2Ghost Factory Racing Team64Row 1 - Cell 3
3Luna Pro Team46Row 2 - Cell 3
4Team Colnago Sudtirol46Row 3 - Cell 3
5Giant Pro XC Team44Row 4 - Cell 3
6Multivan Merida Biking Team30Row 5 - Cell 3
7Unior Tools Team28Row 6 - Cell 3
8BH - SR Suntour - KMC25Row 7 - Cell 3
9Calcit Bike Team22Row 8 - Cell 3
10Wheeler - Ixs Team19Row 9 - Cell 3
11Topeak Ergon Racing Team18Row 10 - Cell 3
12Fischer-BMC12Row 11 - Cell 3
13Team Davinci - Specialized7Row 12 - Cell 3
14Toka Print MTB Team2Row 13 - Cell 3
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Elite women individual World Cup standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team790pts
2Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol630Row 1 - Cell 3
3Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team615Row 2 - Cell 3
4Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Giant Pro XC Team580Row 3 - Cell 3
5Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team495Row 4 - Cell 3
6Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team456Row 5 - Cell 3
7Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team449Row 6 - Cell 3
8Adelheid Morath (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team406Row 7 - Cell 3
9Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing390Row 8 - Cell 3
10Jolanda * Neff (Swi) Giant Pro XC Team386Row 9 - Cell 3
11Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team375Row 10 - Cell 3
12Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - Ixs Team365Row 11 - Cell 3
13Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team328Row 12 - Cell 3
14Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Calcit Bike Team298Row 13 - Cell 3
15Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing XC292Row 14 - Cell 3
16Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team267Row 15 - Cell 3
17Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team250Row 16 - Cell 3
18Annika Langvad (Den) Team Davinci - Specialized250Row 17 - Cell 3
19Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Specialized Racing XC244Row 18 - Cell 3
20Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team244Row 19 - Cell 3
21Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Team Colnago Sudtirol242Row 20 - Cell 3
22Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Fischer-BMC242Row 21 - Cell 3
23Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team236Row 22 - Cell 3
24Hanna Klein (Ger)218Row 23 - Cell 3
25Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) Bi&Esse Carrera194Row 24 - Cell 3
26Sabrina Enaux (Fra)194Row 25 - Cell 3
27Vera Andreeva (Rus) Team Protek182Row 26 - Cell 3
28Githa Michiels (Bel) Toka Print MTB Team180Row 27 - Cell 3
29Mary Mcconneloug (USA)168Row 28 - Cell 3
30Pauline * Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Giant Pro XC Team164Row 29 - Cell 3
31Daniela Campuzano (Mex)154Row 30 - Cell 3
32Marianne Vos (Ned)150Row 31 - Cell 3
33Annie Last (GBr) Trek Factory Racing141Row 32 - Cell 3
34Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC124Row 33 - Cell 3
35Anna Villar Argente (Spa)123Row 34 - Cell 3
36Jacquelina Alvarez (Arg)117Row 35 - Cell 3
37Fanny Bourdon (Fra) Look - Beaumes De Venise104Row 36 - Cell 3
38Nina Wrobel (Ger)99Row 37 - Cell 3
39Nadine Rieder (Ger) Topeak Ergon Racing Team95Row 38 - Cell 3
40Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing90Row 39 - Cell 3
41Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg)88Row 40 - Cell 3
42Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol)88Row 41 - Cell 3
43Lene Byberg (Nor)84Row 42 - Cell 3
44Judy Freeman (USA)81Row 43 - Cell 3
45Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) ISD MTB Team79Row 44 - Cell 3
46Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze)79Row 45 - Cell 3
47Lee Craigie (GBr)79Row 46 - Cell 3
48Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls79Row 47 - Cell 3
49Barbara Benko (Hun) Focus XC Team79Row 48 - Cell 3
50Kate Fluker (NZl)78Row 49 - Cell 3
51Elisabeth Brandau (Ger)77Row 50 - Cell 3
52Paula Gorycka (Pol) 4F Racing Team75Row 51 - Cell 3
53Chengyuan Ren (Chn)74Row 52 - Cell 3
54Elisabeth Sveum (Nor)74Row 53 - Cell 3
55Anna Szafraniec (Pol)70Row 54 - Cell 3
56Serena Calvetti (Ita) Torpado Surfing Shop70Row 55 - Cell 3
57Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC68Row 56 - Cell 3
58Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing66Row 57 - Cell 3
59Samara Sheppard (NZl) Toka Print MTB Team64Row 58 - Cell 3
60Elvira Khayrullina (Rus)57Row 59 - Cell 3
61Kateryna Naberezhna (Ukr) ISD MTB Team49Row 60 - Cell 3
62Judith Pollinger (Ita)48Row 61 - Cell 3
63Franziska Brun (Swi)45Row 62 - Cell 3
64Katherine O'neill (NZl)44Row 63 - Cell 3
65Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa)41Row 64 - Cell 3
66Lucie Vesela (Cze)39Row 65 - Cell 3
67Sandra Santanyes Murillo (Spa)34Row 66 - Cell 3
68Erin Huck (USA)34Row 67 - Cell 3
69Nikki Harris (GBr)32Row 68 - Cell 3
70Ann Berglund (Swe)30Row 69 - Cell 3
71Sarah Koba (Swi) JB Felt Team29Row 70 - Cell 3
72Oksana Rybakova (Rus)28Row 71 - Cell 3
73Irina Slobodyan (Ukr)28Row 72 - Cell 3
74Joana Barbosa (Por)26Row 73 - Cell 3
75Anna Oberparleiter (Ita)23Row 74 - Cell 3
76Andréanne Pichette (Can)18Row 75 - Cell 3
77Laura Metzler (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - KMC18Row 76 - Cell 3
78Helle Qvortrup Bachmann (Den)17Row 77 - Cell 3
79Hielke Elferink (Ned)14Row 78 - Cell 3
80Lenka Bulisova (Cze)13Row 79 - Cell 3
81Ruth Owen-Evans (GBr)12Row 80 - Cell 3
82Asuman Bura Balci (Tur)11Row 81 - Cell 3
83Laura Turpijn (Ned) SBJ Bike Team8Row 82 - Cell 3
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Elite Women World Cup Team Standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Giant Pro XC Team226pts
2Luna Pro Team226Row 1 - Cell 3
3Ghost Factory Racing Team226Row 2 - Cell 3
4Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team170Row 3 - Cell 3
5Team Colnago Sudtirol151Row 4 - Cell 3
6Unior Tools Team138Row 5 - Cell 3
7Trek Factory Racing105Row 6 - Cell 3
8Specialized Racing XC95Row 7 - Cell 3
9Multivan Merida Biking Team89Row 8 - Cell 3
10Wheeler - Ixs Team79Row 9 - Cell 3
11Topeak Ergon Racing Team68Row 10 - Cell 3
12Calcit Bike Team55Row 11 - Cell 3
13Team Davinci - Specialized37Row 12 - Cell 3
14Fischer-BMC33Row 13 - Cell 3
15Bi&Esse Carrera31Row 14 - Cell 3
16BH - SR Suntour - KMC25Row 15 - Cell 3
17Team Protek25Row 16 - Cell 3
18Toka Print MTB Team14Row 17 - Cell 3
19ISD MTB Team8Row 18 - Cell 3
20Scott-3Roxracing5Row 19 - Cell 3
214F Racing Team1Row 20 - Cell 3

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