Atherton & Beerten win initial 4X World Cup

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British rider Gee Atherton (Animal Commencal) made the most of his rivals' misfortune to take an impressive victory in the men's 4X final. Atherton was able to stay upright while his competitors crashed in front of 20,000 spectators. His win gave his siblings something to celebrate after sister Rachel Atherton broke her arm during a downhill practice run.

The new four cross circuit set the stage for a high-speed event. "The circuit is very fast and, because of that, there were too many falls," said winner Atherton. "To gain, I took advantage of Michal Prokop's error in the final."

Czech rider Prokop ended any hopes he held of winning the event after a spectacular fall when he miscalculated a jump. He wasn't the only lead rider to bite the dust, with American Brian Lopes also feeling gravity's effect in full force in a spectacular multi-rider tumble. The duo recovered to finish third and second respectively.

"I jumped too long and I could not control the fall," explained Prokop of his incident.

Dutchwoman Anneke Beerten won a game of cat and mouse with current World champion, American Jill Kinter, who was constant in her attacks on Beerten throughout the race, but simply couldn't get by her rival.

"I am very pleased" said Beerten after the win. "I have ridden well all weekend and I love the environment this event is held in. I had a very good exit and then I just enjoyed the rhythm."

Beerten jumped into the top spot by the first turn and kept her lead until the finish. Kinter was disappointed with the finale after she had qualified fastest.

Eva Castro Fernandez, the highest placed Spanish rider, finished third in the final, marking her first trip to the World Cup podium.

See complete coverage of the elite men's and elite women's 4X World Cup event.