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Litscher claims men's sprint eliminator

Lechner wins women's event

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Thomas Litscher (MIG Team) wins.

Thomas Litscher (MIG Team) wins.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Thomas Litscher (MIG Team) led in all his heats.

Thomas Litscher (MIG Team) led in all his heats.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Eva Lechner (Colnago Arreghini Suditrol) easily won the women's final and 1000 Euros.

Eva Lechner (Colnago Arreghini Suditrol) easily won the women's final and 1000 Euros.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Maja Wloszczowska

Maja Wloszczowska
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Katerina Nash (luna) finish third.

Katerina Nash (luna) finish third.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Eva Lechner (Colnago Arreghini Suditrol) gets away fastest in the women's final.

Eva Lechner (Colnago Arreghini Suditrol) gets away fastest in the women's final.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Men's podium: Manuel Fumic, Thomas Litscher, Ralph Naef

Men's podium: Manuel Fumic, Thomas Litscher, Ralph Naef
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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A sizable crowd gathered in the cemetery.

A sizable crowd gathered in the cemetery.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Marco Fontana exits the urban 'singletrack'.

Marco Fontana exits the urban 'singletrack'.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Second place finisher Manuel Fumic (Cannondale) in his qualifying time trial

Second place finisher Manuel Fumic (Cannondale) in his qualifying time trial
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Men's semi-final start.

Men's semi-final start.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Manuel Fumic took second.

Manuel Fumic took second.
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Marco Fontana

Marco Fontana
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)
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Women's podium: Nathalie Schneitter, Eva Lechner, Katerina Nash

Women's podium: Nathalie Schneitter, Eva Lechner, Katerina Nash
(Image credit: Tour of Japan)

Before the opening ceremony of the UCI Cross Country World Cup, professional riders competed Friday evening in the Pro Sprint Eliminator in front of thousands of spectators through the streets of Pickering.

The Pro Eliminator saw the top 16 women and top 32 men from a time trial run of the sub-two minute circuit go into 4-Cross style four rider heats to compete for a top prize of 1000 Euros ($1500). The circuit took riders around narrow streets, through a single person wide path between houses, into a church cemetery (!) and through someone's backyard before a final lung-busting uphill sprint to the finish.

Thomas Litscher (MIG Bike Team) took the men's title ahead of Manuel Fumic (Cannondale) and Ralph Näf (Multivan-Merida), with Eva Lechner (Colnago Arrehini Sudtirol) easily winning the women's final over teammate Nathalie Schneitter and Katerina Nash (Luna).

Men's Final
1Thomas Litscher (Sui) MIG Team
2Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale
3Ralph Naef (Sui) Multivan Merida
4Jose Hermida (Esp) Multivan Merida

Women's Final
1Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Arreghini Suditrol
2Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Arreghini Suditrol
3Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna

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