Ferrand-Prevot wins women's MTB cross country world title

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France accomplished an incredible feat on Saturday in winning the Elite women's Cross-country world title in Vallnord, Andorra. The young rider now holds, concurrently, four world titles across three cycling disciplines: Team Relay and Cross-country in Mountain Bike, the Elite Road title and the Elite Cyclo-cross title.

After a week of rain, the skies finally cleared for the Elite races, however, the damage had been done, leaving the forested sections heavily soaked, muddy and treacherous. Almost every rider crashed at some point, and the women's race ran to nearly two hours - 20 minutes longer then normal.

World Cup champion Jolanda Neff (Switzerland), always a fast starter, jumped into the lead on the first climb, but the steep climbs, combined with almost 2000 metres of altitude, saw her fade quickly and drop out of contention.

Ferrand-Prevot and defending world champion Catharine Pendrel (Canada) moved to the front, initially joined by Yana Belomoina (Ukraine) and Maja Wloszczowska (Poland). When Ferrand-Prevot laid down a blistering second lap, she was away on her own, and would stay away until the finish line.

Pendrel moved into second, holding that spot until the end of the fourth lap, when she was joined by Wloszczowska, Irina Kalentyeva (Russia) and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Norway), with Belomoina coming up quickly from behind. When Kalentyeva attacked, Pendrel tried to follow, but was fading, and caught by Belomoina in the sixth and final lap, leaving the Russian with the silver medal and the Ukrainian with bronze.

"Well, I gave it everything," stated Ferrand-Prevot. "With the altitude, the climb and the slippery downhill it was so hard. I really gave it everything because I wanted this title. I want to say a big thank you to French staff and French Federation because they believed in me and that was a really big help."

She was also asked if she would try track racing, and said with a laugh, "No, for sure not [on the velodrome]. I now have to concentrate to keep my world title on the Road. After I will try to be very good for the Olympics."

Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra)1:52:44
2Irina Kalentyeva (Rus)0:00:58
3Yana Belomoina (Ukr)0:01:36
4Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor)0:02:15
5Catharine Pendrel (Can)Row 4 - Cell 2
6Maja Wloszczowska (Pol)0:02:52
7Emily Batty (Can)0:03:42
8Sabine Spitz (Ger)0:04:02
9Jolanda Neff (Swi)0:04:57
10Lea Davison (USA)0:05:14
11Helen Grobert (Ger)0:05:56
12Daniela Campuzano (Mex)0:06:14
13Adelheid Morath (Ger)0:07:14
14Esther Süss (Swi)0:07:27
15Blaza Klemencic (Slo)0:07:58
16Annika Langvad (Den)0:08:16
17Githa Michiels (Bel)0:08:45
18Tanja Zakelj (Slo)0:09:36
19Nathalie Schneitter (Swi)0:10:01
20Anne Terpstra (Ned)0:10:31
21Annie Last (GBr)0:10:36
22Georgia Gould (USA)0:10:49
23Eva Lechner (Ita)0:12:15
24Lisa Mitterbauer (Aut)0:12:27
25Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol)0:12:56
26Julie Bresset (Fra)0:13:13
27Sandra Walter (Can)0:14:20
28Raiza Goulao-Henrique (Bra)0:14:35
29Ekateryna Anoshina (Rus)0:14:53
30Mary Mcconneloug (USA)0:14:56
31Rose Grant (USA)0:15:28
32Elisabeth Osl (Aut)0:15:43
33Serena Calvetti (Ita)0:16:21
34Iryna Popova (Ukr)0:16:50
35Nataliia Krompets (Ukr)0:17:04
36Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi)0:17:20
37Karla Stepanova (Cze)0:17:29
38Janka Keseg Stevkova (Svk)0:17:37
39Erin Huck (USA)Row 38 - Cell 2
40Anna Oberparleiter (Ita)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Kate Fluker (NZl)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Jovana Crnogorac (Srb)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg)Row 42 - Cell 2
44Mio Suemasa (Jpn)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Tereza Hurikova (Cze)Row 44 - Cell 2
46Anna Konovalova (Rus)Row 45 - Cell 2
47Rocio Martin Rodriguez (Spa)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Chloe Woodruff (USA)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Paula Gorycka (Pol)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Cherie Vale (RSA)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Barbara Benko (Hun)Row 50 - Cell 2
52Mariske Strauss (RSA)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Isabella Moreira Lacerda (Bra)Row 52 - Cell 2
54Rotem Gafinovitz (Isr)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Maaris Meier (Est)Row 54 - Cell 2

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