Langvad solos to Val di Sole victory
Neff defends World Cup title with second place
Jolanda Neff (Stoeckli Pro Team) successfully defended her World Cup by finishing second to Annika Langvad (Specialized) in the sixth and final round of the Mountain Bike World Cup on Sunday, in Val di Sole, Italy.
Rain overnight had turned much of the course into sticky mud - referred to by one team manager as 'velcro'. The mud was transferred to many of the rocky sections, making them slippery and treacherous, and causing numerous crashes.
The start of the race followed a pattern fans are all to used to seeing - Neff pulling away with a fast start, forcing everyone else to chase. Langvad and world champion Catharine Pendrel (Luna) took up the chase, limiting Neff to a handful of seconds on the opening half-lap start loop, but then Pendrel began to fade, leaving Langvad alone in the chase.
The Danish rider joined Neff by the halfway mark in the race and immediately went to the front to set the pace on the climbs, with Neff only able to keep up by coming back on the descents. On the penultimate lap Langvad broke clear for good, pulling away to win by nearly a minute.
Behind, Pendrel was first caught by Irina Kalentyeva (Moebel Maerki), who then moved solo into third place, which she held to line. A chase group followed containing Maja Wloszczowska (Kross Racing), Emily Batty (Trek Factory Racing), Adelheid Morath (BH-SR Suntour-KMC), Lea Davison (Specialized), Blaza Klemencic (Habitat Mountain Bike) and Eva Lechner (Colnago Sudtirol). This group dropped Pendrel and then it became a race of attrition, with Wloszczowska getting away first to take fourth, followed by Batty in fifth.
"I must say I can't believe it," stated Langvad. "It felt so good out there today. Last weekend I did a race in Leadville [USA] at three thousand metres. This entire week I was filled with jet lag, I was exhausted, didn't sit much on my bike. I thought 'OK, I'll do this race for the points, for going for the overall team award'. Even yesterday I did some intensity on the course and I thought 'whoo, I'm tired'. So I started out with very low expectations. Then, all of a sudden, I felt really good. When you catch a good wave, you just have to stay with that feeling."
"You've all seen how I have been struggling the last few World Cups with crashes, lack of concentration. But, this race, I actually put it all together. I had a little bit of a mistake on the second last lap, but I kept it together. I am so happy. I am beyond words."
"The last two laps I really had to put the hammer down. I could see Jolanda was struggling and I had to put it to my advantage. But when you go over your limit, you go a little bit cross eyed, especially going into the downhill part. But still, I kept it together. I really wanted the win and the tears came into my eyes when I came to the last stretch and realized this is really going to happen. It is an amazing feeling."
The race shook up the standings behind Neff and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Multivan Merida), who were secure in first and second overall. Third placed Pendrel dropped to fourth, Davison moved up to third, and Kalentyeva bumped Batty out of fifth. Batty dropped to seventh when Langvad's win propelled her into sixth.
"Oh yes, this was a really tough race for me," agreed Neff. "Really hard. Tough climbing. Yeah, it really was a hard race. But I'm really happy I could take the overall. It means a lot to me and to take it two times in a row, yeah it's amazing."
Neff, who is still an Under 23 rider, has been permission to race with the Elite field at the world championships in two weeks, and commented "Oh yeah I am [confident about Worlds]. I have been training really well last week. I will go back straight to high altitude now. I hope I can prepare well for the World Championships. I am looking forward a lot to race Elite."
Full results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing | 1:30:56 |
2 | Jolanda Neff (Swi) Stoeckli Pro Team | 0:00:57 |
3 | Irina Kalentyeva (Rus) Moebel Maerki MTB Pro Team | 0:01:14 |
4 | Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Kross Racing Team | 0:01:30 |
5 | Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing | 0:01:38 |
6 | Adelheid Morath (Ger) BH-SR Suntour-KMC | 0:01:49 |
7 | Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing | 0:01:57 |
8 | Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Helen Grobert (Ger) Ghost Factory Racing | 0:02:10 |
10 | Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol | 0:02:48 |
11 | Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team | 0:02:54 |
12 | Yana Belomoina (Ukr) Betch.Nl Superior Brentjens MTB Racing Team | 0:03:30 |
13 | Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team | 0:04:25 |
14 | Esther Suss (Swi) Wheeler - IXS Team | 0:04:39 |
15 | Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Haibike Oetztal Pro Team | 0:04:43 |
16 | Sabine Spitz (Ger) | 0:04:56 |
17 | Githa Michiels (Bel) Versluys Team | 0:05:01 |
18 | Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team | 0:05:33 |
19 | Erin Huck (USA) Scott-3Rox Racing | 0:06:12 |
20 | Chloe Woodruff (USA) | 0:06:39 |
21 | Lisa Mitterbauer (Aut) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 0:07:12 |
22 | Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) | 0:07:31 |
23 | Ekateryna Anoshina (Rus) Rusvelo | 0:07:34 |
24 | Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Superior MTB Team | 0:07:52 |
25 | Nadine Rieder (Ger) | 0:08:13 |
26 | Mary Mcconneloug (USA) | 0:08:20 |
27 | Iryna Popova (Ukr) | 0:08:25 |
28 | Janka Keseg Stevkova (Svk) | 0:08:49 |
29 | Serena Calvetti (Ita) | 0:08:56 |
30 | Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-KMC | 0:09:00 |
31 | Hanna Klein (Ger) BH-SR Suntour-KMC | 0:09:17 |
32 | Marine Groccia (Swi) | 0:09:33 |
33 | Sandra Walter (Can) | 0:09:37 |
34 | Kate Fluker (NZl) | 0:09:50 |
35 | Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing | 0:10:00 |
36 | Ariane Kleinhans (Swi) | 0:10:21 |
37 | Raiza Goulao-Henrique (Bra) | 0:10:24 |
38 | Lesley Paterson (GBr) | 0:10:40 |
39 | Linda Indergand (Swi) Focus XC Team | 0:10:58 |
40 | Paula Gorycka (Pol) 4F-Scott Racing Team | 0:11:06 |
41 | Sabrina Enaux (Fra) | 0:11:55 |
42 | Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Rose Vaujany Fueled By Ultrasports | 0:12:29 |
43 | Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Anne Terpstra (Ned) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Haibike Oetztal Pro Team | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Nataliia Krompets (Ukr) Isd MTB Team | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Karla Stepanova (Cze) | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Samara Sheppard (NZl) | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Michelle Hediger (Swi) Giant Swiss Team | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Cherie Vale (RSA) Novus Omx Pro Team | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Mara Fumagalli (Ita) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Marta Pastore (Ita) Team Piemonte Fci | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Lucie Vesela (Cze) Gt Bikeplac Opportunity | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Mercedes Pacios Pujado (Spa) | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Ingrid Richter (Ger) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa) | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Valentine Segrestan (Fra) Calvisson VTT | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Anna Konovalova (Rus) Format-Udmurtia | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Kerry Macphee (GBr) | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Irina Krenn (Aut) | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Anna Cipullo (GBr) | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Verity Appleyard (GBr) | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Anna Oberparleiter (Ita) | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
DNF4 | Annie Last (GBr) | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
DNF3 | Alice Pirard (Bel) Merida-Wallonie Mountain Bike Team | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
DNF3 | Rocio Martin Rodriguez (Spa) | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
DNF3 | Peta Mullens (Aus) | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
DNF2 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Rebecca Henderson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Nina Wrobel (Ger) | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jolanda\ Neff (Swi) Stoeckli Pro Team | 1300 | pts |
2 | Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team | 910 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing | 820 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team | 816 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Irina Kalentyeva (Rus) Moebel Maerki MTB Pro Team | 730 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
6 | Annika Langvad (Den) Specialized Racing | 728 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing | 723 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) Kross Racing Team | 720 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Raboliv | 570 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
10 | Helen Grobert (Ger) Ghost Factory Racing | 555 | Row 9 - Cell 3 |
11 | Eva Lechner (Ita) Team Colnago Sudtirol | 529 | Row 10 - Cell 3 |
12 | Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Unior Tools Team | 512 | Row 11 - Cell 3 |
13 | Adelheid Morath (Ger) BH-SR Suntour-KMC | 488 | Row 12 - Cell 3 |
14 | Yana Belomoina (Ukr) Betch.Nl Superior Brentjens MTB Racing Team | 483 | Row 13 - Cell 3 |
15 | Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 442 | Row 14 - Cell 3 |
16 | Linda Indergand (Swi) Focus XC Team | 381 | Row 15 - Cell 3 |
17 | Githa Michiels (Bel) Versluys Team | 380 | Row 16 - Cell 3 |
18 | Annie Last (GBr) | 365 | Row 17 - Cell 3 |
19 | Anne Terpstra (Ned) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 354 | Row 18 - Cell 3 |
20 | Corina Gantenbein (Swi) Haibike Oetztal Pro Team | 335 | Row 19 - Cell 3 |
21 | Chloe Woodruff (USA) | 331 | Row 20 - Cell 3 |
22 | Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team | 328 | Row 21 - Cell 3 |
23 | Sabine Spitz (Ger) | 319 | Row 22 - Cell 3 |
24 | Erin Huck (USA) Scott-3Rox Racing | 319 | Row 23 - Cell 3 |
25 | Rebecca Henderson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing | 314 | Row 24 - Cell 3 |
26 | Esther Suss (Swi) Wheeler - IXS Team | 299 | Row 25 - Cell 3 |
27 | Lisa Mitterbauer (Aut) Habitat Mountainbiketeam | 286 | Row 26 - Cell 3 |
28 | Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing | 268 | Row 27 - Cell 3 |
29 | Karla Stepanova (Cze) | 256 | Row 28 - Cell 3 |
30 | Kate Fluker (NZl) | 250 | Row 29 - Cell 3 |
31 | Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Rose Vaujany Fueled By Ultrasports | 248 | Row 30 - Cell 3 |
32 | Hanna Klein (Ger) BH-SR Suntour-KMC | 219 | Row 31 - Cell 3 |
33 | Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team | 196 | Row 32 - Cell 3 |
34 | Raiza Goulao-Henrique (Bra) | 196 | Row 33 - Cell 3 |
35 | Peta Mullens (Aus) | 173 | Row 34 - Cell 3 |
36 | Alice Pirard (Bel) Merida-Wallonie Mountain Bike Team | 165 | Row 35 - Cell 3 |
37 | Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing | 164 | Row 36 - Cell 3 |
38 | Barbara Benko (Hun) Focus XC Team | 160 | Row 37 - Cell 3 |
39 | Marine Groccia (Swi) | 152 | Row 38 - Cell 3 |
40 | Mary Mcconneloug (USA) | 149 | Row 39 - Cell 3 |
41 | Daniela Campuzano (Mex) | 146 | Row 40 - Cell 3 |
42 | Sandra Walter (Can) | 146 | Row 41 - Cell 3 |
43 | Anna Oberparleiter (Ita) | 141 | Row 42 - Cell 3 |
44 | Isabella Moreira Lacerda (Bra) | 139 | Row 43 - Cell 3 |
45 | Ekateryna Anoshina (Rus) Rusvelo | 137 | Row 44 - Cell 3 |
46 | Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Haibike Oetztal Pro Team | 116 | Row 45 - Cell 3 |
47 | Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing | 116 | Row 46 - Cell 3 |
48 | Sabrina Enaux (Fra) | 116 | Row 47 - Cell 3 |
49 | Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) | 110 | Row 48 - Cell 3 |
50 | Janka Keseg Stevkova (Svk) | 108 | Row 49 - Cell 3 |
51 | Jovana Crnogorac (Srb) Salcano Cappadocia | 104 | Row 50 - Cell 3 |
52 | Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Superior MTB Team | 98 | Row 51 - Cell 3 |
53 | Ariane Kleinhans (Swi) | 96 | Row 52 - Cell 3 |
54 | Rose Grant (USA) | 96 | Row 53 - Cell 3 |
55 | Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg) | 94 | Row 54 - Cell 3 |
56 | Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) | 93 | Row 55 - Cell 3 |
57 | Nadine Rieder (Ger) | 91 | Row 56 - Cell 3 |
58 | Cindy Montambault (Can) | 87 | Row 57 - Cell 3 |
59 | Michelle Hediger (Swi) Giant Swiss Team | 86 | Row 58 - Cell 3 |
60 | Nina Wrobel (Ger) | 85 | Row 59 - Cell 3 |
61 | Serena Calvetti (Ita) | 80 | Row 60 - Cell 3 |
62 | Larissa Connors (USA) | 76 | Row 61 - Cell 3 |
63 | Laura Metzler (Fra) Btwin MTB Racing Team | 60 | Row 62 - Cell 3 |
64 | Cherie Vale (RSA) Novus Omx Pro Team | 60 | Row 63 - Cell 3 |
65 | Chengyuan Ren (Chn) China Jiangsu Zgl MTB Team | 58 | Row 64 - Cell 3 |
66 | Lesley Paterson (GBr) | 57 | Row 65 - Cell 3 |
67 | Paula Gorycka (Pol) 4F-Scott Racing Team | 54 | Row 66 - Cell 3 |
68 | Iryna Popova (Ukr) | 52 | Row 67 - Cell 3 |
69 | Rebecca Beaumont (Can) | 50 | Row 68 - Cell 3 |
70 | Anna Villar Argente (Spa) | 49 | Row 69 - Cell 3 |
71 | Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-KMC | 46 | Row 70 - Cell 3 |
72 | Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) | 46 | Row 71 - Cell 3 |
73 | Jitka Skarnitzlova (Cze) | 45 | Row 72 - Cell 3 |
74 | Rocio Martin Rodriguez (Spa) | 43 | Row 73 - Cell 3 |
75 | Elyse Nieuwold (Can) | 42 | Row 74 - Cell 3 |
76 | Nataliia Krompets (Ukr) Isd MTB Team | 42 | Row 75 - Cell 3 |
77 | Kim Hurst (NZl) | 42 | Row 76 - Cell 3 |
78 | Noelia Rodriguez (Arg) | 39 | Row 77 - Cell 3 |
79 | Marta Pastore (Ita) Team Piemonte Fci | 36 | Row 78 - Cell 3 |
80 | Samara Sheppard (NZl) | 34 | Row 79 - Cell 3 |
81 | Aurelia Perry (Fra) | 33 | Row 80 - Cell 3 |
82 | Florence Darbellay (Swi) | 32 | Row 81 - Cell 3 |
83 | Lucia Vazquez Crespo (Spa) | 29 | Row 82 - Cell 3 |
84 | Hielke Elferink (Ned) | 29 | Row 83 - Cell 3 |
85 | Kerry Macphee (GBr) | 25 | Row 84 - Cell 3 |
86 | Lucie Vesela (Cze) Gt Bikeplac Opportunity | 22 | Row 85 - Cell 3 |
87 | Crystal Anthony (USA) | 21 | Row 86 - Cell 3 |
88 | Pavlina Sulcova (Cze) | 21 | Row 87 - Cell 3 |
89 | Elisa Otter (USA) | 18 | Row 88 - Cell 3 |
90 | Mara Fumagalli (Ita) | 16 | Row 89 - Cell 3 |
91 | Fabienne Schaus (Lux) | 16 | Row 90 - Cell 3 |
92 | Nicky Healy (GBr) | 15 | Row 91 - Cell 3 |
93 | Mercedes Pacios Pujado (Spa) | 13 | Row 92 - Cell 3 |
94 | Sarah Riley (Aus) | 13 | Row 93 - Cell 3 |
95 | Ingrid Richter (Ger) | 12 | Row 94 - Cell 3 |
96 | Eliza Kwan (Aus) | 12 | Row 95 - Cell 3 |
97 | Mariske Strauss (RSA) Novus Omx Pro Team | 12 | Row 96 - Cell 3 |
98 | Valentine Segrestan (Fra) Calvisson VTT | 10 | Row 97 - Cell 3 |
99 | Anna Konovalova (Rus) Format-Udmurtia | 9 | Row 98 - Cell 3 |
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