Wloszczowska opens World Cup season with victory

Poland's Maja Wloszczowska (CCC Polkowice) held off the determined Canadian duo of Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek) and Catharine Pendrel (Luna) to don the leader's jersey for the opening round of the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, the first of her career.

Despite worries about a muddy course after rain overnight, race day was hot and sunny, giving the riders a fast track to race on. British champion Annie Last (Milka Brentjens) took the early lead in the women's race before Pendrel, the reigning world champion, chased her down and took the lead on the second lap of five.

Wloszczowska and Batty were part of a chase group that bridged up to Pendrel, and by the third lap the three were clear of all chasers. The 2011 World Cup champion Julie Bresset (BH-SR Suntour-Piesey Vallandry) was part of that chase group, but wilted in the heat, to eventually finish fifth, behind former marathon world champion Esther Süss (Wheeler-IXS).

In the final lap, the leaders began to play a tactical game, with Batty attacking before the final rock garden, only to have Wloszczowska counter and take the front into the final straightaway to win by four seconds.

"I'm really happy," said Wloszczowska. "I definitely didn't expect to get a win this early in the season. But I changed my coach last year, and this showed that it is working. When Emily attacked, I knew I had to get by her, so I took a chance."

"Emily was leading going into the final rock garden and she took my normal line. I decided to take the other line to the left and just let go of my brakes and went for it! It paid off. I got a gap right there and that was enough. I'm so proud of myself. It was the best decision I made today. I loved the new course, especially on my 29er."

Pendrel, who had stated earlier in the week that she is building up slower this season, admitted that she may have not have been aggressive enough when the other two started battling in the final lap. "I sometimes go out too strong, so this time I played it a little conservative, maybe too conservative. But I'm where I want to be for this time of year, and really happy for such a strong showing for Canada."

Emily Batty, who had previously won at the under 23 level, was excited at her breakthrough performance - her first time ever on the elite World Cup podium. "We've had some really good training camps in California with the national team," said Batty, "so I felt prepared for the heat and I knew my form was good. Just being able to ride at the front of the race with riders like Catharine and Maja was an incredible feeling for me, and I know that I will only get stronger for the next rounds."

Race Notes

- Lea Davison (Specialized) was the top American, finishing 14th, one spot ahead of compatriot Heather Irmiger (Subaru-Trek). Davison might have been a top-10 finisher, based on her laps splits, if she had not had to spend most of the race chasing following an early crash in one of the technical zones.

- In the women's race, both Wloszczowska and Batty were on 29ers, while Pendrel was on a 26" wheel. When asked in the press conference if it made the difference in the results, all three laughed, and said "no".

- American Krista Park separated her shoulder during a crash in training in the days before the race and did not start.

- Kseniya Kirillova of Russia was one who suffered at the hands of the course during the race and left it with a badly broken humerus and dislocated right shoulder after she hurtled over her handlebars in the switchback section just above the Rapid Rocks rock garden at the bottom of the course.

Full Results

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Elite women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice1:34:01
2Emily Batty (Can) Subaru - Trek0:00:04
3Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team0:00:23
4Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - Ixs Team0:01:03
5Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry0:01:17
6Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team0:01:24
7Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team0:02:02
8Karen Hanlen (NZl)0:02:17
9Annie Last (GBr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team0:02:35
10Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team0:02:42
11Rosara Joseph (NZl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:03:05
12Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:03:32
13Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:03:36
14Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing0:03:59
15Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru - Trek0:04:21
16Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team0:04:38
17Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Swi) Bikepark.Ch Scott0:05:01
18Annika Langvad (Den) Team Fujibikes Rockets0:05:27
19Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team0:05:43
20Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice0:06:12
21Marie-Helene Premont (Can)Row 20 - Cell 2
22Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:06:20
23Rie Katayama (Jpn)0:06:27
24Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix0:06:37
25Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges0:06:53
26Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol0:07:19
27Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team0:07:22
28Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team0:07:34
29Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Colnago Sudtirol0:07:35
30Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus MIG Team0:07:53
31Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice0:08:08
32Judy Freeman (USA)0:08:35
33Katarzyna Solus-Miskowiez (Pol)0:08:52
34Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura0:09:00
35Laura Metzler (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry0:09:17
36Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice0:09:30
37Anne Terpstra (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team0:09:36
38Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team0:09:45
39Hanna Klein (Ger)0:10:31
40Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team0:10:54
41Mary Mcconneloug (USA)0:11:19
42Katherine Compton (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team0:11:33
43Laura Turpijn (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team0:11:41
44Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team0:11:45
45Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team0:11:50
46Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing0:11:56
47Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries0:12:30
48Ivonne Kraft (Ger)0:13:15
49Vera Andreeva (Rus)0:13:40
50Rowena Fry (Aus)0:14:04
51Samantha Sanders (RSA)0:14:06
52Chloe Woodruff (USA)0:16:11
53Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix0:16:34
54Willow Rockwell (USA) Trek World Racing0:17:07
55Jodie Willett (Aus)0:17:36
56Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix0:18:35
-1lapCaroline Mani (Fra)Row 56 - Cell 2
-1lapLucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey VallandryRow 57 - Cell 2
-2lapsJulia Colvin (RSA)Row 58 - Cell 2
-2lapsMelanie Palframan (RSA)Row 59 - Cell 2
-3lapsLee Craigie (GBr)Row 60 - Cell 2
-3lapsLauren Hoyer (RSA)Row 61 - Cell 2
DNFJenni King (Aus)Row 62 - Cell 2
DNFBlaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
DNFSabrina Maurer (Swi) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
DNFAnja Gradl (Ger) Team BullsRow 65 - Cell 2
DNFKseniya Kirillova (Rus)Row 66 - Cell 2
DNFStephanie Wiedner (Aut)Row 67 - Cell 2
DNSKrista Park (USA)Row 68 - Cell 2
DNSOksana Rybakova (Rus)Row 69 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luna Pro Team58pts
2CCC Polkowice51Row 1 - Cell 3
3Subaru - Trek51Row 2 - Cell 3
4Rabobank Giant Offroad Team38Row 3 - Cell 3
5Wheeler - Ixs Team30Row 4 - Cell 3
6BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry28Row 5 - Cell 3
7Ghost Factory Racing Team28Row 6 - Cell 3
8Sabine Spitz Haibike Team24Row 7 - Cell 3
9Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team22Row 8 - Cell 3
10Topeak Ergon Racing Team21Row 9 - Cell 3
11Specialized Racing17Row 10 - Cell 3
12Notebooksbilliger.De Team15Row 11 - Cell 3
13Bikepark.ch Scott14Row 12 - Cell 3
14Team Fujibikes Rockets13Row 13 - Cell 3
15Multivan Merida Biking Team12Row 14 - Cell 3
16GT Skoda Chamonix7Row 15 - Cell 3
17Colnago Sudtirol7Row 16 - Cell 3
18Specialized Solodet Vosges6Row 17 - Cell 3
19Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team4Row 18 - Cell 3
20Salcano Factory Team3Row 19 - Cell 3
21Focus MIG Team1Row 20 - Cell 3
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World Cup individual standings after round 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice250pts
2Emily Batty (Can) Subaru - Trek200Row 1 - Cell 3
3Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team160Row 2 - Cell 3
4Esther Süss (Swi) Wheeler - IXS Team150Row 3 - Cell 3
5Julie Bresset (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry140Row 4 - Cell 3
6Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team130Row 5 - Cell 3
7Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team120Row 6 - Cell 3
8Karen Hanlen (NZl)110Row 7 - Cell 3
9Annie Last (GBr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team100Row 8 - Cell 3
10Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team95Row 9 - Cell 3
11Rosara Joseph (NZl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team90Row 10 - Cell 3
12Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team85Row 11 - Cell 3
13Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team80Row 12 - Cell 3
14Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing78Row 13 - Cell 3
15Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru - Trek76Row 14 - Cell 3
16Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.de Team74Row 15 - Cell 3
17Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Swi) Bikepark.ch Scott72Row 16 - Cell 3
18Annika Langvad (Den) Team Fujibikes Rockets70Row 17 - Cell 3
19Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team68Row 18 - Cell 3
20Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice66Row 19 - Cell 3
21Marie-Helene Premont (Can)64Row 20 - Cell 3
22Katrin Leumann (Swi) Ghost Factory Racing Team62Row 21 - Cell 3
23Rie Katayama (Jpn)60Row 22 - Cell 3
24Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix58Row 23 - Cell 3
25Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges56Row 24 - Cell 3
26Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol54Row 25 - Cell 3
27Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team52Row 26 - Cell 3
28Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team50Row 27 - Cell 3
29Nathalie Schneitter (Swi) Colnago Sudtirol48Row 28 - Cell 3
30Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus MIG Team46Row 29 - Cell 3
31Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice44Row 30 - Cell 3
32Judy Freeman (USA)42Row 31 - Cell 3
33Katarzyna Solus-Miskowiez (Pol)40Row 32 - Cell 3
34Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura38Row 33 - Cell 3
35Laura Metzler (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry36Row 34 - Cell 3
36Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice34Row 35 - Cell 3
37Anne Terpstra (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team32Row 36 - Cell 3
38Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team30Row 37 - Cell 3
39Hanna Klein (Ger)29Row 38 - Cell 3
40Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team28Row 39 - Cell 3
41Mary Mcconneloug (USA)27Row 40 - Cell 3
42Katherine Compton (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team26Row 41 - Cell 3
43Laura Turpijn (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team25Row 42 - Cell 3
44Kathrin Stirnemann (Swi) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team24Row 43 - Cell 3
45Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team23Row 44 - Cell 3
46Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing22Row 45 - Cell 3
47Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries21Row 46 - Cell 3
48Ivonne Kraft (Ger)20Row 47 - Cell 3
49Vera Andreeva (Rus)19Row 48 - Cell 3
50Rowena Fry (Aus)18Row 49 - Cell 3
51Samantha Sanders (RSA)17Row 50 - Cell 3
52Chloe Woodruff (USA)16Row 51 - Cell 3
53Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix15Row 52 - Cell 3
54Willow Rockwell (USA) Trek World Racing14Row 53 - Cell 3
55Jodie Willett (Aus)13Row 54 - Cell 3
56Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix12Row 55 - Cell 3
57Caroline Mani (Fra)11Row 56 - Cell 3
58Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry10Row 57 - Cell 3
59Julia Colvin (RSA)9Row 58 - Cell 3
60Melanie Palframan (RSA)8Row 59 - Cell 3
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World Cup team standings after round 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Luna Pro Team58pts
2Subaru - Trek51Row 1 - Cell 3
3CCC Polkowice51Row 2 - Cell 3
4Rabobank Giant Offroad Team38Row 3 - Cell 3
5Wheeler - IXS Team30Row 4 - Cell 3
6Ghost Factory Racing Team28Row 5 - Cell 3
7BH - SR Suntour - Peisey Vallandry28Row 6 - Cell 3
8Sabine Spitz Haibike Team24Row 7 - Cell 3
9Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team22Row 8 - Cell 3
10Topeak Ergon Racing Team21Row 9 - Cell 3
11Specialized Racing17Row 10 - Cell 3
12Notebooksbilliger.de Team15Row 11 - Cell 3
13Bikepark.ch Scott14Row 12 - Cell 3
14Team Fujibikes Rockets13Row 13 - Cell 3
15Multivan Merida Biking Team12Row 14 - Cell 3
16GT Skoda Chamonix7Row 15 - Cell 3
17Colnago Sudtirol7Row 16 - Cell 3
18Specialized Solodet Vosges6Row 17 - Cell 3
19Felt Oetztal X - Bionic Team4Row 18 - Cell 3
20Salcano Factory Team3Row 19 - Cell 3
21Focus MIG Team1Row 20 - Cell 3

 

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